Rams News

St. Louis Rams
Team Report posted August 30, 1998
by tsn correspondent JIM THOMAS - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

An in-depth analysis of the Rams heading into the regular season:

GOOD NEWS

Wide receiver Isaac Bruce made it through the preseason with his hamstrings intact. The only Rams Pro Bowler since the team moved to St. Louis in 1995, Bruce missed almost five full games at the start of the '97 season because of a hamstring problem. Look for a bounce-back year.

The offensive line showed noticeable improvement, particularly in pass blocking. These guys aren't "Five Blocks of Granite," but it doesn't look like the line will be the team's weak link as it was for most of the past three seasons.

Tony Banks, the most sacked quarterback in the NFL over the past two seasons (91 sacks), wasn't dropped once in the preseason. In fact, he was rarely hit.

Orlando Pace is poised for a breakthrough season at left tackle, and Fred Miller has made a surprisingly smooth switch to left guard from tackle. Overall, there is better depth at wide receiver, running back, the offensive line and the defensive line.

BAD NEWS

The run defense sprang leaks in the final two preseason games. The Rams didn't get a consistent inside presence from their tackle rotation of D'Marco Farr, Joe Phillips, Ray Agnew and Jeff Zgonina.

There wasn't much of a pass rush, either, with the team's defensive linemen registering a modest four sacks in the preseason. All four of those sacks came from the defensive-end position.

The Rams had hoped to blitz less in 1998, but may have to scrap those plans unless their front four gets more pressure. And the more they blitz, the more they expose a secondary that features untested Dexter McCleon at cornerback -- in place of holdout Ryan McNeil -- and a safety and linebacker corps that is still giving up a lot of yards to the tight end.

PLAYER ON THE SPOT

With Bruce, Eddie Kennison, Ricky Proehl, Ernie Conwell and Amp Lee, the Rams have enough offensive weapons to give opponents something to think about on pass defense. But it all boils down to No. 12 -- quarterback Tony Banks.

Banks is in the third year of a three-year contract, and could either cash in with a good season, or get cashiered with a bad season. He was unfairly forced into a starting role three games into his NFL career, but now he needs to start making plays.

If Banks has a decent year, the Rams can be a decent team. But it's all about taking command of the huddle, making decisions under pressure, not locking onto the primary receiver, and becoming more accurate with short and intermediate passes.

The toughness, intelligence, mobility and arm strength are there. If Banks struggles early, coach Dick Vermeil will have a quicker hook than he did in '97.

BOTTOM LINE

Despite their losing ways in the '90s, the Rams have enough to talent to be a .500 team. They have a fifth-place schedule, with only six of their 16 games against teams that finished the '97 season with winning records.

Four of their first five games are at home, so a fast start could build confidence for what is still a young team.

But Banks is a big question mark, the offensive line is still very young, and one has to wonder if there are enough difference makers on the roster. Projected record: 7-9.

GRADING OUT

Quarterback: C-minus.

Running back: C.

Receiver: B.

Offensive line: C.

Defensive line: C-minus

Linebacker: C.

Secondary: C.

Special Teams: C.

Coaching Staff: C.

POSITIONAL ANALYSIS

Offensive line: This unit ended the preseason on the upswing, with the first unit not allowing a sack during exhibition play. Tony Banks was dropped once Friday against Kansas City, but the play was wiped out because the blitzing Chiefs were offside.

Offensive line coach Jim Hanifan continued to shuffle his reserves, trying to make them as versatile as possible in case injury strikes during the season. Tom Nutten played center for the first time in a game, and left guard Ryan Tucker saw some action at right guard.

Quarterback: The entire Rams organization breathed a sigh of relief after Banks' 10-for-14 passing performance against Kansas City. Banks threw for 120 yards before calling it a night, and looked especially crisp on the Rams' first possession -- a 10-play, 70-yard touchdown drive.

Steve Bono played the second half and showed some rust, completing 5-of-11 for only 40 yards with the Rams' second- and third-stringers. Bono played in only two of the team's four preseason games, so he needed the work.

Kurt Warner, who won the third quarterback job when Will Furrer was released on Tuesday, did not play.

Running back: Greg Hill rushed for a modest 21 yards on nine carries against his old team Friday in Kansas City, but he was more effective than those numbers would indicate. The Rams also had him running primarily between the tackles, even though his forte is going outside.

But Hill got outside in the first quarter, with a 3-yard touchdown run. He had enough speed to turn the corner, something the Rams didn't have last year with Lawrence Phillips.

After the game, coach Dick Vermeil indicated that Jerald Moore probably would be the team's starting running back in the season-opener against New Orleans. Moore didn't have a carry Friday -- he started at fullback because of an injury to Derrick Harris (hip pointer).

Receiver: Isaac Bruce and Eddie Kennison appear ready to go. Bruce caught two passes before calling it a night in Kansas City. Kennison caught a key 22-yarder late in the first half that led to a Rams field goal.

Third wide receiver Ricky Proehl couldn't handle a catchable pass from Banks -- that was thrown slightly behind him -- and it led to a Kansas City reception.

Bubble receiver Johnny "J.T." Thomas helped his cause with four catches for 46 yards, but then wiped out an 18-yard completion to Malcolm Floyd and what would have been a first down in Chiefs territory with a silly penalty for illegal use of hands.

Defensive line: First-round draft pick Grant Wistrom easily played his best game of the preseason, registering a sack and making a couple of nice plays on run defense against Kansas City. Although Jay Williams will open the season as the starting right end, look for Wistrom's role to increase as the season progresses.

The final cuts here will be tough. The Rams entered the game with 10 defensive linemen, and will only keep eight or nine. Tackle Chris Maumalanga, who entered the Chiefs game as the player most likely to be cut, played pretty well -- far better than his one tackle would indicate. He got a frequent inside push, forcing a holding penalty on one occasion.

Linebacker: Roman Phifer's hamstring injury may cause the Rams to keep seven linebackers instead of six when the final roster cuts are made today. That could be good news for London Fletcher and Charlie Clemons, who entered the Kansas City game on the bubble.

It might not be good enough to keep rookie Jason Chorak around. But Chorak, a seventh-round pick from Washington, could end up on the team's practice squad. Even though Vermeil wasn't pleased with the team's run defense, middle linebacker Eric Hill continues to round into form after missing several practices early in training camp with a back strain, and he will be an upgrade over Robert Jones.

Defensive back: The Chiefs' game marked by far the best effort by the secondary this preseason. After his struggles against Michael Irvin and Dallas a week ago, right corner Dexter McCleon settled down with a solid performance against the Chiefs, who managed a modest 183 yards on 38 passes. It should be pointed out, however, that both of Kansas City's starting wide receivers -- Andre Rison and Derrick Alexander -- sat out this game with injuries. Their replacements, Joe Horn and Kevin Lockett, have a combined five NFL regular-season receptions.

Special teams: Jeff Wilkins added some exclamation points to his preseason with a 52-yard field goal to close the first half against Kansas City. One week earlier against Dallas, Wilkins kicked a 54-yarder. So he finished exhibition play four-for-four in field goals -- although he missed an extra point in preseason game No. 2 against San Diego.

Wilkins' career-long in the regular season was a 52-yarder last season against San Francisco.

Against the Chiefs, the Rams got another strong game from punter Rick Tuten; the team did a decent job on kick coverage and returns, but got snookered on an onside kick by the Chiefs.

INJURY ANALYSIS

Roman Phifer's work was almost done for the night against Kansas City when he suffered a hamstring injury chasing down Chiefs quarterback Rich Gannon midway through the second quarter. Now, Phifer, the team's defensive captain a year ago, is likely to miss the regular-season opener against New Orleans and even more.

The Rams don't have much depth at linebacker, making Phifer's absence even more disconcerting. The team was so lacking in game-ready outside linebackers that middle linebacker Lorenzo Styles started playing the outside during the preseason, and he has done well enough. Styles may start for Phifer against the Saints.

If not, raw rookie Leonard Little may be thrown into the fray. Little, a rush end for much of his college career at Tennessee, has played next to no outside linebacker until being drafted by St. Louis.

There were only two other minor injuries of note against the Chiefs. Wide receiver Isaac Bruce was poked in the eye on a facemask penalty against Kansas City safety Jerome Woods, but should be fine.

Backup safety Mike Scurlock suffered a concussion late in the third quarter.

Besides Phifer, the Rams most likely will go without center Mike Gruttaduaria and tight end Mitch Jacoby against the Saints. Gruttadauria underwent arthroscopic knee surgery less than two weeks ago, and Jacoby needed thumb surgery a week ago.

Third-down back Amp Lee missed the final two preseason games with a foot injury, so his status is questionable against the Saints.

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