Rams News

Fans still waiting for results from Rams
09/05 02:39 AM

By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch Staff

It seems like a lifetime ago, that July day when the Rams received a standing ovation from several thousand fans -- just for getting off the bus at Parkway Central High for their first training camp practice as the St. Louis Rams.
There were those giddy early games at Busch Stadium, and that 5-1 start in 1995. Then reality set in. Hard reality. You don't become the NFL's losingest team in the '90s by accident. Especially when the calendar now reads 1998.
The Rams are 13-29 in St. Louis since that 5-1 start. They have regressed from seven victories in '95, to six in '96, to five in '97. The franchise is straining to keep the stands filled at the Trans World Dome. Patience is wearing thin among its fan base.
In many ways, 1998 could be a make-or-break season for the Rams.
For coach Dick Vermeil.
For quarterback Tony Banks.
For several other players, including wide receiver Eddie Kennison and offensive guard Zach Wiegert.
For the relationship between a franchise and a city.
``I don't say this to be sarcastic or facetious, but very seldom does a winning team move anywhere,'' Vermeil said. ``Teams that move in this league . . . are normally teams that are struggling. And the Rams have been a struggling organization.
``For St. Louis to open their arms and greet them, and then continue to support them like they have with very little reward in return, is a very warm experience for me.''
But is the Era of Good Feeling about to end? Isn't this a key year for the franchise?
``Every time I've ever coached in any situation, the question's asked me: Is this a key year?'' Vermeil said. ``In the National Football League, every year's a key year.
``I think these fans in St. Louis will stick with us. First off, if they want to go see a pro football game, they don't have a choice. We're the only ones that play here.''
But seriously. . .
``I sense a very loyal, patient fan,'' Vermeil said. ``I sense that, in my communication with the people, whether it be at the grocery store or the cleaners. People appreciate improvement, and I think they'll recognize it.
``We've got to improve enough that the non-football expert can recognize we're better. Hopefully, we'll be able to do that. We're not interested in winning by accident. We want to win because we're playing well and we're well-coached. But we've got to do things better. I think we can hold onto our fan base before they jump ship, and be winning for them.''
But can this be a winning team? Or even a playoff team?
``Definitely,'' Kennison said early in training camp. ``I think this is a Super Bowl team. I really feel that. You look at the talent on this field. And you look at the things that are going on, offensively and defensively. So we can definitely play in anybody's Super Bowl.''
Whoa! Why not aim for .500 first, and go from there?
The ingredients are there for improvement, schedule-wise. Only six of the Rams' 16 games are against teams that had winning records in '97. Four of their first five games are at home, beginning with Sunday's opener against New Orleans.
Vermeil feels much better about his team's depth -- on the offensive line, at running back and wide receiver in particular. When November and December roll around and the injuries start piling up, the second stringers take on more importance. In Ricky Proehl and Az-Zahir Hakim, the Rams have a better third and fourth receiver than they did a year ago.
Although no one will confuse them with Eric Dickerson, the Rams have three bona fide options in the backfield in Jerald Moore, Greg Hill and Robert Holcombe. On the offensive line, center John Flannery, tackle Ethan Brooks, and guards Ryan Tucker and Tom Nutten are a better corps of backups than the Rams had last year. (Flannery, in fact, begins the season as a starter due to Mike Gruttadauria's knee surgery.)
But games generally are won by playmakers, difference makers. And the Rams don't seem to have many once you get past Isaac Bruce.
Even Vermeil concedes, ``I don't know how drastically, from a physical standpoint, we've upgraded the starters.''
On offense, the Rams need Ernie Conwell to make more plays, Eddie Kennison to return to his 1996 form, and some combination of Moore, Hill and Holcombe to upgrade the running game. But most of all, the Rams need consistent play from Tony Banks.
Will Banks be an improved quarterback in 1998?
``Without a doubt,'' said offensive coordinator Jerry Rhome. ``And the better people play around him, the better he'll play. And that's true with Troy Aikman. That's true with Warren Moon. It's true with Brett Favre.''
The offense was anything but scintillating in the preseason. But the best news was the play of the offensive line, which did a credible job of run blocking and gave up only two sacks -- none by the first unit.
``Hopefully, it's not a mirage,'' Vermeil said. ``The offensive line has really improved. And if they keep doing that, I can see the offensive line, as the year goes -- barring injury -- become a pretty good group.''
But as the preseason progressed, Vermeil found reasons to worry about the other side of the line of scrimmage. The Rams gave up 4.1 yards a carry on the ground, and nearly a thousand yards passing -- 999 to be exact -- in the air, in four exhibition games.
``I'm concerned about our defense,'' Vermeil said. ``Last year going into our league opener, I wasn't as concerned about our defense being able to stop the run as I am right now.''
Free agent pickup Eric Hill should help against the run. But the Rams didn't get as much out of their defensive line as they hoped in August, necessitating last week's trade for New England end Mike Jones.
Despite the holes in the lineup, and the team's relative inexperience, there's a quiet confidence in the locker room.
``We've got the people on this team, that we can go to the playoffs,'' safety Keith Lyle said. ``I think if we play smart and eliminate penalties and things like that, we can go as far as we want to.''
Which would be an entirely new experience for the St. Louis Rams.

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