Rams News

Good stats are no solace for Banks

09/06/98

By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch Staff

Tony Banks completed a career-high 29 passes Sunday, including 10 to Isaac Bruce, who logged the 17th 100-yard game of his career (with 131 yards). But that was of small consolation to Banks, given the Rams' disappointing 24-17 loss to New Orleans.
``You have to be disappointed,'' Banks said. ``We gave them that hope early on. As players, you expect to win every game, every Sunday. You don't play this game to lose.''
Banks completed 29 of 44 attempts for 298 yards, but several throws were tipped or batted away by Saints defenders. He said his blockers need to stay on their blocks, and get into their defenders, especially with the quick passes the Rams are trying to emphasize this season.
``The offensive line knows on quick passes, you've got to be aggressive, and keep their hands down,'' Banks said. ``I think maybe we had a little first-game jitters or something.''
Injury update: Starting middle linebacker Eric Hill suffered a bruised left hand in the first half. He left briefly to have the hand
X-rayed before returning.
Starting center John Flannery also left the game in the first half with a bruised knee, and was temporarily replaced by Tom Nutten at center before returning. Nutten then suffered a hyperextended elbow.
The Saints lost quarterback Billy Joe Hobert for the season with a ruptured Achilles' tendon early in the fourth quarter.
The Rams' Sunday inactive list included safety Toby Wright, who tore some scar tissue in his surgically repaired knee in the preseason finale against Kansas City. New Orleans' Sunday inactive list included starting wide receiver Sean Dawkins (elbow), a free agent pickup from Indianapolis in the offseason, and starting linebacker Mark Fields (eye).
Ram-blings: Instead of voting on captains for the season, the Rams' coaching staff is naming game-day captains on a weekly basis. Sunday's captains were Bruce, safety Keith Lyle and place-kicker Jeff Wilkins. . . . Cornerback Ryan McNeil, who ended his holdout last Monday, played sparingly. . . . New Rams defensive lineman Mike D. Jones saw more action than first-round pick Grant Wistrom. . . . Besides Wright and running back Greg Hill, rookie tight end Roland Williams also was on the Sunday inactive list.

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