Rams News

St. Louis Rams
Team Report posted September 14, 1998
by tsn correspondent JIM THOMAS - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

A hamstring injury cost Isaac Bruce four games a year ago, and all but a few plays in a fifth. The result was pedestrian numbers (56 catches for 815 yards) that caused Bruce's name to be omitted from many preseason lists of elite receivers.

Big mistake. After an 11-catch, 192-yard day against Minnesota, Bruce has 21 catches for 323 yards this season.

Still only 25, he appears destined for a monster year even if the rest of the team struggles around him. "He's a great football player," coach Dick Vermeil said. "He comes to play. And there isn't anybody that can cover him, especially on Astroturf."

Bruce isn't a burner, but his ability to make cuts and get separation from defensive backs is accentuated on artificial turf. Bruce also is catching the ball much better this season. He had more drops than usual in '97 due to a nagging hand injury. Because of his fast start, Bruce can expect plenty of extra attention in the form of double coverages and rolled up zones.

The Rams need to cultivate more production from there second and third receivers -- Eddie Kennison and Ricky Proehl. They had only one catch between them against Minnesota. . . .

Vermeil's decision to place Greg Hill on his pregame inactive list against New Orleans looks even sillier this week. Hill started against Minnesota and had 21 carries for 82 yards and two touchdowns.

Although not the most instinctive runner, Hill adds a dimension of speed that defenses must respect. It's hard to clog the middle, when he can bounce outside for big yards. And what Vermeil says about Bruce and turf goes double for Hill. Twelve of the Rams' 16 games are on artificial turf.

Vermeil's decision to start Hill was made easier by Jerald Moore's three fumbles last week against the Saints. Moore dressed against Minnesota, and was in for a few snaps as a blocking back, but had no carries. . . .

The August 30 trade with New England for Mike D. Jones is paying quick dividends. Jones started at right end in place of Jay Williams against Minnesota and finished with five tackles, a sack and a 38-yard fumble recovery and return.

Jones also can play inside on passing situations, something the Rams should do more often to get No. 1 draft pick Grant Wistrom on the field more often. Wistrom has made some plays when give the opportunity so for this season, but hasn't been on the field much.

GOAL-LINE STAND

Even with their 0-2 start, the Rams are capable of salvaging something from the '98 season. Thanks to the fifth-place schedule, they have plenty of winnable game ahead: Buffalo, Arizona, Chicago, Philadelphia, New Orleans, Atlanta (twice) and Carolina (twice). But they won't win many game if they don't start cutting down on mistakes. At the moment, ill-timed penalties and critical turnovers are killing this team, but it's not a team devoid of talent on either side of the ball.

GRADING OUT

OFFENSE: The Rams are developing confidence, and big-play ability in Bruce and Hill. But four interceptions won't win many games. GRADE: C-.

DEFENSE: Yes, Minnesota's offense is dangerous, but the Rams are still giving up too many big plays. GRADE: C+.

STRATEGY: It makes no sense to keep Robert Holcombe on the inactive list; defense was befuddled way too often on substitutions. GRADE: D.

POSITIONAL ANALYSIS

Quarterback: By halftime, Tony Banks had matched his career high with three interceptions. He broke the tie with interception No. 4 in the fourth quarter, which set up the game-winning touchdown by Minnesota. He forced one interception over the middle, threw another when he overshot tight end Ernie Conwell, and added two -- including No. 4 -- on squareout passes that got to the receivers late. GRADE: D.

Offensive line: Given Minnesota's pass-rushing acumen, the Rams were staring at a pass-blocking disaster once the Vikings jumped to a 14-0 lead late in the fourth quarter. But instead of disintegrating, the line hung in against John Randle and the Vikings. On a day when Banks threw 44 passes, the line yielded only two sacks -- both by Derrick Alexander. The Rams' guard play was much-improved over last week. GRADE: B.

Running backs: Hill would have topped 100 yards rushing in his 1998 debut had he not accidentally stepped out of bounds on an outside run -- reducing a gain of around 40 yards to 19. As it is he settled for 82 yards on 21 carries. His touchdown runs of 1 and 5 yards both came on outside runs as well. There isn't another back on the Rams roster, with the possible exception of Holcombe, who could have made the corner on both scores. GRADE: B.

Receiver: Despite all the talented receivers wearing Minnesota uniforms, Bruce was the star of stars on the day on Sunday. He had 232 yards of total offense -- 192 receiving and 30 on a reverse. He would have had 47 more receiving yards had not a holding penalty against tackle Wayne Gandy wiped out a long completion from Banks. On the down side, Eddie Kennison dropped two passes and tight end Ernie Conwell dropped one. GRADE: A-.

Defensive line: Despite a modest total of three sacks, the defensive front got fairly consistent pressure on Minnesota quarterbacks Brad Johnson and Randall Cunningham. D'Marco Farr, Kevin Carter and Mike D. Jones combined for 12 solo tackles -- three apiece -- and one sack apiece against an above-average Vikings offensive line. But this group has to take part of the blame for the Vikings 194 rushing yards, including a career-high 179 by Robert Smith. GRADE: B- .

Linebackers: Mike A. Jones had his third career interception. Charlie Clemons was a pleasant surprise with six tackles and some well-disguised blitzes. And Lorenzo Styles didn't embarrass himself in his second start in place of the injured Roman Phifer. The unit generally did a better job covering backs out of the backfield than it did in the opener against New Orleans. But a gaffe by Leonard Little opened the gates for Smith's 74-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. GRADE: C.

Defensive backs: It could have been a lot worse. The Vikings talented receiver trio of Cris Carter, Randy Moss and Jake Reed combined for 12 catches for 162 yards and 1 TD. The longest reception of the day was a 27-yarder by Moss. Todd Lyght did a good job on Carter, although his 25-yard pass interference penalty on 3rd and 12, set up a Vikings touchdown in the third quarter. And it was Carter's catch that decided the game. GRADE: C.

Special teams: Punter Rick Tuten has had better days -- probably many better days. His 31-yard average on 5 punts cost the Rams some field position. A few of his short kicks came when Tuten was kicking into a short field, but he managed to land only one inside the 20. But any time special teams come up with a TD, the day has to be considered a success. Kennison flashed some of his old form with a 71-yard punt return for a score. GRADE: B.

Coaching: At least they got it half right this week in dressing Hill at running back. But when Hill admittedly got tired in the fourth quarter, the Rams didn't have an alternative. Wouldn't it have been nice to have rookie Holcombe to call on in relief? But Holcombe didn't dress for the second week in a row. Is the staff saving him for next year? . . . The Rams had one timeout remaining when the clock expired, and it was costly. Maybe the Rams were justified in not calling a timeout before the final play, because it meant not letting Minnesota set up defensively. Still, Banks was not signaling for timeout when he surfaced from the final tackle, and a long tick remained on the clock. GRADE: D.

INJURY ANALYSIS

The Rams reported no injuries after Sunday's game against Minnesota. Middle linebacker Eric Hill played with a broken hand. Center Mike Gruttadauria (knee) joined linebacker Roman Phifer (hamstring), wide receiver Az-Zahir Hakim (hand) and center/guard Tom Nutten (elbow) on the pregame inactive list.

Gruttadauria began practice last week and should be good to go this Sunday in Buffalo. It may be another week or so on Phifer and Hakim. Hakim practiced with the team as well last week, but was catching balls one-handed because of a cast. He would give the Rams a bona fide fourth receiver in spread formations and figures to add a spark to what so far has been a lackluster kickoff return game. Phifer did a little sprinting last week, but that's it. He will need a full week of practice before he's ready to go, although the Rams have gotten by OK with a combination of Lorenzo Styles and Charlie Clemons replacing him at linebacker.

Hill had only one tackle Sunday according to unofficial press box statistics, but wasn't on the field a whole lot. Because of the Vikings' frequent use of three-receiver formations, the Rams used their nickel defense a lot, which sends Hill to the bench.

OUT ON A LIMB

With 10 of the Rams' 14 remaining games on artificial turf, Greg Hill could rush for 1,000 yards. But the Rams would be better served to work Robert Holcombe into the lineup in relief of Hill, and some day Holcombe could be a better runner. Although not as fast as Hill, Holcombe probably is more instinctive. He hits the hole with a purpose.

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