Rams News

Kennison returns to rookie form

09/15/98 04:05:20 AM

By R.B. FALLSTROM AP Sports Writer

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- After a quiet year, Eddie Kennison is running with the same success he had in his rookie season two years ago.

The St. Louis Rams' wide receiver and return man had a 71-yard punt return for a touchdown in Sunday's 38-31 loss to the Minnesota Vikings.

``I'm not a rookie anymore,'' Kennison said. ``This is my third season, and I'm trying to make everything possible happen that I can.''

In his first year in 1996, he had two touchdown runbacks and almost 1,000 yards of receptions to justify his status as a first-round draft pick.

Injury and inconsistent play plagued him last season.

But the patience of a coaching staff that stuck with him is now paying off.

``It's so easy to jump ship on players and blame them,'' coach Dick Vermeil said. ``It's probably the most consistent method used, but not me.

``How do you get your money's worth out of draft choices if you don't work with them?''

Vermeil's take on the new, improved Kennison: It's all a matter of maturity.

Two years ago, it all came easy. Kennison and Isaac Bruce were one of the league's premier tandems in his rookie season. Bruce led NFL receivers with 1,338 yards on 84 catches and Kennison had 54 catches for 924 yards.

Last season, Bruce missed four games and most of a fifth with a hamstring injury. Kennison also had a hamstring injury but struggled even when he was healthy. His catches dropped to 25, and his punt return average dropped from 14.6 yards, second in the league, to 7.3.

On one return, Kennison was far from fearless. With one player to beat for a potential touchdown return, he unaccountably stepped out of bounds rather than risk contact. He's never had much to say about it.

``Injuries played a big factor,'' Kennison said. ``I feel really good and healthy now.''

Kennison was one of the team's most avid workers in their offseason conditioning program. He added weight to help him get off the line of scrimmage, a problem last year.

So far, so good. On his other seven punt returns, he's averaging 12.2 yards. At wide receiver he has only three catches for 36 yards in the first two games, but has been enough of a presence to allow Isaac Bruce some freedom. Bruce caught 11 passes for 192 yards on Sunday.

``Eddie has been attacking coverage, even when he's gaining 5 yards,'' Vermeil said. ``He's done a real fine job.''

Kennison said Bruce is an inspiration.

``A guy who plays like that every week, you're almost speechless,'' he said. ``I definitely want to try to work at his level.''

Kennison has no secret for his success on punt returns, except that as the NFL's fastest man he can outrun a lot of problems, and that he has the peripheral vision to watch everything unfold.

``You have to see the whole field because if you don't you can get your block knocked off,'' Kennison said. ``I don't know that you'd call what I do a gift because you have so many guys doing it.

``But a lot of guys wouldn't want to do it because it's dangerous.''

Notes:@ Vermeil is sticking with quarterback Tony Banks, who threw four interceptions, and he hopes the home fans will, too. He's noticed them booing Banks and said that it's got to hurt Banks' psyche. ... Rookie running back Robert Holcombe, the Rams' second-round pick from Illinois, might play at Buffalo this weekend. Holcombe has been on the inactive list the first two weeks.

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