Rams News

Banks says he's not discouraged
09/17 11:41 PM

By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch Staff

Given the increasingly hostile atmosphere at the Trans World Dome toward Tony Banks, the Rams probably couldn't have picked a better week to shuffle off to Buffalo for their first road game of the season.
But Banks, the Rams' beleaguered quarterback, insists he's not going to let boobirds or talk show criticism get to him.
``I don't think it bothers me near as much as it did last year, because I've come to expect it,'' Banks said. ``Last year, it was a new thing for me. My Spartans up in college never did that to me, and in my rookie year here, they didn't do that to me.''
Banks played at Michigan State before the Rams made him a second-round draft choice in 1996.
``It used to mean a lot to me to be cheered when I come out on the field, but now I'm tending not to expect it,'' he said. ``So it's just another day at the office.''
Banks had a rough day at the office in Sunday's 38-31 loss to Minnesota, throwing a career-high four interceptions. Three of them led to 17 Vikings points. And none of the four were good throws.
Banks may dodge pass rushers, but he never dodges accountability.
``I made a few bonehead mistakes, and that's something I definitely didn't think I was going to do because I feel pretty comfortable in this offense,'' Banks said. ``My confidence is still high. I think I'm still delivering the football as well as I ever have.''
In between the interceptions, Banks did manage to complete 25 of 45 passes for 283 yards, the sixth-highest yardage total of his career. His 80-yard touchdown strike to Isaac Bruce was a career best.
Eliminate the interceptions, and Banks' numbers would be impressive. After two weeks, he leads the NFL in completions (54), is third in passing yards (581), and his completion percentage (60.7) is tied for 10th.
Of course, you can't eliminate the interceptions.
Had he thrown just two, instead of four, the Rams probably would have upset Minnesota. Banks realizes this. He may not show much emotion on the field, but he took each interception hard.
Almost since his goal-line scramble ended short of the end zone to end the game, players and coaches have been working to keep Banks' head up.
``He has to,'' offensive lineman Wayne Gandy said. ``I talked to him after the game. That's something that he has to understand. He's the leader. Like I told him, he could be a 10-year veteran and have a day when you throw (interceptions).
``But he threw some good deep passes. He led us on that last drive. Made some big runs. He just fell 3 inches short of taking us into overtime. He showed a lot of heart.
``He had the bad, and he had the good. With a young player like that, you want to keep him positive. Because everybody can see that once he cuts out the one or two things, he's going to be a good quarterback.''
While some are calling for Banks' head -- or at least Steve Bono -- Vermeil is nowhere close to contemplating a quarterback change.
``I have more confidence in Tony than most people do,'' Vermeil said. ``I see all the good things he does. I see the mistakes he makes. Like I told Tony, John Elway had (three) games with four interceptions in his first four years, and one game with five interceptions.
``Good players grow if they handle the negative experiences properly. They've got to be able to experience the negatives, and not allow it to frustrate them.''
Even with all the interceptions, and all the boos, Vermeil was impressed that Banks kept coming back against Minnesota.
``Even the last interception he threw, he takes us the length of the field to the 1-inch line,'' Vermeil said. ``Now that doesn't show me the kind of personality that has swallowed the pressure.''

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