Rams News

St. Louis Rams
Team Report posted September 21, 1998
by tsn correspondent JIM THOMAS - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Dick Vermeil has stubbornly refused to dress rookie running back Robert Holcombe in the Rams' first three games. But now he has no choice.

With Greg Hill out for the next month and half with a broken leg, Holcombe is the logical choice to step into the lineup as the team's new feature back. Holcombe doesn't have Hill's speed, but he's a more nifty runner, and probably will be more effective between the tackles.

Vermeil dressed only four running backs in each of the first three games, leaving Holcombe as the odd man out. The decision made little sense and outraged many fans.

And with good reason. There are some in the Rams' front office who feel Holcombe is the Rams' best running back, Hill included. Holcombe led the Rams in rushing during the preseason. Yet, he wasn't even good enough to put on a uniform?

Vermeil's only other option is Jerald Moore, who has carried only twice since fumbling three times in the season-opening loss to New Orleans. Hill rushed for two touchdowns and a career-high 158 yards before his injury against Buffalo, which came when tackled for a safety by 325-pound nose tackle Ted Washington. . . .

The Rams registered nine sacks against Buffalo. The left side of their line has been especially effective, with end Kevin Carter and tackle D'Marco Farr off to strong starts. They had two sacks apiece against the Bills.

HAMSTRUNG

Through two games, Isaac Bruce was on a pace for 162 catches and 2,584 yards. Then, he felt some tightness in his right hamstring during practice last Wednesday. He didn't practice the rest of the week, but he and everyone else in the organization thought he would be fine for Sunday's game in Buffalo.

But when Bruce went out to test the leg in pregame warmups, the hamstring still felt tight. So Bruce held himself out of the game. When Vermeil heard the news, he said, "It was like hitting me with a shovel."

To avoid digging themselves into a deeper hole, the Rams and Bruce will take a conservative approach on the hamstring injury this year. Last year, with a hamstring injury to his other leg, Bruce tried to come back to early on a couple of occasions. Save for about a half dozen plays in Game 3 against Denver, Bruce missed the first five games of the season and wasn't really right until midseason.

The prudent thing to do is to keep Bruce out of Sunday's home game against Arizona. A bye week which follows, which would give Bruce an additional week to rest the hamstring before returning October 11 against the New York Jets. . . .

Linebacker Roman Phifer (hamstring) and rookie wide receiver Az-Zahir Hakim (hand) could return against the Cardinals after missing the Rams' first three games.

GOALLINE STAND

It would be silly to read too much into one victory, but the Rams might have been staring at 1-6 -- or worse -- had they not rallied past Buffalo. Now, if the Rams can beat Arizona this week at home, they will head into the bye week at 2-2, then try to get Isaac Bruce healthy for the New York Jets, Miami and San Francisco in succession after the bye.

All is not lost -- just yet. Despite all their mistakes and turnovers, the Rams have displayed a lot of moxie in their second-half comeback against the Bills and near misses against New Orleans and Minnesota.

GRADING OUT

Offense: A-. Turnovers aside, an impressive showing against a highly-ranked defense. Without Isaac Bruce.

Defense: D+. Yes, the 9 sacks were impressive, but did the Rams forget to bring their run defense?

Strategy: B-. Jerry Rhome called offensive plays in this one instead of Dick Vermeil and did a commendable job.

POSITIONAL ANALYSIS

Quarterback: Tony Banks completed only one of his first six passes for one yard. Then again, he said his sore throwing shoulder felt numb in the first quarter after taking a pain-killing injection before the game. Banks threw two more interceptions Sunday, throwing behind Ricky Proehl on one, and overthrowing Ernie Conwell by a mile on the other. But he showed toughness, moxie and found a way to win the game. GRADE: B

Offensive line: Banks got sacked twice and was hit a few times, but the line did a pretty good job of pass protection. Ted Washington's safety aside, when squashed Greg Hill in the end zone (breaking his leg), the run blocking was stellar. The Rams averaged 7.2 yards a carry against what had been the NFL's second-ranked defense. GRADE: A-

Running backs: Even before suffering his broken leg in the fourth quarter, Greg Hill already had piled up a career-high 158 yards rushing, a career-long 46-yard run and scored a pair of touchdown runs. Hill did much of his work between the tackles, normally not his forte. The Rams even got a bonus 15-yard run from fullback Derrick Harris. The third-year player had only 3 yards rushing previously in his NFL career. GRADE: A

Receivers: The Rams got just enough out of this unit to make up for the surprise absence of Isaac Bruce, who was a pregame scratch because of a tight hamstring. Eddie Kennison set up the Rams' first TD with a 45-yard reception, but didn't catch another pass all day. Underachieving J.T. Thomas, who had two catches for 25 yards all last season, caught 2 for 26 Sunday. And Ricky Proehl had four catches overall, and two key grabs on the game-winning touchdown drive. GRADE: B

Defensive line: Tackle D'Marco Farr and end Kevin Carter continue to be a dynamic duo on the left side of the line. They had two sacks apiece against Buffalo, and both had a pass breakup. But the Rams didn't get much done on the right side. And didn't do much against the run. Period. Buffalo rushed for 215 yards and a 6.1 average. GRADE: D+

Linebackers: This unit must take some of the blame for those 215 rushing yards by the Bills, and some of the blame for the Bills' 10 completions for 131 yards and two touchdowns to tight ends and backs. Yet, by the end of the day, middle linebacker Eric Hill and outside linebacker Mike A. Jones had combined for 15 tackles, two quarterback sacks and a pass breakup. Hill knocked Bills quarterback Rob Johnson out of the game, with a hard hit on a quarterback sneak in the fourth quarter. GRADE: C

Defensive backs: It's one thing to get beat on a well thrown pass when coverage is there. But the Rams keep leaving tight ends and backs wide open on busted assignments. So it was on fullback Sam Gash's 5-yard TD catch in the first quarter, and tight end Riemersma's 16-yard TD catch in the third quarter. The cornerbacks did relatively well, except for a couple of rough spots by Dexter McCleon, who allowed a 41-yard completion to Eric Moulds and a 13-yard touchdown catch by Andre Reed. GRADE: C-

Special teams: Punter Rick Tuten bounced back in a big way from the Minnesota game, when he averaged only 31 yards on five punts. He averaged 53.7 yards on three punts Sunday. Eddie Kennison had a 37-yard punt runt return. A later muffed punt by Kennison was a freaky play that was hard to avoid. The Rams coverage units were respectable against one of the better kickoff and punt returners in the league in Kevin Williams. GRADE: B

Coaching: Because of the distractions caused early in the week by Practice-gate -- the players' complaints about lengthy work days -- Dick Vermeil turned the play-calling over to offensive coordinator Jerry Rhome on Sunday. Rhome called a good game -- as evidenced by the Rams season-high totals of 406 yards and 34 points. But there are still too many wasted timeouts, and the decision to place Robert Holcombe on the inactive list almost jumped up and bit them after Greg Hill's broken leg. GRADE: C

INJURY ANALYSIS

Vermeil said he felt like he was "hit by a shovel" when he learned on game day that Isaac Bruce wouldn't be able to go because of tightness in his hamstring. With a bye week following Sunday's game against Arizona, it might be best to sit Bruce against the Cardinals if there is any doubt at all about his health. Why mess him a month or more over one game? Ricky Proehl had to step it up in Bruce's absence, and he did with four catches for 91 yards.

At running back, Hill could be back for the last month of the season, maybe more if he heals quickly from his broken leg. They should have enough to get by in Holcombe and Moore, but don't be surprised to see the Rams auditioning some out of work running backs in the coming weeks.

Defensive end Kevin Carter suffered a calf injury and cornerback Todd Lyght suffered a bruised thigh. Carter was through by halftime. Lyght suffered his injury on Buffalo's first offensive series, but gutted it out and made it into the third quarter before he could go no more.

Lorenzo Styles, who has started all three games at outside linebacker in place of the injured Roman Phifer (hamstring), couldn't finish the game because of a groin injury. He was replaced by Charlie Clemons, who had two sacks. Phifer could be back this week. So could rookie wide receiver Az-Zahir Hakim, who has missed the first three games with a broken hand.

OUT ON A LIMB

Even though he played at Illinois and was born in Houston, running back Robert Holcombe was a high school star at Mesa (Ariz.) High School in the Phoenix area. Look for him to start and have a big game against an Arizona team that is not proficient at stopping the run. One thing's for certain: Holcombe should have fresh legs after sitting out the Rams' first three games.

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