Rams News

`By the way,' Holcombe will be starting Sunday
09/23 11:11 PM

By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch Staff

It was a meeting just like any other meeting Wednesday morning at Rams Park. The running backs were looking at film and discussing the pass protection problems caused by Arizona's defense.
Running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery turned to Robert Holcombe and casually dropped this bomb on the rookie from Illinois:
``By the way Robert, you're going to get a lot of reps this week in practice. As a matter of fact you're going to be starting. So I need your undivided attention on everything we're doing here.''
Holcombe smiled that big smile of his. His eyes lit up. And lo and behold, Holcombe started asking questions. ``I think he's up for the challenge,'' Montgomery said. ``The last three weeks have been painful for Robert, and it's been a growth period for him.''
But that growth period hits another stage Sunday when Holcombe starts for the Rams against the Arizona Cardinals. Dick Vermeil likes to ride the same horse in the backfield. So Holcombe should get the ball early and often. And with Greg Hill out for a minimum of eight to 10 weeks with a broken leg, the running back job is now Holcombe's to lose.
``It's something I've been looking forward to, trying to be really patient about,'' Holcombe said. ``I'm finally going to get an opportunity.''
Against one of his hometown teams no less. Holcombe is a native of Houston, but he played for Mesa (Ariz.) High in the Phoenix area his final two years of high school, living with his aunt and uncle.
``It's just a coincidence that it happened that way -- that I'd be playing against a team that's from where I played high school ball,'' Holcombe said. ``I don't know how the coverage will be, but maybe my family back in Arizona will have a chance to see me play,'' Holcombe said. (The game, of course, will be televised back to the Phoenix area.)
When he takes the field Sunday at the Trans World Dome, Holcombe will have fresh legs and three weeks worth of frustration to take out against the Cardinals. Even though he was a high second-round draft pick -- No. 37 overall and the fifth running back drafted -- Holcombe didn't suit up against New Orleans, Minnesota or Buffalo.
``It's been very frustrating,'' Holcombe said. ``When I get out there, I'm not going to be thinking about the times that I didn't play. I'll just be thinking about it's an opportunity, and go out and make the best of it.''
If nothing else, Holcombe will have fresh legs. On Wednesday, Vermeil again tried to explain why he placed Holcombe on his pregame inactive list three weeks in a row. Again, it didn't make much sense.
``I've told you all along that he was ready to be a pure running back, but not ready to be in the total complex of the game, in the third-down situations,'' Vermeil said. ``I've felt all along that if our starter did get banged up that I would activate him and get him going.
``I'm second-guessed tremendously by everybody. . . . But when I tell you I have confidence in him, I mean I have confidence in him. If starting him Sunday doesn't prove what I've been telling you all along, then I'm an idiot.
``But I would have loved to have had Robert Holcombe active, and he would have probably carried the ball 25 times a game by now. Or 15 times anyway.''
But Vermeil has suited up only four running backs each game this season. One spot was reserved for the starting halfback. One for the starting fullback. And one for third-down specialist Amp Lee.
The fourth spot had to be manned, in Vermeil's mind, by a backup player who could play more than one position. Halfback and fullback. Or halfback and third-down back, etc.
As a rookie, Holcombe was deemed not ready to handle more than one backfield spot. Now, Holcombe has his opportunity because of Hill's injury.
``So I'm anxious to find out how he does,'' Vermeil said. ``I really am. I know one thing: He's going to give everything he's got on every snap. You won't question that. He'll take the ball upfield if you can give him the place to go.''

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