RAMS in the Spotlight

Offense: the Skill Positions

A brief, illustrated look at the returning RAMS starters at the offensive skill positions who will have to step up their play from last year or maintain the high standards they have set for themselves previously in order for the RAMS to be successful in 1998...

The sight of Amp Lee in the open field, turning short pass routes into long gains and juking numerous defenders right out of their shoes along the way was a fairly common one for RAMS fans last year... it was one of the few pleasant sights that we were able to become accustomed to in '97. He finished the year as the teams leading reciever and MVP after signing a minimum contract late in July, and his hard work has paid off. The RAMS resigned Amp over the offseason to a multiyear contract which will pay him an average of $1.2 million per season. Most RAMS fans would agree that that was money well spent. We'll need Amp to duplicate his '97 effectiveness along with free agent signee sure-handed wide receiver Rickey Proehl in our 3rd down offensive sets in order for 1998 to be our year.

Tight End Ernie Conwell also pleasantly surprised RAMS fans at times during 1997. He made such a good impression on new head coach Dick Vermeil with his hard work ethic, that early on in camp, DV had already fallen in love with Ernie and told the press he wished he could adopt him. Ernie had perhaps the play of the year for the RAMS in game 1 against the Saints when he caught a short pass from Tony Banks on third and long near midfield at a critical stage early in the third quarter. He rumbled and bashed his way all the way into the endzone carrying half the defense on his back (having run over the other half), for the score that pushed us ahead to stay. But Ernie has alot to work on as well... there were also long stretches during the season when he became the invisible man, and he arguably cost the Rams one game against Carolina by dropping a few balls he should have caught. But 1998 could be Ernie's breakout year in which he forces the rest of the league to take notice, the Rams coaches plan to expand his role in the offense this year, and Ernie should not dissapoint.

Isaac Bruce had a good year by almost anyone's standards except his own. After setting the all time NFL records for receptions in his first three years in the league and coming off back to back 1300+ yard recieving seasons, Ike recorded a modest 900 yards recieving due to situations beyond his control. He was plagued by hamstring injuries for the entire first half of the season, but still came back to post decent numbers and one stellar 233 yard, 2 touchdown game against Atlanta, despite playing for only one series in the RAMS first five games. We all know that we need the Reverand to return to his usual healthy dominating self in 1998 for the RAMS to have any chance at all. There is no doubt in my mind that he will do just that.

The one RAMS player who missed Ike most of all was 2nd year WR Eddie Kennison. After an extraordinary rookie season in which Eddie surpassed everyones expectations by piling up over 900 receiving yards and 11 TDS, he was stricken by the dreaded 'sophomore jinx' in the worst way. He was perhaps the biggest disappointment on the team last year. Part of that, of course, can be directly attributed to the lack of Isaac Bruce in the lineup... without the Reverand beside him to draw the bulk of the double teams from the defense, Eddie found that he sorely missed the single coverage he encountered during his rookie year. Eddie has to take alot of the blame himself as well though, the man who was crowned the NFL's fastest man was taken almost entirely out of the Rams offense by physical cornerbacks who found they could counter Eddie's all world speed by jamming him at the line of scrimmage. Thusfar in the preseason, Kennison has showed more strength and he's done a good job of getting off the line and into his patterns smoothly and cleanly. If Eddie doesn't step up early, he'll find his starting job taken by Rickey Proehl.

The Rams backfield is perhaps the most unsettled area on the team right now. DV has said that FB Craig 'Ironhead' Heyward will not be allowed in camp if he doesn't reach his target playing weight of 260 lbs. first. His future as a Ram is in serious jeapardy after a sluggish 1997 season in which he seldom saw the ball and blocked only adequately. That would leave untested 2nd year man Derrick Harris who was inactive most of last season as the lone returning fullback on the roster. Harris is a decent blocker, but not very skilled running with the ball or catching it. Rookie 5th round draft pick Raymond Priester from Clemson should get a good look, and Jerald Moore might see some time at fullback this year as well. Recently, Vermeil has been trying TE Joe Jacoby at H-back as well, with decent results catching the ball in motion out of the backfield.

The starting tailback position is also very much up in the air. After troubled (RB) Lawrence Phillips left the team in early November, 2nd year back Jerald Moore filled in admirably, starting the final 5 games of the season and gaining 380 yards (3.7 yards/carry) and 3 TD's. Moore is a very tenacious power-back who runs with a very low center of gravity, but there are questions about Jerald's durability. He's been injured more often than healthy in his short NFL career. Jerald could be tried at fullback if rookie Robert Holcombe is ready to take over immediately.

The RAMS used their second round draft pick this year to select Robert Holcombe from Illinois. "Hoss" Holcombe is extremely quick with 'make you miss' stutter step moves and great natural instincts to find the seams in the defense. There weren't many holes open at Illinois, but Robert still managed to become the Illini's all time leading rusher, accounting for almost 50% of his team's total offense behind one of the worst offensive lines imaginable. This kid is pure heart and determination. Holcombe has been everything the Rams coaches hoped for and more. In addition to great acceleration out of the backfield and a knack for finnishing off his runs by putting his head down and delivering punishing hits, Robert has also surprised coaches with his blocking and receiving skills.

The Rams have also added former Cheifs RB Greg Hill to their tailback arsenal. Greg is not the type of power, between the tackles runner that will most likely be featured in Vermeil's offense, but he is extraordinarily fast. He is very dangerous running sweeps off tackle, and if he gets loose in the secondary, he has home run explosiveness. Hill is exceptional on turf, where he has a stellar 5.7 yards per carry average for his career. The Rams play 12 games on turf this year, and Greg should see quite a bit of action as a change of pace back for the Rams.

Last but certainly not least in terms of importance to the Rams chances in 1998 is QB Tony Banks. Banks had mixed results in his 2nd year in the league completing just 51% of his passes for 14 TD's and 13 INT's. But his flashes of brilliance were evident for all to see. When he is hot, Tony is cool and confident and has amazing touch on the deep ball to go with his always rocketlike arm. In this his third year in the league, Dick Vermeil and the RAMS and all of us fans are depending on Tony to develop some consistency to go with his amazing raw talent. I've been behind TB all the way and have no doubt that he is the RAMS QB of the present and future. Banks bashers take heed! Tony will have his breakout year in 1998!!! Go Tony! Go RAMS!!!

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