Rams : Robinson Still Likes New Offense
There are 17 fourth-quarter reasons (Houston 17, Rams 0) why the Rams might consider trading in this new offense for the old one.
The old offense, with Eric Dickerson running endlessly behind pulling guards and massive tackles, probably wears down the Houston Oilers of the world and wins Sunday’s game in boring ball-control fashion. Not certainly, but probably.
Instead, the Rams were committed to their new wide-open look from start to finish. For their conviction, they came away 20-16 losers.
The choice, in essence, Ram Coach John Robinson said Monday, is taking a gamble now to be something special later or reverting back to the hum-drum style of a 10-6 wild-card playoff team.
And the Rams, he said, are not retreating.
“We have no intention of lightening the burden,” Robinson said of the offense. “We’ll do it until we do it right. . . . It was a rude awakening, but we’re clearly going to be that (outstanding) team. But if we’re going to be outstanding, we have to face the fact that we can’t just go out and stand around. If we don’t change, we’ve got disaster on our hands.”
The Rams, he said, may have succumbed to a form of football narcissism. Perhaps his team was seduced by its very own expectations and press clippings. All summer long the talk was Ernie Zampese and offense and passes and points.
And wasn’t it all going to be so easy?
On the Rams’ first possession Sunday, Dickerson broke free and ran 57 yards to the Houston three-yard line.
On their second possession, quarterback Jim Everett zipped a pass to Ron Brown, who with his speed turned a short pass into a 34-yard gain.
“Suddenly, we have all these weapons,” Robinson said. “And maybe the weapons replaced the need to be emotionally prepared to play. . . . The difference from being where you want, to being absolutely lousy, is not very much.”
Monday, Robinson searched for answers. He said he’s never been so stunned by one of his team’s performances.
“Maybe my opening game at USC was something like it,” he said, referring to a 46-25 loss to Missouri back in 1976.
And after much head-scratching and soul-searching, Robinson has concluded that somewhere between Ground Robinson and Air Zampese the Rams lost their fire.
“It’s a damn war,” he said of the game. “You’ve got to play it as such. You’ve got to understand that.”
In turn, practices might take on a new meaning this week.
The collapse, he said, was total and complete, stretching across offensive lines to defensive, from the secondary to the sideline.
What happened Sunday was perhaps the likely result of mixing a new offense with a young quarterback and trying to make it work against a defense that takes more chances than Gary Hart.
“I’m not Dan Fouts at the moment,” said quarterback Jim Everett, who completed just 9 of 26 passes for 125 yards. “What happened was a slap in the face. We realized we can’t just walk out on the field. There’s no substitute for hard hitting.”
For Everett, only 24, it was his roughest outing to date. And his performance naturally drew criticism in the press.
The offense for which he is at least partially responsible was outgained in total yards, 400 to 244.
“I was bothered by some of the comments by a few individuals,” he said, not naming names. “But I feel confident in what I can do.”
Everett asked that the new offense be given a chance to develop. Many of the formations and pass patterns that exploded in the Astrodome on Sunday were first-time productions, he said.
“I want to go ahead full speed,” Everett said. “It’s something that’s going to be very, very good. It just didn’t happen this one time.”
Remember, today’s blunders are tomorrow’s touchdowns.
Ram Notes
Once in a blue Warren Moon dept: Only two times in four years under John Robinson have the Rams allowed opponents more fourth-quarter points than the 17 scored by the Houston Oilers Sunday. In 1984, the San Francisco 49ers scored 28 fourth-quarter points in a 45-35 win at Anaheim Stadium. In 1985, at the Superdome, the New Orleans Saints scored 20 in the final quarter in a 29-3 win. . . . Cornerback LeRoy Irvin, who played but did not start against the Oilers, will return to his right cornerback position Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings. . . . The Rams will know more about Ron Brown’s painful hip pointer by Wednesday. Brown was injured after colliding with Houston cornerback Patrick Allen early in the third quarter. . . . “It only hurts when he walks or laughs,” Robinson said.
This could also be the week linebacker Carl Ekern returns at starting inside linebacker. Ekern is recovering from minor knee surgery. . . . Rookie cornerback Cliff Hicks’ shoulder is still sore, and Robinson may hold him out another week. . . . The closest thing to a kind word spoken about a Ram player was Robinson saying that linebacker/defensive end Kevin Greene had “a fine day.” Greene had one 15-yard sack and a 25-yard interception return for a touchdown. . . . The Rams are giving tryouts this week to former Miami Dolphin tight end Joe Rose, former San Diego Charger quarterback Tom Flick and fullback Tony Paige, recently released by the New York Jets.
