Rams Rush to Alter Defense, but 49ers Will Be Difficult to Stop

Are the Rams finally ready for the San Francisco 49ers? They’re not saying it in so many words, because words only make a rivalry interesting.

The Rams aren’t interested in that. Or revenge. Or last year’s 48-0 loss to the 49ers, the worst defeat in franchise history and the one that gave new meaning to a Candlestick Park blowout.

The memory sparked this kind of blood-thirsty call for revenge all week:

“I’ve never looked at an opponent that has beaten me in a one-sided victory and said that I was ever angry at the opponent,” Ram Coach John Robinson said. “It was always at ourselves. We were not able to play that night.”

Do you think the 49ers pinned that one in the locker room this week?

No, the Rams have responded to the 49ers with mouths closed, speaking in the language of wholesale change--if you consider change the restructuring of offense and defense. The Rams swear it wasn’t just because of the 49ers, but let’s take a look at the facts:

--The road to the National Football Conference West division title has gone through San Francisco 5 times in the decade.

--The Rams are 4-10 against the 49ers since 1981, 3-7 since Robinson took over in 1983.

“They’ve just been better than we are,” Robinson said. “They’ve done a good job against us.”

--Quarterback Joe Montana, since taking over as a 49er starter in 1981, has thrown for more than 2 miles against the Rams’ defense, with 26 touchdown passes and only 6 interceptions. In case you missed it, those Ram highlights will no doubt be seen again one day at the Montana exhibit in Canton, Ohio.

In this spirit, the Rams created the Eagle defense, a pass-rushing scheme designed to knock quarterbacks off their rhythm. Not Montana specifically, but let’s say quarterbacks such as him. This quarterback may or may not play for a team up north, have blue eyes and wear uniform No. 16.

But if not for quarterbacks like Montana, the Rams might not have switched from their traditional 3-4 zone defense.

“The 3-4 was good against most teams,” defensive tackle Gary Jeter said. “But when you get an experienced quarterback, who’s a timing passer and can read defenses, he can pick you apart, which is what he’s done lately.”

The Rams, really, had nothing to lose by throwing the kitchen sink at the league and the 49ers. The new scheme, which has produced 36 sacks in 6 games, has made San Francisco Coach Bill Walsh at least spend more time in the film room.

“It gives them something else to think about,” Ram defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur said. “It uses up more practice time.”

Danger? Sure. Every time the Rams charge in from the Eagle, it will leave single coverage on 49er superstar receiver Jerry Rice, who can barely be double covered.

It’s a simple as this: The Rams have to get to Montana before Montana gets to Rice.

At the very least, they want to knock Montana from his rhythm.

“You have to get a rush in his face right away,” Jeter said. “If you don’t, it’s going to be a long day.”

The other frightful thought is that Walsh, at any moment, might insert backup Steve Young into the lineup to avoid the rush. “We have a contingency plan,” Shurmur said. “But in terms of actual practice, there’s not been much time. We’re getting ready for Joe.”

For the first time in recent memory, both teams enter the game with equally diverse offenses and defenses.

In the past, a film study of the Rams was a short subject: OK, boys, they’re still giving the ball to Dickerson on offense and playing zone defense. See you Sunday.

But with the emergence of the offense under coordinator Ernie Zampese, the Rams of today are the National Football League’s highest-scoring team. Jim Everett has a better quarterback rating than Montana.

“He’s made the breakthrough, no question,” Walsh said of Everett.

The 49ers, on the other hand, have the NFL’s top-rated offense, averaging 413.5 yards per game. And it’s the 49ers, not the Rams, who lead the league in rushing with a 178.3 average per game.

Walsh, in fact, thinks his team is running too much.

“We’re running more, but I’m not sure it’s in our best interests,” he said. “We’re leading the league in rushing but not in scoring. That’s what happens when you really get preoccupied with the run.”

A subtle dig at the old Rams? Is this rivalry finally a rivalry?

Ram Notes

Ram linebacker Mel Owens will miss today’s game with an ankle injury that he suffered in practice two weeks ago. Owens will join guard Mike Schad on today’s inactive list. Larry Kelm will replace Owens. . . . Did you know that Ram wide receiver Henry Ellard has just as many receptions (25) as 49er wide receiver Jerry Rice? . . . Coach Bill Walsh says his team’s emphasis on the running game has cost Rice perhaps a dozen receptions this season. . . . Remember, by edict of the head coach, there is no Ram tailback controversy in Anaheim. The Rams have three fine ones in Charles White, Gaston Green and Greg Bell. In another note, Bell leads the NFC in rushing with 622 yards and the NFL in scoring with 10 touchdowns. . . . Until today, the Rams had not played a team that made the playoffs last year. . . . How much does Walsh look forward to this game? “I hate to see it coming,” he said. “I really do. It’s such a big game. I just say, ‘Here we go again.’ ”