Phifer Packs a Big Punch This Summer

Roman Zubinski Phifer is not burly enough to be Dick Butkus, not crazed enough to be Lawrence Taylor, not manic enough to be Mike Singletary, not destructive enough to be Derrick Thomas.

In an era when linebackers are defined by the noises they make upon colliding, preferably with a quarterback from the blindside, Phifer is a blurry picture--all grace, very little growl.

Somehow, he looks too smooth to be the special brand of coarse kamikaze the NFL likes to see in its star linebackers. The main reasons the Rams’ second-year linebacker from UCLA lasted until the third selection of the second round were his size and questions about his durability.

“He’s very smooth,” Ram linebacker coach Dick Selcer said. “(But) if I had a downside to that, I’d like to see him be more anchored (with an) explosive snap.

“In space, he’s excellent, but when he gets that other thing, he will then learn how to use it to dominate a bigger man. He’s starting to realize it can be done.”

Phifer came into the NFL last season as a coverage linebacker, which is a useful role, but not one that will land someone in the Pro Bowl or in commercials.

Last season, before breaking his right leg in the 12th week of the season, Phifer was used almost primarily to cover tight ends and running backs, not to do the heavy lifting.

The broken leg caused him to miss the rest of the season and stretched through the May mini-camp. There were even questions whether he could go at full speed in training camp. But he has been able to do so, with big dividends.

Phifer believes it is time for a reputation rewrite. This summer, as the Rams train under Coach Chuck Knox, Phifer is striving to show that besides his obvious athletic talents, he can wallop with the best of them.

He is practicing as the team’s first-string rightside linebacker, competing with Frank Stams, who has missed all of camp because of a leg muscle injury, Paul Butcher and Glenell Sanders.

Phifer has added about 10 pounds, up to a more linebacker-like 235, shaved his head for that attack look, and made a determined effort to be part of every crunch registered on the UC Irvine field.

“I’ve had people who said I was an undersized guy, and I was a little tentative last year,” Phifer said. “But I want to erase that myth.

“I want to be more physical and let them know I can play the run as well as the pass. That’s something I’m working on right now. I want to establish myself as a solid linebacker--not just a cover guy but a full, all-around guy, an every-down linebacker.”

And how does such a natural athlete, who competed in football, basketball and track and field in high school, go about doing that?

“Just get more aggressive,” Phifer said. “Go attack more.

“I’m trying to be more athletic, and I want to use my athletic ability to my advantage. I’m not as big as a lot of guys, but I can move. I want to use that.”

Said Selcer: “I think he’s really made up his mind. I’m not sure along the way with this injury-thing. . . . It has to tilt your confidence. I don’t know if he was sure.

“I think he’s convinced himself through the first 15, 18 days here, and I think it’s a start for him. Now I want to see him really buckle up like a wounded bear, and then it’ll go to the next level.

“He doesn’t lack the skill. He’s just got to get over the hump of saying, ‘Hey, this is fun, this isn’t like getting shot at or getting rolled over by trucks.’ That’s the next step.”

As opposed to last year’s scheme, which used the rightside linebacker in a lot of man-to-man pass coverage, the linebackers this year are involved in more zone-style drops. They let the play, run or pass, develop in front of them, then go get the ball.

Phifer said this is the kind of role--highlighting his ability to run through the blocking pattern and run down ballcarriers--in which he can shine.

“I think it allows you to have a lot of freedom within the defensive system,” Phifer said. “Once you get the system down, it allows you to make plays, to just be an athlete. It gives you the freedom to run around and make plays, and I think that’s the style I’m best suited for.”

The Rams are moving Phifer to different spots on the right side of the field, searching for the best place.

“He looks like an all-around linebacker to me,” Knox said. “Played well in the scrimmage we had against San Diego (last week). He hit and he hustled, covered a lot of ground.”

Phifer is only part of a Ram defense high on top-level draft picks and high on expectations, but lacking an NFL track record.

This is a defense that could end up starting three first-round picks--Sean Gilbert, Todd Lyght and Bill Hawkins--and five No. 2s--Phifer, Darryl Henley, Anthony Newman, Pat Terrell and Fred Strickland--plus two third-rounders--Marc Boutte and Mike Piel.

Last year, without an effective defensive tackle to spice up the pass rush, all that talent wilted under the pressure of trying to make do. This year, with Gilbert plugged in from the start, the Rams are hoping that all their high-pedigree young players emerge as contributors.