RAMS ’94 / SEASON PREVIEW : THE RAMS’ 1994 OPPONENTS

ARIZONA CARDINALS

SEPT. 4, SUNDAY, 1 P.M., ANAHEIM STADIUM

LAST YEAR: ARIZONA 38, RAMS 10

THE SERIES: RAMS LEAD, 23-19-2

1993 RECORD: 7-9

KEY OFFENSIVE STARTERS: Running back Ron Moore was a surprise. He stepped in for the injured Garrison Hearst and gained 1,018 yards. Steve Beuerlein came over from Dallas and, once out of Troy Aikman’s shadow, did fine. He threw for 3,164 yards and 18 touchdowns.

KEY DEFENSIVE STARTERS: Buddy Ryan’s “46 defense” has some familiar faces. Former Philadelphia Eagles Clyde Simmons and Seth Joyner came over and should anchor the front. Joyner is considered one of the league’s linebackers. Rookie Jamir Miller should find something to do.

THE RAMS COULD DO WITHOUT: More punishment from a Buddy Ryan defense. Simmons and Joyner could chew up quarterback Chris Miller and his fragile knee.

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ATLANTA FALCONS

SEPT. 11, SUNDAY, 10 A.M., GEORGIA DOME, ATLANTA

OCT. 2, SUNDAY, 1 P.M., ANAHEIM STADIUM

LAST YEAR: ATLANTA 30, RAMS 24; ATLANTA 13, RAMS 0

THE SERIES: RAMS LEAD, 36-16-2

1993 RECORD: 6-10

KEY OFFENSIVE STARTERS: Jeff George comes over from Indianapolis. He has to throw to Andre Rison (86 receptions and 15 touchdowns), who was traded to Atlanta in a deal that gave the Colts the rights to George. Erric Pegram gained 1,185 yards in the “run” part of the run-and-shoot.

KEY DEFENSIVE STARTERS: Defensive end Chris Doleman was acquired from the Minnesota Vikings. He and Pierce Holt should improve on the Falcons’ 26 sacks. Atlanta had 13 interceptions, but seven were by Deion Sanders. Neon’s gone. D.J. Johnson and Kevin Ross will try to replace him.

THE RAMS COULD DO WITHOUT: George and Rison playing a leisurely game of catch. Rison had three touchdown receptions in the sweep of the Rams last season and that was with Billy Joe Tolliver and Bobby Herbert as QBs.

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SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

SEPT. 18, SUNDAY, 1 P.M., ANAHEIM STADIUM

NOV. 20, SUNDAY, 5 P.M., CANDLESTICK PARK, SAN FRANCISCO

LAST YEAR: SAN FRANCISCO 40, RAMS 17; SAN FRANCISCO 35, RAMS 10

THE SERIES: RAMS LEAD, 48-39-2

1993 RECORD: 10-6

KEY OFFENSIVE STARTERS: Steve Young is in his prime and still hungry to make people forget that Montana guy. Receivers Jerry Rice and John Taylor are as sensational as always. Ricky Watters will have a new lead blocker in Florida State fullback William Floyd.

KEY DEFENSIVE STARTERS: Lots of new faces. Linebackers Ken Norton (Dallas) and Gary Plummer (San Diego), Rickey Jackson (New Orleans) and defensive end Richard Dent (Chicago) will make an impact. Safety Tim McDonald leads a revamped secondary.

THE RAMS COULD DO WITHOUT: Get serious. Rams could do without playing the 49ers at all. They have lost seven straight and nine of last 10. They weren’t even close last season.

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KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

SEPT. 25, SUNDAY, 10 A.M., ARROWHEAD STADIUM, KANSAS CITY

LAST MEETING: 1991, KANSAS CITY 27, RAMS 20

THE SERIES: RAMS LEAD, 3-1

1993 RECORD: 11-5

KEY OFFENSIVE STARTERS: As Joe goes, so go the Chiefs. A healthy Montana got the Chiefs to the AFC title game. Montana clone Steve Bono was acquired in case Montana doesn’t stay healthy. Marcus Allen got away from Al Davis and helped beat the Raiders twice.

KEY DEFENSIVE STARTERS: Neil Smith and Derrick Thomas give the Chiefs a fierce rush from the outside. Defensive tackle Tony Casillas, a free agent from Dallas, should strengthen the inside. Cornerback Mark Collins, another free agent, should ease the loss of Albert Lewis and Kevin Ross.

THE RAMS COULD DO WITHOUT: A vintage Montana performance. He threw 34 touchdown passes and had six 300-yard games against them while with the 49ers.

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GREEN BAY PACKERS

OCT. 9, SUNDAY, 10 A.M., LAMBEAU FIELD, GREEN BAY

LAST YEAR: GREEN BAY 36, RAMS 6

THE SERIES: RAMS LEAD, 42-37-2

1993 RECORD: 9-7

KEY OFFENSIVE STARTERS: Wide receiver Sterling Sharpe broke his own record with 112 receptions last season. Brett Favre is erratic, but can be dangerous. No Packer running back has gained 1,000 yards since 1978. So they signed Reggie Cobb, who gained 1,171 with Tampa Bay in 1992.

KEY DEFENSIVE STARTERS: Defensive end Reggie White can dominate a game. He had 13 sacks last season. That pass rush gets better with the addition of Sean Jones, a free agent from Houston. Terrell Buckley, LeRoy Butler and George Teague give the Packers a solid secondary.

THE RAMS COULD DO WITHOUT: White and Jones using Miller as a wishbone. Favre having another hot day--he threw for 264 yards and two touchdowns against them last season.

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NEW YORK GIANTS

OCT. 16, SUNDAY, 1 P.M., ANAHEIM STADIUM

LAST YEAR: NEW YORK 20, RAMS 10

THE SERIES: RAMS LEAD, 21-10

1993 RECORD: 11-5

KEY OFFENSIVE STARTERS: Phil Simms, victim of the salary cap or worn-out veteran? Either way, Dave Brown is the quarterback, but whether he is on Oct. 16 is the question. He has thrown only seven passes in his career. Running back Rodney Hampton could be relied on even more.

KEY DEFENSIVE STARTERS: The front seven is strong, but they lost three of four starters in the secondary. Lawrence Taylor retired, but linebackers Corey Miller, Michael Brooks and Carlton Bailey are strong. Defensive end Keith Hamilton had 11.5 sacks last season.

THE RAMS COULD DO WITHOUT: Hampton dominating the game. He gained 134 yards in 41 carries and scored one touchdown in a 20-10 victory last season.

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NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

OCT. 23, SUNDAY, 10 A.M., LOUISIANA SUPERDOME, NEW ORLEANS

DEC. 4, SUNDAY, 1 P.M., ANAHEIM STADIUM

LAST YEAR: NEW ORLEANS 37, RAMS 6; RAMS 23, NEW ORLEANS 20

THE SERIES: RAMS LEAD, 27-21

1993 RECORD: 8-8

KEY OFFENSIVE STARTERS: The name Jim Everett ring a bell? He was run out of Anaheim and is now supposed to take the Saints to the Super Bowl. They also signed wide receiver Michael Haynes. A good group of young running backs in Derek Brown, Vaughn Dunbar, Lorenzo Neal and Mario Bates.

KEY DEFENSIVE STARTERS: Renaldo Turnbull is the best of a good, but aging linebacker group. Linebacker Vaughan Johnson and defensive linemen Robert Goff and Jim Wilks are good, but getting old. Rookie Joe Johnson and Winfred Tubbs are waiting in the wings.

THE RAMS COULD DO WITHOUT: Everett’s revenge. It would be a perfect script for Everett to turn back time and clean the Rams’ clock. He gets two shots at it.

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DENVER BRONCOS

NOV. 6, SUNDAY 1 P.M., ANAHEIM STADIUM

LAST MEETING: 1988, DENVER 35 RAMS 24

THE SERIES: TIED, 3-3

1993 RECORD: 9-7

KEY OFFENSIVE STARTERS: John Elway, of course. Still good at 34, he now has two speedy receivers to throw to in Anthony Miller (San Diego) and Mike Pritchard (Atlanta), who will take pressure off Shannon Sharpe. Running back Glyn Milburn does a lot of things, some of them well, but the Broncos still signed free-agent Leonard Russell during training camp.

KEY DEFENSIVE STARTERS: Cornerback Ray Crockett, a free agent from Detroit, will try to improve the Broncos’ coverage, hurt by the loss of Dennis Smith. Linebacker Simon Fletcher had 13.5 sacks last season. Linebacker Mike Croel and defensive end Shane Dronett are improving.

THE RAMS COULD DO WITHOUT: A vintage Elway performance. Like Montana, he has carved the Rams before. In 1988, he threw for 272 yards and three touchdowns.

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LOS ANGELES RAIDERS

NOV. 13, SUNDAY, 1 P.M., ANAHEIM STADIUM

LAST MEETING: 1991, RAIDERS 20, RAMS 17

THE SERIES: RAIDERS LEAD, 5-2

1993 RECORD: 10-6

KEY OFFENSIVE STARTERS: Quarterback Jeff Hostetler throws them and a plethora of speedy receivers catch them. When Tim Brown (80 receptions, 1,180 yards) is your slowest wide receiver, you got something good. James Jett, Alvin Wright and Raghib “Rocket” Ismail can burn any defensive back.

KEY DEFENSIVE STARTERS: Anthony Smith and Chester McGlockton are formidable up front. Terry McDaniel is among the league’s best cornerbacks. Albert Lewis, a free agent from Kansas City, strengthens the secondary. Rookie linebacker Rob Fredrickson could make an impact.

THE RAMS COULD DO WITHOUT: A repeat of the exhibition game. The Raiders stomped all over the Rams at Anaheim. Their fans were even more vicious.

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SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

NOV. 27, SUNDAY, 1 P.M., JACK MURPHY STADIUM, SAN DIEGO

LAST MEETING: 1991, RAMS 30, SAN DIEGO 24

THE SERIES: RAMS LEAD, 3-2

1993 RECORD: 8-8.

KEY OFFENSIVE STARTERS: A good group of running backs in Natrone Means, Ronnie Harmon and Eric Bienemy. Stan Humphries has been good, but was hurt part of last season Will Tony Martin (Miami) be able to fill that gaping hole left by Anthony Miller, now with the Broncos?.

KEY DEFENSIVE STARTERS: There are few better than linebacker Junior Seau. Dennis Gibson, a free agent from Detroit, has been brought in to replace Gary Plummer, who signed with San Francisco. That’s a push. Leslie O’Neal gets to the quarterback enough to be a nuisance.

THE RAMS COULD DO WITHOUT: Being swept by California teams. With the 49ers and Raiders certain defeats, beating the Chargers is the Rams’ only chance.

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TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS

DEC. 11, SUNDAY, 10 A.M., TAMPA STADIUM, TAMPA

LAST MEETING: 1992, RAMS 31, TAMPA BAY 27

THE SERIES: RAMS LEAD, 9-2

1993 RECORD: 5-11.

KEY OFFENSIVE STARTERS: Craig Erickson is the quarterback, at least until No. 1 draft pick Trent Dilfer is ready. But Dilfer isn’t being paid to sit. Not much else. Tim Irwin, a free agent from Minnesota, is a solid tackle. Jackie Harris, a free agent from Green Bay, is a solid tight end.

KEY DEFENSIVE STARTERS: The best are mostly free agents. Linebacker Lonnie Marts came from Kansas City and safety Thomas Everett from Dallas. Defensive ends Eric Curry and Santana Dotson each had five sacks, but that’s not going to frighten many quarterbacks.

THE RAMS COULD DO WITHOUT: Trent Dilfer showing them up. They traded down in the draft to get away from him. They don’t need him beating them.

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CHICAGO BEARS

DEC. 18, SUNDAY, 10 A.M., SOLDIER FIELD, CHICAGO

LAST YEAR: RAMS 20, CHICAGO 6

THE SERIES: CHICAGO LEADS, 45-30-3

1993 RECORD: 7-9.

KEY OFFENSIVE STARTERS: Erik Kramer is now the quarterback, replacing Jim Harbaugh. Will anyone be able to tell them apart? Running backs Lewis Tillman and Merril Hoge were brought in to juice up a running game that lost Neil Anderson to retirement. People will notice the difference.

KEY DEFENSIVE STARTERS: Richard Dent is gone. So is Steve McMichael. But still a solid defense. Chris Zorich and Trace Armstrong anchor the defensive line. Mark Carrier and Donnell Woolford are dangerous in the secondary. First-round pick John Thierry could replace Dent.

THE RAMS COULD DO WITHOUT: Bad weather. It’s December. It’s Chicago. The Rams could win this one, but not if it snows. They’re never done well when you can see their breath.

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WASHINGTON REDSKINS

DEC. 24, SATURDAY, 1 P.M., ANAHEIM STADIUM

LAST YEAR: RAMS 10, WASHINGTON 6

THE SERIES: WASHINGTON LEADS, 16-7-2 1993 RECORD: 4-12

KEY OFFENSIVE STARTERS: Quarterback Heath Shuler, the first quarterback taken in the draft, could be acclimated to the NFL by the final game. Henry Ellard could be the second ex-Ram to haunt his teammates. The bright spot for the Redskins’ offense last season was running back Reggie Brooks.

KEY OFFENSIVE STARTERS: Not the defense it once was, but on the mend. Cornerback Tom Carter had six interceptions. Linebacker Ken Harvey, a free agent from Arizona, had 9.5 sacks a year ago. Linebacker Andre Collins is still solid, but the defense has a long way to go.

THE RAMS COULD DO WITHOUT: Losing their last game in Anaheim Stadium, as they did in 1979 in their last game in the Coliseum. Another finale flop would be a fitting farewell.