Miller Gets Nod; Chandler Says He’s Surprised : Analysis: It’s no secret that Knox has high regard for backup. The gap between the two Ram quarterbacks has all but disappeared.
ANAHEIM — Chris Miller was named the Rams’ starting quarterback Wednesday, and Chuck Knox said there was never any doubt.
On Tuesday, however, Knox said he would wait until Wednesday, review medical updates and then make his decision.
What decision? Miller was healthy, and coming off a solid performance against the Green Bay Packers.
After listing Chris Chandler as questionable on Wednesday because of a sore ankle, Knox summoned Miller to his office and informed him he would be the starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Giants.
Did Knox call Jerome Bettis to his office? Robert Young? Flipper Anderson? If Miller is the team’s acknowledged No. 1 quarterback, why did Knox meet separately with Miller and Chandler Wednesday? Why is there a feeling at Rams Park that Miller is on a short leash, and one slip-up and Chandler’s in command? Why did Chandler report to work Wednesday believing he was going to be named the starter?
“How could there be any question?” Knox said. “Chris Miller is the starting quarterback, he was the starting quarterback, he got hurt. He’s back to being the starting quarterback. OK?
“I’m not going to get into short leashes, long leashes, next week, the end of the year and all that type of stuff that you people want so you can put somebody in a trick bag. That’s not what I’m talking about. He is the starting quarterback. I can’t make it any more emphatic than that.”
It’s no secret, however, that Knox has high regard for Chandler and that he has become irritated with Miller’s penchant for making excuses when things do not go well. It has been mentioned by several of his assistants and it has been discussed in the team’s front office.
“I have never said that I favored one quarterback over the other,” Knox said. “That is not known, because I have never said it. You can hear that from this person or that person, but you never heard it from me. So you’re asking me now, and I’m telling: Yes, I have said we can win with Chris Chandler because I feel we can. I said that when Chris Miller was out and was not going to be playing. Just like we can win with Chris Miller, and Chris Miller played well, and he is the starter.
“I’m not dealing in perceptions. I’m talking with reality, and I’ve just answered the questions.”
The Rams gave Miller $9 million over three years to replace Jim Everett, and then gave Chandler a one-year contract for $600,000 to be his backup. There should be no debate, but after six games the gap between starter and backup has all but disappeared.
“When I came in today I anticipated I was going to be the starter this week,” said Chandler, who led the Rams to a 16-0 victory over Kansas City. “But I understand Chuck’s thought that he would like to see it in practice first, that I can go on the ankle. I just know the ankle feels like it’s going to be ready to go.”
If 100% healthy, would Knox have anointed Chandler, who has completed 58.7% of his passes with two touchdowns and no interceptions, his starter?
Knox doesn’t answer hypothetical questions, but it appears Miller’s stock has plummeted for a variety of reasons: Miller has completed 50% of his passes with four touchdowns and five interceptions; he has shown an inability to stay healthy; and when asked questions, he has elected to answer honestly rather than respond with cliches.
“He’s pretty good when he’s healthy,” said Mike Martz, Ram quarterbacks coach. “I don’t think he’s ever been himself since the first week of camp. I know he hasn’t. Some unfortunate things have happened to him; he’s just kind of an unlucky guy.”
Miller injured an abdominal muscle early in training camp and his play deteriorated. He injured his ribs in the regular-season opener against Arizona, and after receiving pain-killing injections to continue playing, he injured his shoulder against San Francisco.
He returned to start against Green Bay after missing the second game with Atlanta, and compared to Packer quarterback Brett Favre, Miller appeared much sharper, even with a strong wind in his face at times.
“There’s a big difference now in the way he’s throwing the ball,” Martz said. “He’s getting it back.
“We’re very fortunate to have both of them (Miller and Chandler). The other guy is a legitimate starter in this league.”
After the loss in Atlanta, Miller said he had difficulty gripping the ball because it was wet, the result of center Bern Brostek’s pants being wet from sweat. Asked about his rib injuries, Miller reluctantly admitted to playing with pain. When the story was published there were some Ram coaches who became upset, believing Miller had made it known he was hurt to gain sympathy and explain why he was playing poorly.
After last week’s loss to Green Bay, Miller was asked what happened on the pass he had thrown to Flipper Anderson in the end zone. Miller said the receiver had run the wrong route, thereby allowing the defender to intercept the pass. A day later, he challenged the offensive play calling in the second half against Green Bay; a similar act by Everett a year ago drew a strong reprimand.
“Those are facts; they’re not excuses,” Miller said. “I’m not pointing fingers at anybody. I’ll take the heat, but if I think someone is going to be running a route that we have called, and I’m going to throw it, I’m expecting them to be there.”
Miller flashed leadership skills in training camp and took control of the offense, but then he was hurt and began standing to the side while others stepped into the huddle. The present uncertainty surrounding the quarterback position and Miller’s inability to avoid injuries has left the offense leaderless in the early going.
“I felt I played well Sunday and now I’m planning on playing well and putting all that other stuff behind us,” Miller said. “I expect to pick this team up and help win the next two games and be where we want to be at the bye with an opportunity to do some good things during the second half of the season.
“A lot of people are searching right now; that happens when a team goes 2-4. Mentally it’s been hard on me just because I haven’t been 100% physically and that’s showed in my play. And then when you’re not on the field how can you be a leader? I’m back now, and that’s what I plan on doing.”
