Ram Quarterback? It Seems to Be No Contest : Brock to Start Tonight’s Game, Too, and Kemp Accepts His Role--for Now

Jeff Kemp, whose father, Jack, aspires to be President, was trying to be a diplomat.

“Let’s see,” he said, stirring his soup and considering the following question: Are you getting a fair shake in the Ram quarterback contest?

Coach John Robinson let Dieter Brock play most of the first half in the first tuneup against the Houston Oilers last week and said Brock would play the entire first half of tonight’s exhibition game against the St. Louis Cardinals at Anaheim Stadium, starting at 7.

Steve Dils will play the third quarter and Kemp the fourth. That leaves Kemp with a cast of reserves, rookies and soon-to-be-castoffs, a considerable comedown for the man with whom the Rams won nine games and lost five last season.

But, as Robinson said last week, the coach is under no obligation to be fair in selecting the quarterback--as if there had been much doubt from the moment he signed Brock, 34, as a free agent from the Canadian Football League.

“It does appear he’s going to go with Dieter,” said Kemp, who didn’t need to use his Dartmouth education to figure that out.

“It’s his team and he has to make the decision. Competition or no competition, he was going to be the judge from the beginning. I’ll accept whatever my role is going to be.

“But that isn’t going to change any of my determination or preparation to become a starter. It would be stupid of me to become upset or belligerent.

“I know how quickly things can change, and I know I’m a better quarterback than I was in the past. Being patient and working hard has paid off in the past.”

Brock, for his part, seems to be settling in.

“I like Jeff, and we get along pretty well,” he said. “I don’t see Jeff off the field much. We talk about (game) situations, and I’m sure we’ll talk a lot more. I don’t feel uncomfortable.”

Brock is more concerned about readjusting to a game considerably different from Canadian football. There are only 11 players to a side here, instead of 12, and the field is 12 yards narrower, 10 yards shorter and has end zones only 10 yards deep instead of 25.

“The sideline pass is an easier throw, but it doesn’t leave much room,” Brock said.

“Near the goal line, the receivers have to shake the man-to-man coverage. They don’t have the extra room to work with.”

The coaches are calling all the plays with sideline signals.

“The play that comes in may not be the one you’d call, one you’d be more comfortable with,” Brock said. “(For example) I like the comeback routes. Coach Robinson has stressed being aggressive throwing the ball. He wants to get it downfield.”

Brock is trying to overcome his instinctive tendency to lay it off short to a running back or a tight end when the receivers downfield are covered. But maybe that’s what comes from having been sacked 72 times--an average of 4 1/2 a game--with Hamilton last season.

“A couple of rookie tackles and no running game at all,” Brock explained.

That shouldn’t be a problem with the Rams, especially if Eric Dickerson ends his holdout soon.

Ram Notes Coach John Robinson said he planned to release a few players before tonight’s game against the Cardinals. He needed them to practice this week and, he said, wanted to give them one last evaluation today. . . . The Cardinals defeated the Chicago Bears, 10-3, and the Rams beat the Houston Oilers, 7-3, in exhibition openers last week. . . . Starting quarterback Neil Lomax is scheduled to play the first and third quarters for the Cardinals. He completed 4 of 8 passes for 60 yards in one quarter last week. . . . First-round draft choice Freddie Joe Nunn, from Mississippi, started at right linebacker for the Cardinals after four days in camp last week. The Rams had intended to take him with their 21st turn, but the Cardinals picked him 18th. . . . Bill Stone, a rookie free-agent running back from Adams State in Colorado, was the hit of the Rams’ annual rookie party as master of ceremonies Tuesday night. “He’s a funny guy,” Robinson said. “Also a good little (5-10) player.” The rookies wound up the show with their variation of “We Are the World,” singing instead, “We Are the Rookies.” It was the swan song for many. Robinson must cut 23 players by next Tuesday. . . . Offensive tackle Bill Bain has a sore arthritic ankle and probably won’t play tonight. Tight end Tony Hunter is out with a bruised thigh.

LOS ANGELES RAMS

Tonight’s Exhibition

Opponent: St. Louis Cardinals.

Site: Anaheim Stadium.

Time: 7 p.m.

1985 Exhibition Records: Rams, 1-0; Cardinals, 1-0.

Radio: KMPC (710),

KLVE-fm (107.5).

TV: None.