Rams Aren’t Perfect, They’re Merely Unbeaten, Robinson Says

With a 10-3 lead over the Atlanta Falcons last week, the Rams gave a sore-legged Eric Dickerson the rest of the day off and ran out the clock.

For the last 2 1/2 quarters.

They traded another field goal for a touchdown--the final score was 17-6--in what has been the style of their 4-0 season and may continue to be, as long as it’s successful.

The Rams may have to leave their fans a wake-up call for the playoffs, but Coach John Robinson would take a dozen more like it, including today’s game with the Minnesota Vikings (3-1) at Anaheim Stadium.

With a defense that hasn’t allowed a legitimate touchdown in three weeks--and none all season on the ground--the Rams seem content to plop themselves down in opponents’ laps and sit there until Robinson tells them it’s time to go home.

Robinson says he wouldn’t be interested in blowing anybody out, even if the Rams could.

“I’m not real good at blowouts,” he said. “My teams at SC never were. Some came in spite of it. We’re not in that kind of a position here. We’re fighting for our lives. I don’t want us to delude ourselves (as to) why we’re winning.”

And why are the Rams winning?

Robinson’s answer was intended primarily for the consumption of Ram players: “They’re playing harder than the other teams. I don’t want to lose that. I’d like to stay the underdog-type guys, in the public eye and everything.

“I heard some commentator say ‘the red-hot Los Angeles Rams.’ I don’t want to get in the syndrome of a club that is ‘hot.’ We’re not pulling things out of a hat. The other guys are pulling ‘em out of their hats playing us.”

Robinson also appealed to a group of reporters: “Now, does anybody here believe we’re hot?”

Only the bettors. The Rams have covered the spread every week, and they probably will continue to be favored in every game until they lose. The NFL’s only other unbeaten team, the Chicago Bears, isn’t on their schedule.

Robinson’s comments would seem to contradict his earlier philosophy of having a team that strikes fear into opponents when it runs onto the field.

“Once you get to the point where you’re on top, yeah, you can get like that,” he said. “But that’s when you’re champions. It’s bad when you’re fighting your way up the hill and that satisfies you. We’re still hungry.”

Robinson would prefer to think that his team isn’t close to its peak.

“One of the good things about us right now is that we’ve been essentially an unsettled team,” he said. “We’re a team that’s still taking shape, and we have a chance to get better.”

Although the new quarterback, Dieter Brock, was the NFC’s offensive player of the week, the passing game is still far from incendiary, and Dickerson has hardly been missed in his absences.

“I didn’t find it frustrating,” Robinson said. “I found a certain sense of power in it that we could continue to function.”

Robinson added: “This is the week for the offensive line and the running game to go.”

If Dickerson, with only 176 yards, fails to overtake Tampa Bay’s James Wilder (497) and 29 others for his third consecutive rushing title, however, it will not ruin Robinson’s season.

“We have status now in that area,” he said. “The worse thing you can do is to become involved in statistics as justification for what you’re doing. Winning’s still the most important thing.

“That’s why defense is so important in any game. It’s your foundation.”

That’s the Rams’ big edge today. They rank seventh in defense, the Vikings 26th.

Viking Coach Bud Grant said: “We played two teams with 0-4 records--Tampa and Buffalo--and struggled in both of those games. So while our record may look good, we’re only two or three plays away from being an 0 and 4 team ourselves.”

The Vikings aren’t much of a threat to run against the Rams’ top-ranked rushing defense. But they have a diversified passing offense with Tommy Kramer at the throttle, and their most dangerous weapon may be the element of surprise.

Grant likes trick plays. The Vikings beat Buffalo with the old Statue of Liberty last week.

Just don’t expect the Rams to use it.

Ram Notes Tackle Irv Pankey will start for Dennis Harrah at right guard. John Robinson said that the loss of Harrah with a torn thigh muscle for four more weeks “doesn’t hurt us that much unless one more guy is hurt. Irv’s probably naturally more suited for guard.” . . . Dennis Harrison, the 6-8, 280-pound former Pro Bowl player acquired from the Eagles nine days ago, will play left end on the four-man pass rushing line, and Doug Reed, the team sack leader with five, will move to tackle. . . . The Rams and Vikings haven’t played since 1979, when the Rams won in overtime, 27-21, on Nolan Cromwell’s five-yard run from field goal formation.