Undefeated Rams Hatch a New Attack : Team’s Best Offense Isn’t a Defense, It’s Rookie Punter Named Dale Hatcher

One of the reasons for the Rams’ weekly successes wears the unmistakable look of rookie innocence, meets occasionally with the team psychologist, and places footballs inside the 20-yard line as if he were under court order to do so.

This is the growing legacy of punter Dale Hatcher.

At last look, Hatcher had 40 professional punts to his credit, including one that traveled 67 yards. His net average is 37.3, a number that won’t win many Punt, Pass and Kick contests, but is good enough to earn the appreciation of field-position enthusiasts like Coach John Robinson.

“We truly believe we have an outstanding weapon in Dale Hatcher,” Robinson said.

Hatcher, consistent during his first four weeks, blossomed two games ago against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. It was in Tampa that Hatcher kicked his 67-yarder and averaged 52 yards in eight tries. Then, of course, there is his specialty: the punt inside the 20.

Hatcher leads the NFC with 17 punts within the opponent’s 20-yard line. He is second in the NFL to Raider All-Pro Ray Guy.

“I can’t complain about punting it like that,” said Hatcher. “I think a lot of people say that if you don’t have a 45-yard average, you’re not helping the team.”

Against the Chiefs on Sunday, Hatcher forced Kansas City to begin three of its drives on its own 10, 12 and 12. As the Ram offense continues its search for stability, Los Angeles finds comfort in Hatcher’s foot and a stingy defense.

Hatcher said he can tell the moment the ball meets his foot if the punt will be worth watching. Already he has enlisted the help of team psychologist Saul Miller, who, in part, promotes positive thinking.

Said Hatcher of the process: “What I try to do, and this may sound crazy, is that I try to visualize a punt. (Miller) says to do that. You know, take a deep breath and try to visualize the ball . . . see the ball leaving off your foot . . . a high kick that turns over. I just try to step into what I see.”

Hatcher is a likeable fellow. During training camp, Hatcher regularly answered a reporter’s question with “No, sir,” or “Yes, sir,” as in: Did you wash your hands before coming to the dinner table?

“Battled” isn’t quite the right word when describing the preseason competition between veterans John Misko and Russell Erxleben, the early favorite.

Question to Robinson: Was there much of a decision between Erxleben and Hatcher, a third-round selection?

Robinson: “No.”

Hatcher is from Cheraw, S.C., which is happily a decade behind the lifestyle of Southern California. There is, for Hatcher, the inevitable period of transition.

“We’re not outgoers,” said Hatcher. “My wife and I just like to stay at home. We have a house. We’re real proud of that.”

It’s not like Hatcher just fell off the pumpkin truck, singing country-western songs and waving a punt-worn football. He did attend a reputable university--Clemson--and had the wherewithal to make himself an attractive commodity to the NFL.

But there is this question of social graces.

“Dale is a good punter,” said Ram placekicker Mike Lansford. “But that’s all Dale’s ever done, is punt.

All the time in college he was preparing himself to punt. He hasn’t been exposed to too many other things in life. When he came out here it was a brand new environment. He came from a small town with limited ideas. He was almost lost when it came to money management, buying a house and the general day-to-day things.”

Hatcher recently realized he

wasn’t pleased with his agent back in South Carolina. “He wanted 5% each time I got a paycheck,” he said. “And he wasn’t doing much for me.” So following Monday’s brief workout, Hatcher met with quarterback Jeff Kemp’s accountant.

Predicts Lansford: “If Dale can go on and not let the outside things bother him, not affect his kicking, he’ll do great.”

Linebacker Norwood Vann, who distinguishes himself primarily on Ram special teams, underwent arthoscopic surgery Monday to repair an injured right knee. Vann hurt the knee during Sunday’s game against Kansas City.

The Rams placed Vann on the injured reserve list, which means he won’t be available for at least four weeks. Vann’s position on the roster was taken by linebacker Jim Laughlin.

The remaining Ram injuries are considered less serious. Wide receiver Bobby Duckworth, who left the game because of a hip pointer, is expected to return against San Francisco, said Robinson. Linebacker Kevin Greene, a linebacker who suffered a mild shoulder injury, also should be healthy in time for the 49er game. And wide receiver Ron Brown nearly is recovered from a recent bout with pancreatitis.

The Ram offensive line appears close to returning to full strength. Robinson said Bill Bain, who has been absent from the starting lineup because of a variety of ailments, will return to left tackle. Irv Pankey, who was playing left tackle while Bain nursed his injuries, will move to right guard, replacing Tony Slaton. Slaton will resume his duties as a backup.

Also, guard Dennis Harrah said his injured thigh is responding well to treatment and he expects to play in the Rams game against New Orleans Nov. 3.

“I’m a go for New Orleans,” he said.

Harrah has spent the last three games on the injured reserve list. On Monday, he tested the leg during a 45-minute workout. “Straight running, no problem,” he said. “I could play against San Francisco (if he weren’t ineligible because of the injured reserve list) if I went slow during the week.”

Robinson on the upcoming game against the 3-4 San Francisco 49ers:

“Obviously it’s a huge game for both teams. I think the 49ers--if they’re going to make a comeback--they better start pretty fast. I’m sure they feel that way. They’re the guys wearing the rings. I don’t think anybody has taken their rings away from them. They’re the world champions. It’s obviously not a game that’s crucial or decides the season. We’ll either come out of that game five ahead or three ahead, which is a commanding lead either way.

“It’s hard to imagine, though, I suppose you could go back to whenever it was they won the first time (1981) and they collapsed the next year. Maybe history repeats itself, I don’t know.”

Would he rather have both teams undefeated?

“I would like it to be 7-0 and 0-7,” he said, laughing, “with all of their people hurt and then they come here and get the flu and can’t play . . . diarrhea.”

Earlier hopes of integrating recently acquired defensive lineman Dennis Harrison into the Ram lineup haven’t gone as planned. Harrison was used sparingly during the Rams’ victory over Kansas City.

“We feel like he’s going through training camp right now,” said Robinson. “We tried to say maybe he could play his way into the lineup. Maybe we were premature.”

The Rams finished the 1984 season with plus-4 turnovers. This season they have plus-14, a statistic, which, according to Robinson, helps explain why Los Angeles is undefeated. “A huge, huge thing,” said Robinson. The Rams have committed 7 interceptions to their opponents’ 18 and lost 8 fumbles, compared to their opponents’ 11.