Rams Name Kemp to Start Against the Giants Sunday
Congressman Jack Kemp (R-N.Y.) has a speaking engagement at the United Nations in New York Sunday morning, conveniently timed to allow him to slip across the river into New Jersey, where he will watch his son, Jeff, play quarterback for the Rams against the Giants Sunday afternoon.
“I don’t know what’s more important--the U.N. or our game,” Jeff Kemp said Wednesday after Coach John Robinson had assigned him to start in place of Dieter Brock, who had surgery Monday for removal of a kidney stone.
It’s uncertain whether Kemp’s assignment is for just the game against the Giants or more, but he said: “I’m not thinking two weeks down the road. My job is to help this team win this week. I know what my role is. Brock’s the starter. I’m not on any crusade to win a starting job.”
Just as his father isn’t yet running for President. Ambition runs strong in the Kemp clan, and both have high mountains to climb. Kemp, who started 14 games last season after Vince Ferragamo injured his right hand, will return against the top-ranked defense in the National Football League.
“Offensive success will probably not come easy for either side,” said the son of the politician.
Jack Kemp originally assumed he’d be watching his son hold a clipboard. But Coach John Robinson, after two days of keeping Kemp and his other backup quarterback, Steve Dils, in suspense, gave them the word Wednesday morning.
“We wanted to make sure we made the right decision,” said Robinson, who had always avoided declaring who was No. 2 behind Brock.
Dils said: “It’s disappointing but that’s part of being a football player.”
Dils, 29, started 12 games for Minnesota in 1983, then the Rams traded for him in ’84 when Ferragamo broke his hand.
Kemp, 26, said: “I’ve tried to stay ready for a time such as right now, when I do get to play again. It was a funny feeling waiting for (Robinson) to name a starter, but I kind of expected to play.”
Robinson said: “Jeff started and played against this team twice last year, and we have some technical reasons I’d rather not discuss in respect to this game.”
Dils is considered to be better at reading defenses, but Kemp has the stronger arm and quick feet. The Giants lead the NFL with 40 sacks, topped by end Leonard Marshall’s league-leading 11 1/2.
But Kemp said: “We’re not gonna create a game plan around my running.”
Dils and Kemp have been all but invisible this season. Dils holds the ball for placekicker Mike Lansford, but Kemp’s only appearance was on the last play of the 28-10 victory over New Orleans last Sunday. He fell on the ball.
Neither has thrown a pass, and virtually all of their action in practice has been running the next opponent’s plays against the Rams’ starting defense.
Last season, Kemp passed for 13 touchdowns and had only 7 interceptions, the lowest total among NFL starters. But the Rams didn’t pass much.
“Our offense has changed,” he said. “The reason we didn’t throw much last year was because I was a guy with very little experience, and our running game was working so well.
“We’re throwing almost twice as much as we were last year, and the coach said we’re gonna do the same things we’ve been doing. There’s been a conscious effort to open it up the last few weeks.
“I’m looking forward to the chance to get to throw more and make some plays, and yet I’m not going out with the intent to play heroic. I’m going to stick to the game plan and try to get a win, although I think our offense will be a little more aggressive than it was last year.”
Giant Coach Bill Parcells said by phone Wednesday that the change to Kemp wouldn’t make any difference in the Giants’ preparation. “He (Kemp) got ‘em in (to the playoffs) last year and he’s proved he can do it,” Parcells said.
Ram Notes Eric Dickerson, who sprained his right ankle against New Orleans, ran normally in practice Wednesday. “Eric looked very good,” Coach John Robinson said. “He’ll be full speed and ready to go (against the Giants in New Jersey Sunday).” . . . Defensive end Doug Reed didn’t practice because of a sore knee but also is expected to play. . . . Demand for tickets is said to be stronger than when the Giants played the Cowboys a month ago. Some are already selling for as much as $50. The regular price is $14. . . . Giant Coach Bill Parcells indicated that schoolteacher Eric Schubert, who kicked five field goals last week, would continue to placekick, even though the regular, Ali Haji-Sheikh, is healthy again. “What would you guys do?” Parcells asked reporters by phone. . . . Quarterback Dieter Brock was scheduled to be released from Chapman General Hospital today but will not go to New Jersey with the Rams Friday.