There’s No Suspense in Rams’ Exhibition Finale : Dils Gets His Chance at Quarterback but Only Because Bartkowski Is Hurting

This was supposed to have been a summer of controversy for the Rams, another steamy chapter in the story of an organization that has been anything but organized when it comes to choosing a quarterback.

But the Rams head into tonight’s final exhibition game against the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium with no such problem.

Slightly more than a week before the season opener against St. Louis, the Rams have little choice but to hand the ball to Steve Dils, proving again that if you hang around long enough, you can play quarterback for the Rams.

Dils, an able backup, will get his big chance at 5 p.m. in what, for some reason, will be a nationally televised game.

But with Dieter Brock out because of a knee injury and Steve Bartkowski nursing a pulled stomach muscle, what on earth is there controversial to talk about?

Dils, the eight-year veteran from Stanford, is the man. Was there ever a doubt?

He was told at the beginning of training camp that he’d get a fair shot at being the starter, and Coach John Robinson has dutifully kept his promise. Of course, it took injuries to Brock and Bartkowski to get Dils in there, but fairness works like that sometimes.

And although the coach isn’t saying it, Dils will have to look better than Dan Fouts to win the starting job next week.

“I’d like to make it interesting,” Dils said.

All suspense aside, the starting job is going to Bartkowski, who is sitting out this game mostly for the sake of formality, this being nothing more than an exhibition and all that. He said he could play tonight if he had to.

Actually, Bartkowski’s muscle pull is causing some concern. It has been a recurring problem for 11 years but usually isn’t one this late into training camp.

“I’ve played with so many types of pain,” he said. “But this could be a nagging thing all season long. It’s better to be safe.”

With the sudden and unexpected shortage of quarterbacks, the Rams have again re-signed backup Scott Tinsley, who was released Monday. Tinsley, who works in real estate, apparently has a very understanding boss. He will be released again as soon as Brock is ready to go.

With sound quarterbacks at a premium, the Rams will probably try to sharpen their running game against the Broncos.

Robinson, who is growing nervous over the Rams’ exciting new passing attack, would love nothing better than to churn out a few old-fashioned, 12-minute drives.

The Rams scored so quickly against the Chargers last week--Bartkowski threw a 38-yard touchdown pass to Ron Brown in the first quarter--that it scared Robinson half to death.

“We almost became euphoric,” he said. “It’s a symptom I don’t want to see get to the point where we lose sight of our work ethic. It was so new and exciting, but I don’t want us to lose perspective.”

Perspective, in this case, wears the guise of running back Eric Dickerson, who gained 112 yards in one half against the Chargers.

Ram Notes Listed as doubtful for tonight’s game are Ram offensive linemen Dennis Harrah, who has a strained calf, and Irv Pankey, who has a sore elbow. . . . Mark Jerue, playing in place of injured linebacker Jim Collins, had 15 tackles last week, 12 unassisted. . . . The Broncos are 1-2 in exhibitions and coming off a 14-9 win over the San Francisco 49ers Saturday night. The Broncos will play the Raiders in next week’s season opener. “This is a great test,” Bronco Coach Dan Reeves said. “We get Eric Dickerson, and then Marcus Allen in the opener. It’s a great challenge for our defense. One of our main objectives this year is to do better against the running game. And I can’t think of any team in the league that runs the ball better than the Rams. . . . The Rams’ leading rusher through three exhibition games is Charles White, who has 214 yards in 45 carries. . . . Tonight’s game is critical for several players. NFL teams must reduce rosters from 50 to 45 Monday. . . . Reeves, on Bronco quarterback John Elway: “We’ve won 44 games in the last three years, so there’s no doubt he’s good. But he’s on the verge of becoming a dominating quarterback.” Denver was 11-5 last season but didn’t make the playoffs.