PRO FOOTBALL ’86 : COACHES, PLAYERS, TEAMS AND TRENDS TO WATCH THIS SEASON : Quarterbacks Are Crucial to Season for Raiders, Rams : Can Bartkowski Revive Career and an Offense?

When we last left the Rams, they were shivering en masse at Chicago’s Soldier Field, bear-claw marks and egg all over their faces.

They couldn’t call a time-out to save their lives and they were playing with a quarterback, Dieter Brock, who became the brunt of cocktail party jokes for weeks thereafter.

There’s nothing much you can say when you lose a game, 24 to zip, and have your lunch handed to you on national television, even if the whole thing was for the NFC championship.

So the Rams could only go home and stew over the winter, curse that blasted Super Bowl Shuffle video a thousand more times and promise to return next year to the scene of the crime.

The Rams figured they were only an offense away from unseating the Chicago Bears, and they set out to build one.

They tinkered in the garage for a while, replaced a faulty Brock with Steve Bartkowski, changed the oil in their gear box and pronounced themselves fit to challenge the Bears.

Of course, Ram Coach John Robinson is the type of guy who could sound cheery about undergoing a root canal.

Not surprisingly, he says his team is better.

The Rams in April signed veteran quarterback Steve Bartkowski, a free agent who tiptoed into town and is now set to become the fifth opening-day quarterback of the decade for the Rams. The Rams hired Dick Coury as quarterback coach, and he has helped unearth in Anaheim a strange new phenomenon known as the forward pass.

The Rams were dead last in the NFL in passing, so up was pretty much the only direction to pursue.

Bartkowski, 33, and a former All-Pro, has seemingly provided needed punch to an offense that some have compared to a certain flavor of ice cream.

“This team can be as good as any team there is,” Bartkowski said.

Just the type of voice and arm the Rams were looking for. Star running back Eric Dickerson will have company in the backfield this season, being joined by one-time recluse Barry Redden, a No. 1 draft choice in 1982 who is finally getting a chance to play.

“Potentially, we’re better offensively if we can get some balance,” Robinson said. “During the preseason, you guys (press) were all saying ‘Wow’ at some of the things we’ve been doing.”

Then, of course, there is the Dickerson factor.

Robinson is expecting a huge season from his star back and has even introduced Dickerson to the world of pass routes this year.

Dickerson held out 46 days last season in a contract dispute and had an down season for him--1,234 yards in 14 games.

His rushing title was stripped from him by the Raiders’ Marcus Allen, his crosstown rival--something Dickerson took exception to.

“Last year we started without Eric and had some uncertainties at quarterback,” Robinson said. “I expect Eric to be better than last year. And I think we’ll be more productive at quarterback and with the passing game.”

But lurking in all that optimism are familiar traces of reality.

How, for instance, can the Rams possibly be improved when they lost two Pro Bowl players--cornerback Gary Green and linebacker Jim Collins--to injuries?

How can they expect to challenge anyone, much less the Bears, when their best receiver and punt returner, Henry Ellard, is mired in a contract dispute and will watch the season opener from Fresno?

And just how much help did the Rams get in the draft? Their No. 1 pick, offensive tackle Mike Schad, flopped his way through training camp and will almost assuredly open the season on injured reserve with a convenient back injury, saving the team the embarrassment of having to keep him on the 45-man roster.

Robinson is not blind, and is aware of the setbacks, but feels an improved offense even without Ellard will compensate for other problems.

“Our quarterback situation was our No. 1 problem,” Robinson said. “And Brock’s injury made the situation more certain. Everyone feels that Bartkowski has done well, and we have every reason to believe that if we can protect the guy, he’s going to have a good season.”

A closer look:

QUARTERBACK--The expected controversy between Brock and Bartkowski ended on Aug. 5, when Brock was struck in the knee during an exhibition game with Houston. He underwent arthroscopic knee surgery the following Tuesday and this week was placed on injured reserve, putting him out four more weeks.

There were many who assumed that Bartkowski would start all along, but Brock’s injury made the decision that much easier for Robinson, the man who brought Brock here from Canada in the first place.

Robinson claims that we have not heard the last of Brock, that the maligned quarterback will rise again.

But even Brock isn’t so sure.

“If Steve plays well, it’s obvious that it’s going to be hard to get back in,” Brock said. “I don’t wish bad luck on anybody, but I just want to get back to where I was. I don’t want to start any more controversies, but I’d like to play.”

Brock’s only hope seems to hinge on the fact that it’s tough for a quarterback to make it through an NFL season these days.

With Bartkowski, who’s had five operations on his right knee, the questions of health become even more a concern.

Until Brock’s return, the Rams will go with Bartkowski and backup Steve Dils.

RUNNING BACK--A familiar scene last season was the sight of Dickerson running into a defensive front stacked eight-wide. Gee, what a surprise. But with the worst passing attack in the league, what else was a team to do?

Last year, it was stop Dickerson and stop the Rams. But Dickerson is hoping all that’s changed.

“It will help,” he said of the new offensive philosophy. “But it won’t be like night and day. We’ll just be more versatile now. We can run and we can pass.”

Redden will join Dickerson in the backfield, and both backs will be used more as receivers.

“Eric is off to an excellent start,” Robinson said. “He’s the most ready to play since I’ve been here.”

Charles White, the former Heisman trophy winner for USC, has proven a capable backup. He was the Rams’ second leading rusher in the preseason with 233 yards on 51 carries and 3 touchdowns.

Redden will be backed up by veterans Rob Carpenter and Mike Guman.

RECEIVERS--The big concern here, of course, is the loss of Ellard, the second most exciting player on offense next to Dickerson. Ellard made $145,000 last year and is asking for a deal in the neighborhood of $400,000 annually. The Rams have offered $1.2 million for four years. No one will budge. So there the two sides sit, day after day. The two parties last met Aug. 25 in Stockton, but the session was fruitless. With Ellard gone, the Rams are counting heavily on Ron Brown make up for the loss. Brown returned three kickoffs for touchdowns last season but has been inconsistent as a receiver.

Replacing Ellard will be six-year man Bobby Duckworth, whose most memorable moment last season was not showing up for a game in New Orleans. The backups, Michael Young and Chuck Scott, are good but inexperienced. Tight end David Hill has lost 30 pounds in the off-season but it hasn’t affected his ability as a blocker. Tony Hunter, a legitimate deep threat, was the team’s second-leading receiver last year.

OFFENSIVE LINE--Quite simply, Bartkowski’s fate is in the hands of the line, who will need to keep the heat of the quarterback if the Rams are to be successful. Though growing older, this unit is the heart and soul of the team. Four of its members--guards Kent Hill and Dennis Harrah, tackle Jackie Slater and center Doug Smith--were in the Pro Bowl last season.

The 32-year-old Harrah is the leader as he enters his 12th season with the Rams.

DEFENSIVE LINE--This is one of Robinson’s biggest concerns, especially when it comes to rushing the passer.

“I just need to see it,” he said. “I think it’s there. I just haven’t seen it yet.”

Mike Wilcher, a linebacker, led the Rams in sacks last year. The leader on the line was end Gary Jeter, the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year, with 11 sacks. The Rams are expecting big things from third-year man Shawn Miller, who will roam the line at nose-tackle and end. Reggie Doss, will be at right end on running situations, with Jeter the designated rusher.

LINEBACKERS--Jim Collins, who finally made the Pro Bowl last season, is suffering for it. He injured a nerve in his shoulder during the game and will start the season on injured reserve. He will be replaced at inside linebacker by Mark Jerue. Everyone else--Wilcher, Carl Ekern and Mel Owens--is solid. The Rams, looking for some insurance, traded this week for Denver linebacker Steve Busick, the Broncos’ leading tackler the past two seasons.

SECONDARY--The loss of cornerback Green could be devastating. He’s being replaced on the left side by a second-year player, Jerry Gray, a converted safety. There’s no such worry on the right side where LeRoy Irvin resides.

The Rams are strong at safety, the big story being Vince Newsome, who has beaten out Johnnie Johnson for now at free safety. Johnson, though, missed most of training camp after arthroscopic knee surgery. The strong safety is 10-year veteran Nolan Cromwell, though Tim Fox has been rotating in at the position during the exhibition season.

To strengthen the secondary, the Rams are expected to sign nine-year veteran cornerback Herman Edwards, cut by the Philadelphia Eagles, this week.

“I don’t see how our defense has changed that much,” Robinson said.

An injury at linebacker or cornerback could change his opinion.

KICKERS--Punter Dale Hatcher made the Pro Bowl as a rookie and kicker Mike Lansford made 22 of 29 field goals last year.

SPECIAL TEAMS--The Rams were the NFL’s best last year, but that was with Henry Ellard as a punt returner. The injuries on defense have stripped the special teams of some depth, which has been a concern of Robinson.

RAM STATISTICS FINAL 1985 TEAM

Team Opp Rams First downs 281 258 Rushes-yards 444-1586 503-2057 Net. yd. passing 3483 2872 Sacks-yd lost 56-421 57-409 Passes 296-548 234-403 Int.-yd. ret. 14-138 29-359 Plays-net yd. 1048-4648 963-4520 Punts-average 89-42.0 88-43.2 Punts ret.-yd. 43-287 38-501 Kickoffs ret.-yd. 66-1353 56-1394 Fumbles-lost 30-17 35-21 Penalties-yards 72-529 97-730

INDIVIDUAL RUSHING

Player TCB NYG Avg. TD Dickerson 292 1,234 4.2 12 Redden 87 380 4.4 0 White 70 310 4.4 3 Cain 11 46 4.2 0 Brock 20 38 1.9 0 Guman 11 32 2.9 0 Brown 2 13 6.5 0 Ellard 3 8 2.7 0 Kemp 5 0 0.0 0 Dils 2 -4 -2.0 0 Totals 503 2,057 4.1 15 Opp. 444 1,586 3.6 9

PASSING

Player PA PC PI YD TD Brock 365 218 13 2,658 16 Kemp 38 16 1 214 0 Totals 403 234 14 2,872 16 Opp. 548 296 29 3,483 19

RECEIVING

Player NO. YD TD Ellard 54 811 5 Hunter 50 562 4 D. Hill 29 271 1 Duckworth 25 422 3 Dickerson 20 126 0 Redden 16 162 0 Brown 14 215 3 Young 14 157 0 Cain 5 24 0 Guman 3 23 0 McDonald 2 58 0 Barber 1 29 0 White 1 12 0 Totals 234 2,872 16 Opp. 296 3,483 19

OTHER LEADERS

Punting--Hatcher 87-3,761, 43.2 avg. Punt Returns--Ellard 37-501, 13.5 avg. Kickoff Returns--Brown 28-918, 32.8 avg. Scoring--Lansford, 104 points. TD--Dickerson 12. FG--Lansford 22-29.

RAM SCHEDULE

Date Opponent Time Sept. 7 at St. Louis 10:00 Sept. 14 San Francisco 1:00 Sept. 21 at Indianapolis 10:00 Sept. 28 at Philadelphia 10:00 Oct. 5 Tampa Bay 1:00 Oct. 12 at Atlanta 10:00 Oct. 19 Detroit 10:00 Oct. 26 Atlanta 1:00 Nov. 3 at Chicago (Mon.) 6:00 Nov. 9 at New Orleans 10:00 Nov. 16 New England 1:00 Nov. 23 New Orleans 1:00 Nov. 30 at New York Jets 10:00 Dec. 7 Dallas 6:00 Dec. 14 Miami 1:00 Dec. 19 at San Fran. (Fri) 5:00

ALL TIMES LOCAL