Rams and Eagles Defend Their Philosophies : Shurmur’s System Works in Anonymity; Ryan’s Is Flamboyant but Failing

Buddy Ryan, who has never been afraid to upstage anyone, was perhaps the only assistant coach ever to be carried off the field by his players after a Super Bowl win.

Ryan, of course, was defensive coordinator of the champion Chicago Bears last season. His 46 defense was the rage of the league. So was his tongue.

It seemed there wasn’t a phrase Ryan couldn’t turn or a player he couldn’t rip.

All of which landed him the head coaching job in Philadelphia, which brings us to today’s game between Ryan’s winless Eagles and the undefeated Rams at Veterans Stadium.

For this is a clash not only of players but of philosophies as different as communism and capitalism.

On one side is Ryan, who brought his famed defense over from Chicago. It feeds off the personality of its creator. The 46 is brash and cocky, a defense that dares you to beat it. It is intimidation and rowdiness.

On the other side are the Rams, with defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur, who works with the patience of a Swiss watchmaker. His defense is all about precision and conservatism.

In other words, Shurmur would rather die than be carried off the field on the players’ shoulders.

“They wouldn’t even think of it,” he said this week. “It would drive me crazy. I would go out of my way to get out of there.”

Ryan’s 46 defense is the most imitated in the league. No one has copied the Rams’ defense. It’s boring even to talk about.

“People look for gold chains and trendy things,” Shurmur said. “They’re not interested in plaid coats and button-down shirts. But I think that’s us.”

The 46 defense thrives on the star system. It’s big names and big plays.

“We could not be more different,” Shurmur said. “We believe in we as opposed to I . Our guys are destined for, even doomed to, anonymity in our scheme.”

There’s no question which defense is more popular. But is the 46 better?

Although Ryan’s defense was dominating in Chicago, it certainly isn’t working in Philadelphia.

“Everyone in the league is copying it,” Ryan said, “The only bad thing is that they’re playing it better than we are.”

The Eagles are 0-3 and rank 21st in the NFL in total defense. They are last in stopping the run.

The Rams’ defense, on the other hand, has quietly become one of the NFL’s best.

After three weeks, the Rams ranked third overall and first against the run. In three wins, the Rams have allowed a total of 203 yards rushing.

The Rams aren’t flashy, for sure, but they don’t make many mistakes, either.

Only twice in three games has the defense allowed a first down by penalty. “That’s phenomenal,” Shurmur said.

The entire Ram strategy is summed up in the word containment. The Rams stop the run and refuse to be beaten by a big play. They give up yards but not many points.

It takes time to learn this defense, too, but Shurmur is now in his fourth year of teaching with the Rams. The system is well established.

“It takes a lot of commitment from the players,” Shurmur said. “They must lose their identity for the sake of the group. That’s a lot to give up.”

But so, too, does Shurmur sacrifice. He would very much like to be a head coach in the NFL but not enough to blow his own horn.

He still calls this John Robinson’s defense and says that Robinson deserves the credit.

“When people splinter themselves from the group, it’s distracting,” Shurmur said. “It’s counterproductive.”

He said Ryan and Bear Coach Mike Ditka would not have survived another year together in Chicago.

Shurmur and the Rams have no such problems. He and anonymity seem to get along just fine.

Ram Notes

The Eagles’ three losses were to teams that remain unbeaten: Washington, Chicago and Denver. . . . Eagle quarterback Ron Jaworski, the 13-year veteran, has been removed from games for probable third-down passes this season. Coach Buddy Ryan swaps second-year man Randall Cunningham, who has more mobility, for Jaworski. “I certainly don’t like it,” Jaworski said this week. “But I know what he’s trying to do. At this point in my career, I’m not going to rock the boat.” . . . Before the season, Ryan predicted that the Eagles would make the playoffs. What is he saying now? “I did that to take the pressure off,” he said. “And it did. For the first time, the fans are totally behind Jaworski. It took the pressure off the players.” . . . Ryan, on his 46 defense this year: “We’re like a 23 now.” . . . The Rams and Eagles have met 19 times since 1946, the Rams leading the series, 11-7-1. . . . More Ryan: He said that once his players learn his defense, the Eagles will be tough to beat. “It’s just a matter of learning it,” he said. “We’ve got the players here.” . . . Ram quarterback coach Dick Coury was an Eagle assistant in 1976-1981. . . . Ram cornerback Herman Edwards, who plays primarily on special teams, started 135 consecutive games for the Eagles in 1977-1985 before being released in the exhibition season. . . . How do the Eagle players like Ryan? “He’s unorthodox, no question,” Jaworski said. “At first a lot of players resented him. No one likes to get ripped. But you get calloused to it and just go out and do your job.”