Bartkowski Says He’s Ready, but Dils to Start : It’s Doubtful Rams Will Use Everett Today
If nothing else, Ram quarterback Steve Bartkowski made his point this week.
Three days after taking a hard hit on his right knee in last week’s 34-20 loss to Philadelphia, Bartkowski limped out to practice with a ball in his hand, saying he was ready to play in today’s game against Tampa Bay.
“When you get to where I am in my career, you don’t think about the future,” said Bartkowski, adding that his brittle right knee is as good as it’s going to get.
Coach John Robinson praised Bartkowski for his show of will and courage but also ruled that those attributes don’t easily allow you to escape from defensive ends. So, for that reason, Steve Dils will start at quarterback against the Buccaneers.
Still, Bartkowski’s effort may not have gone for naught.
“Bart will be ready to work a series or two in the game,” Robinson said. “He could even have an impact role in the game.”
Bartkowski’s availability also takes some of the heat off rookie Jim Everett, who was activated this week just in case Bartkowski couldn’t make it.
“It is blatantly unfair to play the kid,” Robinson said. “The worst thing that can happen is for everyone to think that on any one play Everett could come in.” Robinson said that Everett would only play in the waning moments of a lopsided game, when what he doesn’t know (which is a lot) won’t hurt him.
So, today, it will be Dils, making his first NFL start in three years and his first for the Rams.
In last Sunday’s loss to the Eagles, Dils replaced an injured Bartkowski and threw three touchdown passes in the second half. He completed 15 of 26 passes for 164 yards.
It appears that Robinson picked the right opponent for Dils. The Buccaneers traditionally play a soft zone defense and are usually vulnerable to a quarterback who can pick his way down the field with short passes, which happens to be Dils’ forte. His biggest day as a pro was with the Minnesota Vikings in 1981, when he completed 37 of 62 passes for 361 yards against Tampa Bay.
But the Buccaneers haven’t played like pushovers in recent weeks. Two weeks ago, they upset the Detroit Lions at the Silverdome. Last week, they lost a 23-20 overtime game to the undefeated Atlanta Falcons.
Tampa Bay has given the starting quarterback job back to Steve Young, who lost it to Steve DeBerg in training camp. DeBerg’s seven-interception performance against the San Francisco 49ers in Tampa Bay’s opener started Coach Leeman Bennett toward his decision.
Young, the former star with the Los Angeles Express of the U.S. Football League, is finally starting to show some promise in the National Football League.
“Steve Young needs to play as much as he can,” Bennett said. “He’s not going to get better on the bench. I’ve got to find out how good he can be. And I think he can be a good one.”
Young’s running ability gives the Buccaneers an added dimension. So does his attitude about carrying the ball.
“I’d rather take a guy head on and know who the guy is I’m hitting than to take it on the back of the head from a guy I didn’t see,” Young said.
Young, in his two starts, has been a better runner than passer. He has rushed for 92 yards in 12 carries, including a 21-yard touchdown run last week. In two games, though, he has completed just 18 of 36 passes for 199 yards and 1 touchdown.
Ram Notes
If today’s game is anything like the last two times the teams met, Ram cornerback LeRoy Irvin will be the hero. In 1984, he intercepted a pass late in the game to preserve a 34-33 Ram win. Last season, he intercepted a pass and returned it 34 yards for a touchdown, giving the Rams a 31-27 win . . . Ram inside linebacker Carl Ekern may miss today’s game with a groin pull. If he can’t play, Jim Laughlin will start in his place . . . Ron Holmes, Buccaneer defensive end, is doubtful because of a knee injury, but James Wilder, Buccaneer running back, should play despite a bruised sternum.
