Cromwell’s Interception Gets Rams Going, Johnson’s Finishes Off Lions

For the past six years, Nolan Cromwell and Johnnie Johnson have been the cornerstones of a vaunted Ram defense. They were the starting safeties, the stars of the secondary, and opponents thought twice about sending a pass in their direction.

It’s been a different story this season, though. Johnson, who had been a starter since his rookie season in 1980, hurt his knee in training camp and lost his free safety spot to Vince Newsome. And Cromwell, a seven-year starter, had just one interception and one pass defensed in the Rams’ first six games.

The once-dynamic duo had been more a footnote than a highlight in 1986.

But the old guard made its presence felt again Sunday at Anaheim Stadium with a pair of interceptions that lifted the Rams to a 14-10 win over Detroit. Lion quarterback Eric Hipple was the victim of the 1-2 punch, with Cromwell getting in his shot early and Johnson coming through in the final seconds to squash Detroit’s attempt to rally.

Cromwell intercepted a Hipple pass and went 80 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter to give the Rams a 7-0 lead. And Johnson snatched a Hipple pass with 23 seconds remaining in the game, dashing the Lions’ comeback hopes in the process.

Cromwell was really just a man in the right place at the right time, but his 80-yard sprint to the end zone earned him a game ball and the No. 1 spot on the Rams’ all-time interception return yardage list with 682 yards.

The Lions had good field position after Dale Hatcher was forced to punt from his own end zone. The Lions started at the Rams’ 39 and drove to the 21. On third and four, the Rams blitzed and Hipple quickly fired a pass over the middle . . . right into the waiting arms of Cromwell.

“He was laying in the weeds and I didn’t see him,” Hipple said.

That’s exactly what Cromwell hoped would happen.

“I was covering a back who stayed in to block,” Cromwell said. “I just stayed there and Hipple never saw me. His view was blocked by a lineman. They like to run inside routes and I knew one of their plays against the blitz was a slant pass to the wide receiver.”

Johnson, who was covering the intended receiver, Carl Bland, said that he realized Cromwell would score the second Hipple released the ball.

“Nolan stepped in front and I knew my man had six points,” Johnson said.

Cromwell got a chance to congratulate Johnson twice Sunday. Once after Johnson stripped the ball away from Lion running back James Jones at the Rams’ one-yard line and linebacker Mel Owens recovered. And again a few minutes later when Johnson intercepted Hipple at the Ram 22-yard line with the game on the line.

“At that point, I was glad to see anybody make the play,” Cromwell said. “But it was especially nice that it was Johnnie. People don’t realize the pressure he’s under, having to prepare to play so many different positions every week.”

Johnson, who is the No. 1 backup at both cornerback and both safety positions and also plays in the Rams’ nickel and dime defenses, played all of the second half at cornerback after Jerry Gray hurt his ankle.

“I’m in a position now where I have to take advantage of every opportunity,” he said.

He did just that Sunday. Midway through the fourth quarter, the Lions drove to the Rams’ two-yard line. Jones was heading up the middle when Johnson met him near the line of scrimmage. As they went down, Johnson reached in and wrenched the ball free.

“I was thinking about creating a turnover,” he said. “I got my hand on the ball and it came out and we got out of that jam.”

But the Rams were in another one just a few minutes later. The Lions, trailing, 14-10, got the ball back with a minute left and Hipple hit three quick passes to move 42 yards to the Ram 40.

“They only had about 30 seconds left and no timeouts, so I knew they’d be going up the field,” Johnson said. “I read the route and knew I had the interception, but (linebacker Mike) Wilcher got a hand on the pass. I was praying he didn’t knock it down.”

After Wilcher tipped it, the ball just sort of floated into Johnson’s hands.

He’s not one to complain, but Johnson feels as if he has something to prove--not to mention, a starting job to win back. And he hopes somebody noticed his accomplishments Sunday.

“I’m trying to win back my starting job, but I’m coming in the back door to do it,” he said. “I’m playing out of position, but hopefully this will make people take note and see that I’m still a good football player.

“Nolan and I talked after the decision was made (to start Newsome) and I just wanted to make sure I could still make a contribution to this team. I don’t know if they think I’m the player I once was, but they’ve got me in the game a lot which proves they still have faith in me.”

Cromwell and Johnson think they are more than just reminders of a glorious yesteryear. And they think Sunday was proof that they’re not quite ready to be put out to pasture yet.

“We’ll be here until they decide to move one of us out which, of course, we hope isn’t too soon,” Johnson said. “We’re good football players who still have a lot to contribute.”

Eric Hipple, for one, isn’t going to argue with that.