Dils Will Start Sunday for Ailing Bartkowski
Rams Coach John Robinson waited and waited and waited, but Friday he finally named a starting quarterback for Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons in Anaheim Stadium.
No, not Henry Ellard. It will be Steve Dils, who will be asked again to pinch-hit for an ailing Steve Bartkowski.
Bartkowski, who is limping noticeably on his battered right knee, tried to persuade Robinson this week that he could start.
But it didn’t work. Robinson has stated that he wants six or seven quality starts from Bartkowski during the remainder of the season. And that means sitting out some games to rest the knee.
Bartkowski was upset by the news, but feels he is in no position to criticize Robinson.
“My position needs to be one of submission,” an emotional Bartkowski said. “I have to get as well as I can and find a way to con him (Robinson) into letting me play.”
Robinson said the move was not a demotion and that Bartkowski’s status would be evaluated on a weekly basis.
Bartkowski will be Dils’ backup Sunday, with rookie Jim Everett playing only in an emergency.
Bartkowski, who has had five operations on his right knee, admitted Friday that it hasn’t been the same since being struck in the team’s opener at St. Louis, when a teammate rolled into Bartkowski’s knee after being blocked.
He reinjured the knee on a much more dramatic hit by Philadelphia’s Andre Waters Sept. 28.
“There’s been a big difference since August,” Bartkowski said. “In training camp, the leg wasn’t bothering me. But I anticipated it not being like that all season long. Maybe all this wouldn’t have happened had we been more effective on offense.”
The Rams are ranked last in the NFL (in passing), and Bartkowski has completed just 48% of his passes with two touchdowns. Though much of the blame must go to the Ram receiving corps, Bartkowski clearly has been struggling. Robinson is certain it’s because of Bartkowski’s ailing knee, which has affected his mobility for years.
“Obviously, I want to play,” Bartkowski said. “My desire is to play every chance I get.”
Dils will make his second start of the season. He stepped in for Bartkowski in the Rams’ 26-20 overtime victory over Tampa Bay earlier this season.
Dils said he is comfortable with his role.
“I’m not going to the Pro Bowl and I’m not looking for stats,” he said. “I’m looking for a win to get our record to 6-2.”
Ram Notes Free safety Vince Newsome had a long talk with secondary coach Steve Shafer on Friday, leading some to believe that Johnnie Johnson may have won his starting job back after playing a strong game against Detroit last Sunday. “I’ve got nothing to say,” Newsome said. Pressed further, he would only add: “One o’clock . . . Sunday . . . .watch.” Defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur said later that all four safeties (Johnson, Newsome, Nolan Cromwell and Tim Fox) would be rotated into the lineup, but he wouldn’t say whether Johnson would start in place of Newsome. . . . How long does it take to learn the Ram passing offense? Consider wide receiver Henry Ellard, who ended his holdout Thursday and has practiced two days with the team. “He has not yet asked me a question about a pass route or done anything wrong yet,” quarterback Steve Dils said. “As far as what I’ve seen, I think he could start.” . . . The Rams must make a player move today to make room for Ellard on the team’s 45-man roster. Robinson wouldn’t say who would be released. With Ellard, the Rams now have six wide receivers.
