Ram Notebook : Dickerson’s Fast; Redskins’ Green Was Faster

It is a rare occasion when a back of Eric Dickerson’s speed is dragged down from behind by a cornerback in the open field.

But it happened Sunday, though Redskin Darrell Green isn’t your average cornerback.

Green, in fact, proved to be the National Football League’s fastest man in a 60-yard dash contest held last April at Palm Springs.

He proved it Sunday in the third quarter, tackling Dickerson at the Washington 15-yard line after a 65-yard run.

“I’m not ashamed that Darrell Green ran me down,” Dickerson said. “I’m not the fastest man in the league. Now if it was a linebacker, I’d be ashamed.

Add Dickerson: For the season, Dickerson fumbled 18 times, losing possession 14 time.

“When I run, I don’t even realize I have the ball in my hands until the whistle blows and I put the ball down,” he said. “This year I had a lot of fumbles. Anything can be corrected. That will be corrected.”

So who won the big matchup between Ram left tackle Irv Pankey and Redskin right end Dexter Manley?

Did you say Pankey?

Manley, who was second in the NFL in sacks with 18 1/2, did not have a sack Sunday.

Pankey did a formidable job on Manley, but backup tackle Duval Love had his problems with the Redskin defensive end.

Love replaced Pankey, who suffered a leg cramp, at offensive tackle for one series during the second period.

While rushing a screen pass, Manley slipped past Love but was taken down from behind by the offensive tackle. Love then dropped his 263 pounds on Manley’s left leg.

Manley wasn’t thrilled. He got up slowly but was quick to shove Love. No fight ensued, but Manley took his shots at Love after the game.

“I beat my man and he grabbed me and slung me down,” Manley said. “That was no accident. That was a cheap shot on his part.”

Quarterback Jim Everett’s rookie season was filled with more highs than lows, but it ended rudely.

A fourth-quarter pass intended for tight end David Hill was intercepted by safety Alvin Walton with 5:41 left, ending any Ram comeback chance.

“It was a little communication problem on the read,” said Everett, who completed 9 of 18 passes for 136 yards with 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. “I think that happens when you’re not around to work with the receiver.”

Everett, of course, was referring to his inexperience. He didn’t enter the lineup until the 11th week against New England.

“Anytime you get this close, it’s hard to take,” he said.

The Ram defense, which allowed 170 yards rushing last week against the San Francisco 49ers, gave up 138 more Sunday.

Washington running back George Rogers had 115 yards in 29 carries.

“The line made my job easier today,” Rogers said. “They were really coming off the ball. To win you have to have some running game.”

Rogers, on Eric Dickerson: “He’s a great back. It’s hard to get that many carries and yards and not fumble. People don’t understand that the guys on the other side of the ball get paid, too.”

The Rams were beat Sunday, but the Redskins were pretty beaten up.

By game’s end, the Redskin injury report had grown to six players. Offensive guard Russ Grimm suffered bruised ribs, and X-rays were negative. Offensive tackle Joe Jacoby suffered a fractured right hand.

Tight ends Terry Orr (sprained shoulder) and Don Warren (bruised Achilles) suffered injuries, as did cornerback Tim Morrison (sprained knee) and offensive guard Ron Tilton (pulled hamstring).

“We’ve played with injuries before, like in 1982,” Manley said. “Guys will just have to step in.”

None of the injuries was considered serious, and it’s likely that all will return for next week’s game against the Bears.

Redskin kicker Jess Atkinson had his best day as a pro, kicking four field goals, but it wasn’t his best day ever.

Atkinson, during his junior year (1983) at the University of Maryland, kicked five field goals against Tennessee in the Citrus Bowl.

“They were from 48, 35, 18, 26 and 32 yards,” Atkinson recalled off the top of his head.

Great memories, these kickers.

Nine seasons in the NFL has provided Rick Walker, former Santa Ana Valley High School star, with a strong training base for his present job as a television sports reporter.

“My playing experience gave me the ability to take all stupid questions out of my mind,” Walker, 31, said before Sunday’s game. “I don’t ask guys what it feels like to win. I stay away from cliches. They show a reporter’s lack of knowledge about the subject-matter.”

Walker became a full-time reporter for WRC-TV, NBC’s Washington affiliate, after retiring from the Redskins last June. He also works with George Michael on his nationally syndicated show, “Sports Machine,” and on “Redskin Report,” a weekly preview of the Redskins’ game.

Walker, a 1973 graduate of Valley, sees a lot of similarities between his broadcasting and playing careers.

“There are times when you win big and times when you get whooped,” the former tight end said. “The atmosphere isn’t always what you want it to be. People don’t always want to talk to you.”

In addition to his television job, Walker owns two restaurants in the north Virginia area. In his nine professional seasons, three with the Cincinnati Bengals and six with the Redskins, Walker caught 70 passes for 673 yards and 9 touchdowns.