Zampese Takes Job With Rams : Offensive Coordinator Throws Chargers for a Loss

Ernie Zampese, one of the most respected offensive coaches in pro football, is leaving the Chargers for a job with the Rams.

Zampese, who will be 51 next month, will become the Rams’ offensive coordinator, a position he held last season with the Chargers. Previously, he had served as receivers coach and assistant head coach.

The Chargers have promoted Dave Levy, offensive line coach, to offensive coordinator, a job he had from 1983 through 1985. Coach Al Saunders also announced the hiring of Roger Theder as quarterbacks coach.

There was no sign of conflict between Saunders and Zampese, whose contract has expired. Zampese, who had been with the Chargers nine years, said he was close to agreeing to a new contract with Steve Ortmayer, football operations director, when he was contacted by the Rams.

A longtime associate of Don Coryell, who resigned as the Chargers’ head coach at midseason, Zampese was central to developing the San Diego offense for the past five years.

Zampese said he was approached by John Robinson, Rams coach, late last week about redesigning an offense that has been largely one dimensional because it was centered around running back Eric Dickerson. Zampese, whose strength is passing, is certain to develop an attack that will better utilize Jim Everett, second-year quarterback.

Coryell, whose association with Zampese goes back 20 years to their days at San Diego State, said he was surprised by the decision.

“Ernie is the best offensive coach in football,” Coryell said. “This is a great loss for the Chargers and a great thing for the Rams.”

Charger quarterback Dan Fouts often referred to Zampese as the game’s No. 1 offensive coordinator, and would have none of it when Zampese last season said he was in a slump at calling plays.

“I’ll take Ernie’s (game plan and play selection) to the bank anytime,” Fouts said.

Zampese’s move is likely to mean a greater shift in emphasis for the Rams than for the Chargers.

“I would think portions of the passing game will be redesigned,” Zampese said. “The running game won’t be messed with at all. Eric will get the football. We would want enough passing to keep defenses from jamming the line with 8 or 9 guys.”

The Chargers, meanwhile, will be searching for a dominant running back to add punch to their ground game, but Levy indicated there won’t--or shouldn’t--be any stylistic differences that the average Charger fan will notice.

“We have not had a physically dominating runner since Chuck Muncie, but if we can keep all our current players healthy and on the field, we can still be a darn good offense,” Levy said. “Last year, it seemed like everybody was hurt, from Lionel James to Wes Chandler and Dan Fouts, just to name a few.

“I believe we are going to continue to do what we have done the past 10 years. People don’t realize this, but our ratio of passing to running has always been very close, about 52% pass and 48% run. Would we try to copy the Giants or Redskins? Heavens, no. We want to move the ball, score points and not turn it over. We know that if a team can only run or throw, the defense will jump on you like mad.”

Levy said Theder, who formerly coached with Saunders at California and had been employed by the Arizona Outlaws, will call the plays.

“The entire offensive staff is going to continue to be involved in the design of our game plans,” Levy said. “No one has ever been sealed out. We don’t want one planner and three field coaches who get a printout. We want full input from everyone, including Dan (Fouts).”

Levy said he has confidence in the continuing ability of Fouts, who will be 36 this year.

“There is no more qualified guy around to run the offense,” he said. “There are some quarterbacks who physically might have more than Dan because they are 15 years younger, but he is in the best position of his career to do what needs to be done here.

“There’s no way he has the same velocity of a guy who is 22, but then, there is no way a 22-year-old can match Dan’s brains and skill at anticipation. I am a big believer in Dan, and I know how badly he wants to get to a Super Bowl. I think he played darn well in the latter part of last season, after coming back from his second concussion.”

Zampese, like Levy, was an admirer of Fouts--and of the Charger coaching staff and the city of San Diego.

“Dan can adapt to any style of offense and do a tremendous job,” he said. “This offense has not made Dan Fouts; he has made it.”

Saunders said he had no idea Zampese was thinking of leaving, nor did Zampese until late last week.

“I never envisioned leaving here,” he said. “I thought I would stay here the rest of my life and be happy. It was a very emotional decision, because I have been here so long, and I have two grown daughters here, a granddaughter and another on the way.

“But there’s a time when everybody needs a change, and I think this is best for me and my family. The more my wife and I talked, the excitement of doing something different took over. We felt this was the time if we were ever going to make a move. If you allow two or three years to go by, you might never get the chance. . . . It was the aura of the challenge and a change (that led to his decision).”

Levy said he knew of no philosophical differences between Zampese and the staff, and Zampese emphasized that point.

“Ernie and I are very close, and I am positive there were no (differences). I don’t know of any other issues. This is not an animosity move in any way, shape or form.”

Zampese insisted the change was based solely on doing what was best for his family and his career.

“I had a tremendous relationship with Al Saunders and (owner) Alex Spanos has been fantastic to me,” he said.

Zampese twice has been approached (by Houston and Indianapolis) about becoming a head coach, but he declined to be interviewed.

“It’s not my style (to be a head coach),” he said. “I am not the up front type of guy. I am very uncomfortable in that position.”

Where he is best is sitting in an office, digesting game film and statistics and concocting new wrinkles in carefully-wrought strategy.