Rams, Broncos Will Meet Again Tonight : They Played 3 Weeks Ago in London, and L.A. Already Has New Look
Apparently out to prove that you can never play a team too often during the exhibition season, the Rams and the Denver Broncos will get together again tonight at Anaheim Stadium, just three weeks after having played in London.
They can hope that the game is as exciting as American Bowl ’87 at Wembley Stadium--a last-second, 28-27 win for the Rams. But for that to happen, they would probably have to import the same giddy English football fans who bowed at the feet of even the lowliest free agents that night.
The high decibel level at Wembley undoubtedly inspired the players, who will be hard-pressed to reproduce that kind of adrenaline rush tonight.
Pregame introductions won’t even be necessary tonight. The Rams and the Broncos, both presumably contenders for Super Bowl XXII, know one another well enough to exchange Christmas cards. The teams scrimmaged three times in London the week before their first game.
So is seeing too much of a good team too much?
“It’s not bad playing the Rams again,” Denver Coach Dan Reeves said. “We could have played others and not have had as hard a time playing.”
Meaning, you don’t get ready to defend your AFC title by working out with the Indianapolis Colts.
The Rams, for what it’s worth, have had their way with the AFC’s Western Division so far, posting exhibition wins over the Broncos, the Seattle Seahawks and the San Diego Chargers.
The price of these meaningless victories, though, has been steep. Because of injuries, 19 active-roster Rams sat out last week’s 23-21 win over the Chargers, which starred Ram quarterback Jim Everett with a cast of 1,000 reserves.
But even amid the confusions and contusions, Coach John Robinson managed to find something else he liked about Everett.
“I was impressed before the game that he wanted that game to go well, even though a lot of his supporting cast wasn’t there,” Robinson said.
And for the most part, things did go well. Everett, growing in stature with every passing experience, completed 13 of 23 passes for 125 yards in the first half, including a very Dan Foutsian quick-release touchdown pass to tight end Damone Johnson just before halftime.
The good news tonight is that Everett won’t need to make as many identification checks in the huddle.
Eric Dickerson, who gave his hamstrings the night off in San Diego, will return, along with starters Ron Brown, Dennis Harrah, Henry Ellard and even left tackle Irv Pankey, who ended his 31-day holdout this week.
It should all amount to that serious test Reeves was looking for from the Rams.
“The difference is that they don’t rely as much on the run-run game with Everett,” Reeves said. “He’s dangerous with his arm and he’s got guys like Ron Brown who can really hurt you. It’s a totally different problem trying to stop the offense this year than last year.”
The Broncos have bounced back from the Wembley loss with wins over the Green Bay Packers, 20-14, and the Miami Dolphins, 31-28. However, Reeves was discouraged that the Broncos almost let a 17-0 halftime lead slip away against Miami.
Still, it’s hard for Reeves to frown when he can turn his offense over to quarterback John Elway, who will play about a half tonight, and one of the league’s fastest receiving corps.
As if Denver didn’t have enough speed with Vance Johnson and Mark Jackson, it selected Florida’s Rickey Nattiel as its first pick in the draft.
“We have a lot of speed,” Johnson said. “With myself, Nattiel and Jackson, you’ve got legitimate 4.4 (40-yard) guys out there. It backs everyone up (on defense).”
Backing up tonight for the first time will likely be recovered Ram cornerback LeRoy Irvin, who has been out with a hamstring injury.
Johnson said he likes the challenge of going against Pro Bowl cornerbacks Irvin and Jerry Gray, who he says compare favorably with the Raider pair of Lester Hayes and Mike Haynes.
“The Rams try to hit you and knock you out, but then they get back in the huddle,” Johnson said of Irvin and Gray. “The Raiders try to hit you and then mess with you on the way back to the huddle.”
Ram Notes Rumors circulating a few weeks ago had Vance Johnson coming to the Rams for disgruntled cornerback LeRoy Irvin. Told that the deal was presumably off, Johnson said this week “The Rams don’t want me, huh?” . . . In four seasons, Eric Dickerson had never missed a game because of injury, before sitting out last Sunday night’s exhibition against the Chargers. Dickerson did miss two games in 1985 over a contract dispute. . . . The Broncos aren’t known as a great running team, but last week Gene Lang ran 76 yards for a touchdown against the Dolphins. “I haven’t seen a big running play like that since I’ve been here,” said Bronco Coach Dan Reeves, who’s been with the team since 1981. . . . Ram safety Vince Newsome, who was in Vacaville attending his father’s funeral, is expected back for tonight’s game. . . . The Rams signed wide receiver Craig Richardson, an 11th-round choice who was recently released by Kansas City. Richardson, from Eastern Washington, will dress for tonight’s game.
