Rams ’87 : PREVIEW SECTION : A LOOK AT THE RAMS’ 1987 OPPONENTS

Houston Oilers

Sept. 13, 10 a.m.

Astrodome

1986 Record: 5-11.

Record Against Rams: Rams lead series, 3-1.

Key Offensive Starters: Quarterback Warren Moon. He threw twice as many interceptions (26) as touchdowns passes (13) last season, but his scrambling ability can still give a team fits. Oiler offense also includes former Ram castoffs Drew and Kent Hill. Drew, the receiver, caught 65 passes for 1,112 yards last season. Kent, the offensive guard, went to Houston in the trade that brought Jim Everett to the Rams. Rookie fullback Alonzo Highsmith could give the team more punch.

Key Defensive Starter: John Grimsley, inside linebacker: In his first full season, he led Oilers with 199 tackles (112 solos). He averaged 14 tackles in his last 12 games.

The Rams Could Do Without Seeing . . . Highsmith, the first-round choice from Miami, finally signing a contract and taking out all that unspent energy on the Ram defensive line. Or, Moon scrambling in the backfield ready to throw at any time to speedy wide receivers Hill, Haywood Jeffires and Ernest Givens.

Minnesota Vikings

Sept. 20, 1 p.m.

Anaheim Stadium

1986 Record: 9-7.

Record Against Rams: Vikings lead series, 15-12-2.

Key Offensive Starters: Quarterback Tommy Kramer made his first trip to the Pro Bowl in 10 seasons last year, but a recurring bout with alcoholism forced him into a rehab center during training camp. Running back Darrin Nelson, the diminutive one from Stanford, had 53 catches. Wide Receiver Anthony Carter (38 catches, 686 yards, 7 touchdowns) is one of the legitimate deep threats in the NFL. Oh, and don’t forget first-round choice running back D.J. Dozier from Penn State.

Key Defensive Starters: Joey Browner, safety, led Vikings in tackles (98) and fumble recoveries (4) and made it to the Pro Bowl for the second straight season. Look out for Vikings’ young line led by tackle Keith Millard (10 1/2 sacks), one of four former first-round picks on the front.

The Rams Could Do Without Seeing . . . The Vikings ever again in the playoffs. Coach Bud Grant is gone and the team plays indoors now, but no team over the years has caused Ram fans more pain. Minnesota knocked the Rams out of the playoffs in 1969 (conference title), 1974 (NFC championship), 1976 (NFC championship) and 1977 (Divisional Playoff).

Cincinnati Bengals

Sept. 27, 1 p.m.

Anaheim Stadium

1986 record: 10-6.

Record Against Rams: Bengals lead series, 3-2.

Key Offensive Starters: Quarterback Boomer Esiason had a big hand in an offense that led the NFL last season (405 yards per game). Also throw in James Brooks (1,087 yards rushing, 54 catches) and receivers Eddie Brown (58 catches) and Cris Collinsworth (62 catches, 10 TDs).

Key Defensive Starter: David Fulcher (105 tackles), strong safety, hits like Seattle’s Kenny Easley, but the bad news is that only the woeful Indianapolis Colts gave up more points than Cincinnati in 1986.

The Rams Could Do Without Seeing . . . The Bengal offense on the field. These guys are a multi-pronged football warhead waiting to go off in the end zone. The cure for the Rams is three or four 98-yard, 10-minute drives that conclude with one-yard Dickerson touchdown plunges.

New Orleans Saints

Oct. 4, 10 a.m.

Louisiana Superdome

and

Nov. 8, 1 p.m.

Anaheim Stadium

1986 Record: 7-9.

Record Against Rams: Rams lead series, 24-10.

Key Offensive Starter: Dave Wilson, quarterback. Wilson is expected to beat out Bobby Hebert for the starting position, a battle that could determine just how well the Saints do this season. He completed 24 of 43 passes against the Rams last Nov. 23.

Key Defensive Starter: Rickey Jackson, linebacker. Jackson led the Saints in tackles, which isn’t unusual. Jackson is one of the hardest tacklers in the conference, a talent that Dickerson can confirm.

The Rams Could Do Without Seeing . . . Eric Martin, wide receiver. Martin caught 11 passes for 143 yards and one touchdown against the Rams last season.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Oct. 11, 1 p.m.

Anaheim Stadium

1986 record: 6-10.

Record against Rams: Rams lead series, 10-4-1.

Key Offensive Starters: Running back Earnest Jackson has been dumped by two teams (San Diego and Philadelphia) in the last three years after 1,000-yard seasons, but perhaps will find a home in Pittsburgh after 910 yards rushing last year in limited playing time. The only problem with receiver Louis Lipps (38 catches) is the team’s inability to get him the ball 80 times a season.

Key Defensive Starters: Mike Merriweather, outside linebacker, made it to the Pro Bowl again, but it was fellow linebacker Bryan Hinkle who led the team in tackles.

The Rams Could Do Without Seeing . . . Louis Lipps in the open field. He has scored 26 touchdowns in his first 30 NFL games.

Atlanta Falcons

Oct. 18, 10 a.m.

Fulton County Stadium

and

Dec. 13, 1 p.m.

Anaheim Stadium

1986 record: 7-8-1.

Record Against Rams: Rams lead series, 29-9-2.

Key Offensive Starter: Running back Gerald Riggs is a bruising rusher (1,327 yards) who cut through the Rams defense for 141 yards on 35 carries in 26-14 win last season.

Key Defensive Starter: Buddy Curry, inside liebacker, has started 105 straight games and left his (helmet) impression on many an opposing running back, having led the Falcons in tackles for seven straight seasons. Last year he checked out with 156.

The Rams Could Do Without Seeing . . . Quarterback Dave Archer on a good day. In the Atlanta loss last year, the Rams were forced to use Jim Laughlin at inside linebacker in place of the injured Carl Ekern, paving the way for a Riggs run-a-thon. A healthy Ram defense can stop one-dimensional run teams, making the erratic but sometimes electrifying Archer a key.

Cleveland Browns

Oct. 26, 6 p.m.

Cleveland Stadium

1986 Record: 12-4.

Record Against Rams: Browns lead series, 8-7.

Key Offensive Starter: Quarterback Bernie Kosar. The Browns made due without oft-injured running backs Earnest Byner and Kevin Mack last year, a testament to Kosar’s knack for finding ways to win. Kosar doesn’t have the best footwork, arm or presence, but he can dissect secondaries with alarming ease.

Key Defensive Starter: Eddie Johnson, inside linebacker. Johnson is the least-heralded defender on the Browns, but they need him desperately against the run.

The Rams Could Do Without Seeing . . . Hanford Dixon, cornerback. Dixon, a Pro Bowl selection, plays excellent man-to-man defense (as does the other cornerback, Frank Minnifield) and forces teams to think twice about throwing to his side. In the last six seasons, Dixon has 20 interceptions.

San Francisco 49ers

Nov. 1, 1 p.m.

Anaheim Stadium

and

Dec. 27, 5 p.m.

Candlestick Park

1986 Record: 10-5-1.

Record Against Rams: Rams lead series, 45-27-2.

Key Offensive Starter: Joe Montana, quarterback. Despite back surgery, Montana returned in time to help the 49ers reach the playoffs and win a division title. This year, he returns fully recovered and rested.

Key Defensive Starter: Charles Haley, end. Haley, now in his second season, led the 49ers in sacks (12) last year. Unknown and underrated.

The Rams Could Do Without Seeing . . . Jerry Rice, wide receiver. Rice wasn’t much impressed with the respected Ram defense last season. In two games, he caught 9 passes for 228 yards and 2 touchdowns.

St. Louis Cardinals

Nov. 15, 10 a.m.

Busch Stadium

1986 Record: 4-11-1.

Record Against Rams: Rams lead series, 21-15-2.

Key Offensive Starter: Roy Green, wide receiver. The Cardinals need Green for the entire season. A foot injury kept Green out of the lineup five games in 1986, rendering the already weak St. Louis offense virtually powerless.

Key Defensive Starter: Niko Noga, nose tackle. With the Cardinals switching to a three-man front, Noga figures to make or break the new defense.

The Rams Could Do Without Seeing . . . J.T. Smith, wide receiver. Smith caught 80 passes last season, not bad for someone characterized as a journeyman receiver. Another season like that from Smith, and a healthy Green, could cause problems for the Ram secondary.

Washington Redskins

Nov. 23, 6 p.m.

RFK Stadium

1986 Record: 12-4.

Record Against Rams: Redskins lead series, 15-5-1.

Key Offensive Starter: Jay Schroeder, quarterback. Since becoming the starter halfway through the 1985 season, he’s been an unqualified success at 19-6.

Key DefensiveStarter: Dexter Manley, end. Dexter’s not talking, except on his own radio show. But if he can have a year like last season’s (18 sacks), the Redskin defense will speak volumes.

The Rams Could Do Without Seeing . . . George Rogers, fullback. Rogers bullied his way through the Ram defense for 115 yards on 29 carries in the NFC Wild-Card game last season.

Tampa Bay

Buccaneers

Nov. 29, 1 p.m.

Anaheim Stadium

1986 Record: 2-14.

Record Against Rams: Rams lead series, 6-2.

Key Offensive Starter: Vinnie Testaverde, quarterback. Testaverde has been signed since before the draft and has had twice as much practice as most rookies. Now’s the time to see if it paid off.

Key Defensive Starter: Jeff Davis, linebacker. He led the Bucs in tackles for the third straight season.

The Rams Could Do Without Seeing . . . Nathan Wonsley, running back. Wonsley rushed for 108 yards and a touchdown against the Rams last year.

Detroit Lions

Dec. 6, 10 a.m.

Pontiac Silverdome

1986 Record: 5-11.

Record Against Rams: Rams lead series, 37-34-1.

Key Offensive Starter: James Jones, running back. Jones is becoming one of the league’s most productive runners. He accounted for 911 rushing yards and also led the Lions in receiving and touchdowns.

Key Defensive Starter: Keith Ferguson, end. You don’t hear much about Ferguson, but the Lions thought enough of him to name him their defensive MVP. He led the team with 9 1/2 sacks.

The Rams Could Do Without Seeing . . . James Jones. Though he had minimal success against the Rams last year (10 carries, 29 yards), Jones remains a double threat. He’s durable, consistent, the Lions’ version of Eric Dickerson.

Dallas Cowboys

Dec. 21, 6 p.m.

Anaheim Stadium

1986 Record: 7-9.

Record Against Rams: Rams lead series, 11-10.

Key Offensive Starter: Danny White, quarterback. White, who was sidelined for much of the 1986 season because of a wrist injury, must regain his earlier form.

Key Defensive Starter: Jim Jeffcoat, end. On a line that features starters in their mid-30s, Jeffcoat (only in his fifth season) finished fourth in the NFC with 14 sacks.

The Rams Could Do Without Seeing . . . Herschel Walker, running back. If healthy, Walker is the perfect complement to Tony Dorsett. Walker finished last season with 12 touchdowns, 76 receptions and 737 rushing yards.