Ellard Has Gone From Being ‘Holdout Henry’ to Rams’ Happy Camper
Henry Ellard is having the training camp of his life, which isn’t saying much, considering that Ellard has never been much of a camper.
This is Ellard’s sixth year with the Rams, but only the third time he has shown up to work on time. That’s a good field-goal percentage in basketball, but a lousy average for a wide receiver.
They don’t call him “Holdout Henry” for nothing. There was the contract squabble of 1983, Ellard’s rookie year. And the famous shout-out of 1986, when Ellard missed the first 89 days of camp and season. And last year, when Ellard sat out the first week of workouts before he finally signed a four-year deal that made him happy.
Ellard was surprised that no one asked for two forms of identification when he reported on time with Ram veterans on July 21.
“It’s nice to be here working and not have to worry about contract issues of the past,” Ellard said. “That’s out of the way for three more years, and it makes all the difference in the world.”
Tell it to the Rams. Even when Ellard did arrive after holdouts, it always seemed to take his legs a few weeks longer to come to terms.
A typical Ellard holdout also involved the subjects of tightened purse strings and hamstrings, the latter an injury that has bothered Ellard since his track days at Fresno State.
“It’s been plaguing him ever since,” Coach John Robinson said. “Having that behind him and the contract behind him, those are nice things.”
On a boat, you need sea legs. In football, you need field legs. And after a long off-season program of stretches and workouts at Rams Park, something Ellard has never done before, he and his legs seem light-years ahead of schedule.
In two brief exhibition-game appearances, Ellard already has made 8 catches for 126 yards and 1 touchdown. He had a 22-yard touchdown catch called back against Denver because of a penalty.
Though it’s far too early for final judgments, Ellard says his performance is not all that’s new and improved. It’s the whole offense, he says, which has had one full season with offensive coordinator Ernie Zampese.
It’s quarterback Jim Everett, who’s more comfortable with the system and his role in it. It’s new weapons to divert attention from Ellard--Gaston Green in the backfield, receivers Aaron Cox and Willie Anderson flanking Ellard outside. Last year was, well, last year. There were Ellard’s holdout and the strike and a 6-9 record.
“We just weren’t ready,” Ellard said of the offense. “We just didn’t come around. Now we’re more versatile. There’s a lot of reading involved in our offense. It took awhile for everyone to catch on. Before, we had a simple offense; you could learn it in a week. Now it takes more time. There’s reading and option routes. It took almost a year to feel comfortable.”
Now some addition by subtraction: The loss of Eric Dickerson also eliminated the obligation to get the ball into his hands 30 times a game, a pleasure/burden that certainly put the Rams’ passing game on the back burner.
“Still, you’d like to have a back like Dickerson,” Ellard said. “But people knew we were going to run the ball 80 to 90% of the time. Now, we don’t have the big weapon in the backfield. We still have a good runner (Charles White), yet we’re a more balanced team.”
Robinson agreed that Ellard is better in part because everyone’s better.
“One of the big problems we’ve had in past five years has been constant change in the passing game,” Robinson said. “There’s been new people, injuries, holdouts, a litany of things you can put down relative to the passing game. Five years, five quarterbacks. Now there’s continuity.”
And Ellard?
“He’s a high-level player,” Robinson said. “This is really the first year he’s been here--not only been here--but been in mini-camp, flown down (from Fresno in the off-season) to spend time. That continuity you equate to a good receiver and quarterback is just taking shape.”
Robinson wants a 70-catch season from Ellard this year, a goal that both coach and player consider realistic.
In 1987, despite his holdout and his missing three games because of the strike, Ellard led the Rams with 51 receptions for 799 yards and 3 touchdowns.
In fact, Ellard has led the Rams in receptions four consecutive seasons. His best year was in 1985, when he had 54 catches for 811 yards.
Of course, it was also a prelude to 1986, the year of his infamous holdout.
“I thought the fourth year was going to be the year for me,” he said of 1986. “But it was the year I had to hold out half the season. It threw everything off. I had to start all over again. This year I can really feel the difference of me being here early in training camp. It makes a big, big difference.”
Ellard, of course, will always have thoughts about his holdouts and their effect on his career.
“I don’t don’t really regret missing the time I did,” he said, “but between the strike and me holding out, I’ve missed almost a solid year. I consider this to be only my fifth year as experience goes. The things we did we had to do. It’s all part of negotiating a contract. I don’t regret any of that. It couldn’t be avoided any other way.”
With Ron Brown retired and running track, Ellard, 27, has suddenly become the receiving corps’ elder statesman. He enjoys the role of teaching rookies Cox and Anderson.
“It’s nice in a way,” Ellard said. “Now I’ve got the experience. I can take the leadership role, and they can more or less grow under me. It feels good. They come up and ask questions about routes. I’ve been in the offense long enough to know what needs to be done.”
Imagine that. Henry Ellard, a training camp counselor.
Ram Notes
Ram fullback Mike Guman underwent arthroscopic surgery Tuesday to repair damage in his right knee, which has become arthritic during his eight-year National Football League career. He’s expected to be out four weeks, the team announced, which takes him out of the season opener Sept. 4 at Green Bay. Coach John Robinson likened Guman’s condition to that of linebacker Jim Collins, who underwent similar surgery for an arthritic knee last week. Robinson said Guman, 30, should return in top form. “I assume he can,” Robinson said. “He and Jim Collins both can play this year.” Guman is the team’s starting fullback. Robinson wouldn’t name his replacement for Saturday’s Times Charity Game against the San Diego Chargers at Anaheim Stadium. . . . Ron Brown sneaked in and out of training camp Tuesday, not wanting to be seen or heard. “I just said ‘Hi’ to a few friends,” he said. Brown retired in April to pursue a track career. He has been mentioned in trade rumors with the Indianapolis Colts and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brown said he wouldn’t rule out returning to football, but he’s still planning to race this summer in Europe. “Anything’s possible,” Brown said. “But I’ve got to get a direction going and that direction’s going now.” The direction is track. . . . Ram sources say the problem in dealing Brown around the league is the question of his commitment to football. . . . Robinson’s son David, a former graduate assistant with the Rams, has accepted a position coaching outside linebackers at UC Davis. . . . John Robinson said he hoped the Tom Newberry holdout doesn’t turn out to be long and ugly, a direction in which it now appears headed. “He’s an important player and rising in his career,” Robinson said. “It would be a shame to have a fallout now. It seems like we can stop it.” . . . The Rams aren’t hurting only at guard. Center Navy Tuiasosopo injured a leg in Tuesday’s practice and was taken for X-rays. Tackles Irv Pankey (thigh) and Robert Cox (knee, ankle) are hobbling with injuries. . . . Robinson said quarterback Hugh Millen probably would play the second half of Saturday’s game.
