Ram Notebook : Gaston Green Goes Back to Classroom to Learn a New Style of Running
The un-Greening of Gaston continues, with the Rams’ No. 1 draft choice just now getting the hang of Camp Robinson and the quirks that accompany it.
For instance, Gaston Green, the All-American halfback, the former UCLA superstar, has to learn, well, to run the Ram way. Considering Green’s resume, this is a little like teaching a baby to wail.
But the Rams are picky that way. To Coach John Robinson, the game begins with the handoff, which explains why the Rams are taking special pains to educate Green.
“Our way of running is a certain (style),” said running backs coach Gil Haskell. “You have to learn the running lanes, how you see it, the blocking. It’s going to take awhile--November . . . December. We’re just beginning.”
And doesn’t Green know it.
An injury kept him out of the Rams’ first exhibition game--the Hall of Fame festivities July 30 in Canton, Ohio--thus delaying his professional debut and adding to his already frazzled nerves.
Luckily for him, there was only a four-day wait before the Rams played their second game, this one against the Denver Broncos. This time Green was ready. Or at least in attendance.
“I was kind of nervous,” he said. “But I think it was just first-game jitters. That first game in a Ram uniform.”
Green was in the Ram lineup for 17 plays and stayed long enough to get 13 carries for an unimpressive 23 yards. It wasn’t much, but it sure beat watching the game on TV, as he did when the Rams traveled to Ohio.
And for Ram historians, Green even can recite his first NFL play, a little something called Gap-right. Green got the ball, made a move and was tackled from behind. Some big moment.
“I knew the system and the plays, but I wasn’t real comfortable with it like I had been at UCLA,” he said. “I come here and I have to start all over. But now I have a lot of confidence in knowing the plays and where to run. I feel a whole lot better now.”
People are watching, of course: coaches, media, fans. They’re waiting for the old Green in the new uniform. They’re in for a long wait.
“When you’re a high draft pick, there’s a lot of expectations,” Haskell said. “It just takes awhile to relax.”
According to Haskell, Green is just beginning to run and play with more ease and freedom.
“You get tired and finally you don’t give a . . .,” Haskell said. “Finally, you just play through it.”
The Rams aren’t expecting the reincarnation of Eric Dickerson. They’d settle for the Green of UCLA days. But first comes this de-programming of sorts. New plays. New teachers. New surroundings. New demands.
“It seems like all the things that I did at UCLA have gone out the window,” Green said. “It seems like all the things that I knew, like my running ability at UCLA, it’s like I’m starting all over again and I came out here and didn’t even know how to run the ball.”
As for expectations, Green said he has a few of his own. But unlike most of those folks who view his transition from college to the pros as a spectator sport, Green said he understands the difference between goals and reality.
“I’ve sort of kept it in perspective,” he said. “I don’t really worry about it. Some of the things people expect, I expect. I want to come in and play well. But I know it’s going to take some time before I’m able to do that, whereas they want me to come in and do it right away. I know I’m not going to be able to jump right in and do these things.”
Green won’t start against the San Diego Chargers Saturday at Anaheim Stadium, but he will play. A lot. Haskell said Charles White will begin the game, but Green will get plenty of chances. And an education, too.
Ram Notes
Nose tackle Greg Meisner had his right knee examined Wednesday by Dr. Clarence Shields, a Ram physician. The preliminary diagnosis: A slight tear of the lateral meniscus cartilage. Arthroscopic surgery will be performed today at Centinela Hospital. Meisner is expected to miss four to six weeks of work. Meisner and Coach John Robinson say four weeks, but doctors say maybe six. “I’m being pretty optimistic about it,” Meisner said. “I usually come back from injuries pretty fast. I’m hoping to be back by the opener (Sept. 4).” Meisner, who had the same knee operated on in 1982, was injured during a Monday drill. “It’s a bad break, but I guess it’s better it happened now than in the season.” That leaves Alvin Wright at the position and further complicates Robinson’s summer, what with the continued contract difficulties involving holdout defensive linemen Shawn Miller and Doug Reed. For now, Robinson said the Rams will start Ross Browner, rookie Mike Piel and Wright on the defensive line. On passing downs, Gary Jeter will enter the game, Piel will move to nose tackle and Wright to defensive end. “We’ll kind of rotate those guys,” said Robinson, who calls the remaining starters “The Lonesome Foursome.” Meisner, who just ended his holdout last week, joins a growing list of Ram casualties, which includes running back Mike Guman (knee--out for at least four weeks), center Navy Tuiasosopo (sprained ankle--out for 1-2 weeks), linebacker Jim Collins (knee--out for four weeks), wide receiver Rey Nicholas (knee), tackle Jeff Walker (broken leg), punter Dale Hatcher (knee) and linebacker James Seawright (shoulder). . . Not all the news was discouraging for Robinson. Hatcher is expected to begin punting, on a limited basis, Monday or Tuesday. Receiver Henry Ellard (groin) most likely will be ready to play Saturday, as will cornerback LeRoy Irvin (hip flexor). Irvin also will be one of four Ram team captains for the game against the Chargers. But will Irvin, now content with his new contract, call the coin toss? “When it goes up, he’ll say, ‘Mine! They owe that to me,’ ” Robinson said. . . . Wednesday was conference call day for Charger Coach Al Saunders. It didn’t go smoothly. After at least three unsuccessful tries, Saunders finally got through to the local media. “Tell Ernie (Zampese, Ram offensive coordinator) I hope the offense works like the phones do,” he said. Saunders has more worries than faulty phone systems. Entering the exhibition game against the Rams, Saunders still is without a starting or reserve quarterback. “We don’t have an established starter coming back,” he said. “Nor do we have an established backup. We’re maybe the only team in the league that is looking for two quarterbacks to take the field.” . . . Receiving special mention by Robinson Wednesday were wide receiver Aaron Cox, Irvin, defensive back James Washington, safety Vince Newsome and tackles R.C. Mullin and Robert Cox.