Which Rams Will Show? Go Figure

Knowledge is power, they say. With that in mind, may we present your Ram mental workout kit: Things We Know And Don’t Know About Anaheim’s Own.

For instance . . .

We know the Rams are 7-3 and tied for the NFC West lead with the New Orleans Saints and that the San Francisco 49ers lurk 1 game back. We know that the Rams are fortunate to be in first, what with the 49ers blowing a 23-point third-period lead to the Phoenix Cardinals Sunday and Robo-kicker Morten Andersen missing a 49-yard field goal that would have sent the Saints’ game against the Washington Redskins into overtime. We know that sort of thing probably won’t happen again, so the Rams might want to take advantage of it, beginning this Sunday against the Saints at Anaheim Stadium.

What we don’t know is which Ram team will show up: The one that beat the Atlanta Falcons, 33-0, or the one that couldn’t stop the Philadelphia Eagles when it counted and lost, 30-24.

We know that Coach John Robinson was right, that the much-ballyhooed Eagle defense is as much a Ram problem as it is a Ram solution. Sack-O-Rama, as it was fondly called by the team’s publicity department before Robinson said otherwise, is now Sack-O-ccasionally. Thanks mostly to the Eagle scheme, the Rams had 25 sacks after their first 4 games. In their last 4 games, however, the Rams have managed but 6 sacks. Linebackers Kevin Greene and Mike Wilcher haven’t had a sack since the Oct. 9 game against the Falcons. We know that opposing teams have seen enough of the Eagle to know its weaknesses. We know that linebacker Mel Owens’ ankle injury, the one that has kept him out of 3 of those last 4 games, has contributed to the sack decline.

What we don’t know is when Owens will return or how the Rams will try to tinker with the Eagle.

We know that quarterback Jim Everett is slowly becoming a Dan Fouts clone, which isn’t such a bad thing to be. From the shorter pass drop, the willingness to stay put in the pocket and the patience to throw short-to-medium passes, Everett is establishing himself as one of the conference’s better players. We know that Everett makes mistakes--plenty of them (4 interceptions against the Eagles, several other ill-advised throws), but he remains the reason the Rams will succeed or fail this year. We know that’s probably an unfair, but true statement.

What we don’t know (and never will without a slide rule) is how exactly do you figure quarterback ratings.

We know the Rams did the right thing by nursing punter Dale Hatcher along. We know that Hatcher’s lack of confidence had to heal as much as his injured knee did. We know that Hatcher’s replacement, the recently released Rich Camarillo, shouldn’t have too difficult a time finding another team.

What we don’t know is why Camarillo was available in the first place.

We know that if you held a vote today for most underrated Ram, rookie Robert Delpino would win. We know that Delpino is the one playing like a first-rounder and that Gaston Green is the one playing like a fifth-rounder. We know that assistant coach Artie Gigantino will weep openly the day Delpino is relieved of his special team duties.

What we don’t know is how Delpino lasted until the fifth round.

We know that, as predicted by LeRoy Irvin himself, opposing offenses are testing the veteran cornerback time after time and leaving Jerry Gray alone on the other side of the Ram secondary. We know that Irvin can expect more of the same.

What we don’t know is if Irvin is going to tell his wife the next time he judges a Miss Eye on L.A. beauty contest.

We know running back Mike Guman and linebacker Jim Collins have been on the injured reserve list since the season began.

What we don’t know is if they will play another down for the Rams.

We know the answer to this question: What former Ram still thinks a trap play is when he opens his mouth? (Hint: Dan Quayle is his senator.)

What we don’t know is how that “little dwarf,” Greg Bell, could possibly have more touchdowns than The Great Goggled One, Eric Dickerson.

We know that Ron Brown’s agent wasn’t kidding when he said a supposed 2-week tryout for the former track star was “baloney.” Brown, without training camp, without actually competing for a position, easily made the team. We know that Brown still can return kickoffs, as proven by his 37.6-yard average (including a 73-yard return) against the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday.

What we don’t know is if Brown is here to stay or will injury, attitude or an off-season trade cause his departure from the Ram roster next year.

We know that Henry Ellard better be in the NFC’s starting Pro Bowl game lineup. We know that his 51 receptions already match his 1987 total, that his 837 yards surpass last season’s numbers, that he’s doing most of this with double coverage. We know that John Robinson will pop a pleat on his Sansabelts if Ellard ever celebrates another touchdown with a forward flip.

What we don’t know is why the Rams continue to risk Ellard as a punt returner. Use Brown. Use Mickey Sutton. Use Cliff Hicks. Use Irvin. Use anyone but Ellard.

We know that the remainder of the Rams’ schedule includes the Saints, the San Diego Chargers, the Denver Broncos, the Chicago Bears, the Falcons and the 49ers. We know that those teams have a combined 31-28 record, compared to the Saints’ schedule (34-26) and the 49ers’ (30-29). We know that this probably means absolutely nothing.

What we don’t know is if the Rams can recover from Sunday’s loss against the Eagles, a game they should have won. What we don’t know is who is going to win the NFC West. And isn’t that the fun of it?