Rams Just Aren’t Getting Their Nickel’s Worth : Robinson Says Breakdowns in Third-Down Pass Coverage Have Been Costly

If the Rams had a nickel for every time their nickel pass defense messed up lately, they might own a piece of first place in the NFC West.

That was a conclusion reached after Coach John Robinson had searched and sorted through the rubble, otherwise known as game film, of Sunday’s 38-24 loss to the San Diego Chargers.

“We’re just not functioning very well in that area,” he said. “We have plenty of rookies playing, and we’re just falling all over one another.”

The price of youth? Probably. Twice in the fourth quarter Sunday, the Rams were scorched on third down in their nickel package, which features six defensive backs.

The first time, Charger quarterback Mark Malone hit Anthony Miller on a 49-yard pass play that led to a touchdown by Barry Redden. It put the Chargers ahead, 31-17.

Two Rams were blitzing on the pass, but ran into each other, not Malone.

After the Rams stormed back with a quick touchdown, the Chargers struck again on third-and-6 at the 40-yard line. This time tight end Rod Bernstine turned a short pass into a 59-yard gain to the 1 when Jerry Gray and Johnnie Johnson collided on the coverage, setting up another Redden score.

“We’re doing very good against the run now,” Robinson said. “People are not running on us. They’re not doing particularly well on early downs. Maybe they just can’t wait to get into third and long.”

National Football League defenses are getting more complicated by the minute, which may explain why the Rams are having problems. With linebacker Mel Owens out and safety Michael Stewart’s shoulder hurting, they were forced to play three rookies--James Washington, Anthony Newman and Fred Strickland. Cornerback Cliff Hicks, another nickel back, is a second-year man.

“This is a hard game to play perfectly,” defensive coordinator Fritz Shurmur said Monday.

Especially for rookies.

It’s not talent the Rams are lacking here, but experience. Robinson needs his secondary to grow up in a hurry. Next Sunday would be nice.

“If you want to rationalize it, yeah, they’re rookies,” he said. “They’re making mistakes, but we’re playing Denver to stay alive, and we can’t make anymore. We can’t become angry at them, or disillusioned. You know, they were rookies when we were playing good, too. Now, they’re not playing so good. We got to get them back to playing good.”

Time is running out. Robinson has already billed Sunday’s game with the Broncos, 42-0 losers Sunday but still alive at 6-6, as “The Desperation Bowl.”

Wild hopes for wild cards: Two games down to the New Orleans Saints with 4 to play, the Rams have seemingly joined a crowded field in a battle for two wild-card spots. Winning the NFC West is a longshot, at best.

“We’re 7-5, like about 14 other teams in our conference,” Robinson said.

He’s not that far off. Assuming Chicago (10-2) and New Orleans (9-3) win divisions titles, 7 teams are fighting for the NFC East title and two wild-card spots.

Five teams, including the Rams, are 7-5, 1 game behind the early wild-card favorite, Minnesota (8-4). Washington, a 37-21 loser to San Francisco Monday night, is 6-6.

Take a number.

Anaheim Stadium, you’re no RFK: Sunday’s crowd of 45,462 was the smallest regular-season turnout at Anaheim Stadium this year, and certainly the quietest.

“I have to be careful,” Robinson said. “I don’t want to say we lost to the Chargers and it’s the crowd’s fault. You have to deal with what you have. But it’s not Redskins’ stadium, no. It’s not RFK.”

Based on their record, it seems the Rams can’t wait to get out of town. They’re 5-1 on the road, 2-4 at home.

From Monday’s “Best of John Robinson” quote collection and media luncheon:

--After a discussion on why teams go into slumps: “It’s a fascinating subject to deal with, particularly if it’s somebody else’s team.”

--On the divisional race: “We’re still alive because we played well early and gave ourselves a cushion, but the cushion we’re on now is about as thin as this tablecloth.”

Ram Notes

The Rams have lost 3 consecutive regular-season games only once before under John Robinson; after the dreaded post-strike depression of 1987 when they were swept off their feet by, in order, Eric Dickerson, Cleveland, San Francisco and New Orleans. . . . After missing 5 of the last 6 games with a severely sprained ankle, Mel Owens returns to the practice field this week. But this is only a test run. “We’ve been shooting all along for the Chicago Bears game (Dec. 5),” Robinson said. “But some of that pain is starting to go away.” . . . Greg Bell’s 83 yards rushing, in 14 carries, were the most he has had since his 155-yard day against Atlanta on Oct. 9. Was it enough to get his starting job back? Robinson wasn’t saying Monday. “I don’t want it to become a see-saw with those two guys,” he said. “I’m going to try to play them both.”