Making a Statement : Ram Defenders Give This Stomping Their Stamp of Approval

You know the Ram defense is playing well when nose tackle Greg Meisner, whose taped mitts haven’t cradled a pass since his freshman year at the University of Pittsburgh, intercepts a blocked football Sunday and lurches 20 glorious yards before being tackled.

You know those Ram egos are back in place when cornerbacks LeRoy Irvin and Jerry Gray almost injure themselves with postgame backslaps.

You know that all is well when linebacker Kevin Greene warns everyone concerned that next week’s game against the San Francisco 49ers is destined for greatness.

“We’re going up to Frisco and we’re punching them in the mouth,” Greene said. “How’s that? I don’t want to be inflammatory. We’re going to go up there and we’re going to get after them. We’re going to do the wild thing.”

So much for Greene’s career as a fireman. When in doubt, Greene douses a few quotes in gasoline and then lights a match.

But who can blame him, what with this 2-game Ram winning streak, a revived Ram defense and a playoff spot still available with a minimum of ifs, ands and buts? For the first time since the N-word (November), when the Rams played 4 and lost 4, there is hope. And oddly enough, you can thank the defense for the help.

Last Monday evening, they held the Chicago Bears to a field goal. Sunday, against the supposedly revived Atlanta Falcons, the defense didn’t give up a point. That lone Falcon touchdown in the 22-7 score? A runback of a fumbled punt return.

So there, said the Rams. The defense lives. Irvin, who had become a social shut-in because of November’s events, can go grocery shopping again. “Now we’re able to walk around Orange County with pride,” he said.

Meisner, his first National Football League interception safely put away, can start pushing his backs-against-the-wall theory.

“We always play best when people say we aren’t worth a . . . ,” he said.

And Coach John Robinson can rest easier knowing that his defense has re-discovered its backbone. And not a moment too soon, either.

“Our defense, I thought, was in complete control of the game,” he said. “That’s two clubs in a row that lead with the run and we stopped them.”

If you’re interested in numbers, the Ram defense would like to submit the following:

--It held Gerald Riggs, a former Pro Bowl player, to 22 yards in 9 tries and John Settle, a Pro Bowl candidate this year, 29 yards in 10 carries.

--It knocked out whiz kid quarterback Chris Miller in the first half, which meant former Ram Hugh Millen had to lead the comeback. Fat chance. Miller finished with 7 completions, Millen with 6. Together they combined for 135 yards and 2 interceptions.

--It kept the Falcon offense fewer than 200 net yards, which tends to make for short afternoons and quick victories.

“We weren’t challenged defensively,” Robinson said.

Actually, the Rams have been graced by good fortune 2 straight games. The Bears showed up at Anaheim Stadium with quarterbacks Jim McMahon and Mike Tomczak in street clothes, leaving third-stringer Jim Harbaugh to do battle. Rams win.

Now come the 49ers, the healthy 49ers, led by traditional Ram-killer Joe Montana. According to Irvin, it will be the game that separates fact from fiction. Either the Ram defense is back for good, or simply 2-week impostors.

“We face a legitimate offense this week,” he said. “The jury is still out on us. We need to stop a potent and legitimate offense. I know that Jerry’s ready to go and I know that I’m ready to go to see if we can stop (Jerry) Rice and Montana. We got embarrassed by (running back Roger) Craig the last time. They beat us. Roger Craig ran over us, through us. He did everything to us.”

Not this time, said Irvin. For the first time in weeks, Irvin and Gray feel good about themselves. They said so, too.

“I think we’re the two best corners in the league right now,” Irvin said.

Gray seconded the compliment.

“LeRoy and I kind of settled down and really made our plays,” he said.

Reasons vary for the Ram defensive resurgence. Gray said it was because the Rams were allowing fewer big plays. Meisner said it was “a must-win for us. It brought out the character of us.” Greene said the Rams “have realized the talent we have.”

The most-honest assessment may have come from defensive end Shawn Miller: “I have no idea.”

Whatever it is, it worked. The Rams, November and all, remain in contention for the playoffs. And that’s what counts, they said.

“The best part of it is that we have another chance,” defensive end Doug Reed said.