Rams Beat Vikings, 24-14, Hope to Save It for When It Matters
Eight months too late, the Rams buried the Minnesota Vikings. Too bad this one didn’t count.
Of course, holdouts Anthony Carter and Joey Browner weren’t around this time to stop the bleeding, but the Rams would do well to put time in a bottle and save the memories of Saturday night’s 24-14 win at Anaheim Stadium for Nov. 5, when the teams meet again in Minneapolis.
The win did little to erase last December’s wild-card playoff loss to the Vikings, but it wasn’t bad for a hot August night.
It made you wonder if the Rams shouldn’t pull the leash on mad dog linebacker Kevin Greene, who may hyperventilate if the opener doesn’t get here soon. Greene, the Army reserve commando, led his troops on one first-half ambush after another. They sacked starter Wade Wilson three times and made him eat dirt in the process.
The secondary may have logged more air time than than ground time.
“Seven years ago at the University of Texas, I played on a defense that was awesome,” cornerback Jerry Gray said. “This defense reminds me of that defense. We really don’t have a star.”
The game also made you wonder about Gaston Green, the second-year tailback and enigma. Is he Gaston the Great or Not?
He fumbled on his first carry to set up a Vikings’ touchdown. You wondered if he would ever seize a moment. Green was the tailback this night with Robert Delpino out with a bad shoulder and Greg Bell and Cleveland Gary still holdouts.
“I didn’t have any other tailbacks,” Coach John Robinson said.
Seeing how Green was the team’s first-round pick of 1988, Robinson wasn’t supposed to need another.
But Green didn’t go in the tank after his first bobble.
“I was very upset with myself,” he said. “But I knew I’d have the opportunity to come back.”
And he did. He scored on touchdown runs of two and eight yards in the first half and showed flashes of brilliance.
He went up the middle on one second-quarter run and nearly barreled over Viking safety Darrell Fullington on his way to a long touchdown run. But Fullington tripped up Green after 22 yards.
“I’m anxious to break the long one,” Green said. “I did think I’d be able to get away, but he was able to get me.”
Before you knew it, Green had 63 yards in nine carries at halftime and the critics set down their pens. Then came two third-quarter fumbles. The first one was his fault; but the second came after a bad handoff by backup quarterback Steve Dils, three days removed from the commercial real estate business.
Green finished with 73 yards in 17 carries, and you still have to wonder about opening a season with him.
“Gaston needs as much work as he can get,” Robinson said. “I think he has a chance to be a dramatic back . . . I think he’s made steady improvement.”
There’s no doubt the offense is behind the defense heading into September, but it’s still a race.
Quarterback Jim Everett moved the ball well enough to take a 21-7 lead into halftime against Minnesota’s first defense, which has recently added linebacker Mike Merriweather to its cast of stars.
Everett played into the third quarter and finished seven of 12 for 84 yards, which included a three-yard scoring pass in the second quarter to tight end Pete Holohan. And the vaunted Viking defense sacked him only once.
“I liked our football team tonight,” Robinson said. “For the most part, I liked the way we played. We played against the best defensive team in football.”
Everett said a game against Minnesota in August is good for a dozen or so young players who have yet to do regular-season battle.
“This is one of the best teams you will ever see in the NFL,” Everett said. “I realize they’re without their strong safety (Browner), and he’s a big part of the defense. We have guys that need to know what level they need to paly at.”
The defense seems to be there. Cornerback LeRoy Irvin said he’s never seen such an excitable bunch. Remember, the Rams could open the season with 25 roster players 26 years old or younger.
“They’re so energetic and so positive,” Irvin said. “The young guys don’t know it’s preseason. Old guys like us know it’s preseason, but the young guys are trying to make the club.”
And many of them are succeeding.
“I like the way we hit,” Robinson said. “There are a lot of oohs and aahhs, more than I’ve seen from this team.”
Jerry Gray says it’s just a bunch of guys out for a good time.
“It’s just fun,” he said of playing defense these days. “We kid ourselves. When we get a big hit, we’re not laughing at the guy. We’re just having fun.”
The Rams hope the laughs never stop.
Ram Notes
Cornerback Cliff Hicks (thigh), quarterback Mark Herrmann (rib), linebacker Larry Kelm (foot), safety James Washington (knee) and tailback Robert Delpino (shoulder) did not dress for Saturday’s game. . . . Right guard Duval Love, who signed Friday, also did not dress. . . . Nose tackle Alvin Wright left the game in the first half with bruised ribs. . . . Three days ago, backup quarterback Steve Dils was selling commercial real estate in Atlanta. Saturday night, he was running from defensive tackle Keith Millard. He entered the game in the third quarter and completed his only pass attempt. “I don’t see why he shouldn’t play well,” Coach John Robinson said afterward. “He had one day of practice.” . . . The game was a runaway until midway through the fourth quarter when Dale Hatcher’s punt was blocked and returned 30 yards for a touchdown by Darryl Ingram . . . Wade Wilson started the first half for the Vikings and completed eight of 12 passes for 73 yards. . . . The Rams held Minnesota to 58 rushing yards and a 2.52 yards-per-carry average. . . . Fullback Buford McGee had another steady night, with 21 yards rushing on seven carries and two catches for 26 yards. “Buford continues to play at a high level,” Robinson said. “He’s one of the best backs in the league in the role of the other back.”
