Robinson Unconvinced--but Lions Are, 24-14
After out-stretching the Silver Stretch, the Rams can search for a cutesy nickname for their own offense, which did most of the running-and-shooting in Saturday night’s 24-14 victory over Detroit at Anaheim Stadium.
It took less than a half and 284 total yards to prove that the Rams are ready for bigger and better things, such as a regular season.
“It’s time to go,” Ram Coach John Robinson said. “Where every move and every play means a great deal, to play for the championship season. That’s what it’s all about.”
The Rams finished the exhibition season 4-1 and finished off the Lions in just about 30 minutes.
Robinson continued to complain about thin spots at inside linebacker and the lack of a power runner. In the meantime, quarterback Jim Everett diced up another defense, and the secondary picked off five passes.
Everett completed 15 of 22 passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns in his half and called it a night. Why push it? The Rams had a 21-7 lead, and all the parts seemed in working order.
“I had a good first half,” Everett said. “I don’t think I was touched but a couple times. I liked being out there. I enjoyed the hell out of it.”
Everett threw short, on a three-yard scoring pass to Buford McGee, and Everett threw long, on a 61-yard touchdown pass play to Flipper Anderson. And you should have seen the second quarter, when he drove his team 91 yards in 15 plays for another score.
Receiver Henry Ellard, who had three catches for 52 yards, watched the second half in a jersey with no shoulder pads.
“The way we were moving the ball, they just took me out,” Ellard said.
Seemed like a good plan.
Detroit’s new offense finished 0 for the exhibition season, though quarterback Rodney Peete was at least interesting until a knee injury forced him from the game in the second quarter.
Peete completed eight of 14 passes for 113 yards in less than a half and had the Rams’ secondary spinning at times.
But he threw one costly interception to Ram safety Michael Stewart. On the play, linebacker Mike Wilcher rolled into Peete’s left knee on his follow-through, and he was through with 6:53 left in the first half.
The injury was diagnosed as a sprain, though no one was quite sure how long Peete will be out.
“I was pleased with Rodney’s performance,” Detroit Coach Wayne Fontes said. “And I would have announced tonight that he would have been the starting quarterback next week (against Phoenix).”
After hearing the news, Peete tried to sound optimistic.
“I’m excited about it,” he said. “I’m looking forward to starting against Phoenix.”
The Rams are looking forward to Atlanta, next week’s opponent, though Robinson seems unsure despite a winning summer.
Gaston Green had another mysterious night at tailback, rushing for 91 yards in 21 carries with another fumble, making that three fumbles in two weeks.
Greg Bell ended his holdout Monday, though it’s hard to tell by his demeanor. He’s still sulking and cleared out his locker early to avoid reporters. Approached outside later, Bell said, “I just don’t feel like talking.”
He did feel like running, gaining 32 yards in eight carries in the first half. “It seems to me Greg Bell could use some more work to get into top form,” Robinson said. “He’s a good runner, and a great runner inside the five.”
In fact, the Rams welcomed all their holdouts back on the first drive, a 72-yard, nine-play march that ended with Everett’s scoring pass to McGee. Damone Johnson, who just rolled into camp Wednesday after a 38-day holdout, started at tight end. He was joined on the drive by Bell and tackle Robert Cox, who also reported Monday.
Green started the game at tailback but shared the first half with Bell, who gained seven yards on his first carry of the season.
The Lions’ new Silver Stretch offense has been mostly snapping like an old rubber band this summer, but you couldn’t tell by Detroit’s first drive. It took Peete and the offense three plays to get to the end zone, though the trip was about as unconventional as the offense.
After dump-off passes of 17 and 15 yards to Tony Paige, Peete found Richard Johnson for 13 yards over the middle to the 20. Safety Vince Newsome stripped the ball loose and it bounced 10 yards into the hands of Troy Johnson, who took it in for the touchdown.
Not to be outdone, Everett came back on the next drive and hit a streaking Anderson down he left sideline for a 61-yard scoring play.
The Rams went up, 21-7, just before halftime on a two-yard run by Bell. The drive began after Stewart intercepted Peete’s pass at the nine. That was it for Peete, but not the Rams’ secondary, which was trying to pick up the slack for corner LeRoy Irvin, suspended this week for violating the league’s substance abuse policy.
The secondary intercepted four passes in the second half off Lion relievers Rusty Hilger and Eric Hipple.
Cliff Hicks and Darryl Henley, fighting for Irvin’s right corner spot, had an interception apiece. Everyone seems excited about the Rams these days but the head coach.
“I don’t think we’re very good right now,” Robinson said. “But we’re playing with enthusiasm.”
Ram Notes
To make room on the roster for Greg Bell and Robert Cox, the Rams released free agent tailback Richard Calvin and placed receiver Mike Williams on minor injured reserve with a knee injury. . . . All NFL teams must reduce their rosters to 47 by Monday. . . . Strange but true: Detroit’s Silver Stretch offense doesn’t require a tight end, yet the Lions have a tight ends coach, Charlie Sanders. . . . Gaston Green aggravated his thigh bruise but is expected to be ready by next week.
