RAM NOTEBOOK : Anaheim Stadium’s Slippery, Loose Turf Adds to Woes

As any freeway commuter will gladly tell you, a little bit of rain can wreak havoc in Southern California. So maybe it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Anaheim Stadium turf reacts in a similarly adverse way to a bit of precipitation.

Sunday, during New Orleans’ 40-21 victory over the Rams, a lot of passes were completed when defensive backs slipped on the grass dampened by early-morning rain and a number of others went untouched when intended receivers suffered similar problems.

In the first quarter, an official was seen holding up a welcome-mat-sized chunk of sod before putting it back down and stomping it into place near the goal line of the north end zone.

And as soon as the gun sounded at the end of the first half, a dozen members of the ground crew scurried around the field replacing divots.

“The field was in bad condition,” Ram receiver Henry Ellard said. “The first half, it was OK, but in the second half, I started slipping and sliding all over.”

Cornerback LeRoy Irvin said the Saints beat the Rams in more ways than one, and he seemed more upset about New Orleans’ physical superiority than the Saints’ advantage on the scoreboard.

“They out-physicaled us,” Irvin said. “They beat us at our own game. We think of ourselves as a very physical team and, well, it’s kind of like a (boxer who is considered a) puncher getting knocked out by a dancer.

“It’s very embarrassing.”

The Ram defense might not have bothered Saint quarterback Bobby Hebert, but the New Orleans pass rushers were flying around Jim Everett all afternoon.

The Saints had six sacks, which cost the Rams 50 yards. Linebacker Pat Swilling and left end Frank Warren led the charge with two sacks each.

“It was a very, very critical part of our game today that we put pressure on Everett,” Saint Coach Jim Mora said. “That was a great effort today. We’re making the plays now.”

Linebacker Rickey Jackson thought the Saints’ pass rush exerted both physical and mental pressure on Everett.

“Our goal was to put pressure on Everett and, yes, I sensed (Everett being rattled) a little bit. He was feeling the pressure,” he said.

While the 5-2 Rams were delving into various forms of soul-searching in their locker room, the 3-4 Saints were reveling in the optimism of victory.

“We’re making the plays it takes to finish the games now,” said safety David Waymer, who intercepted an Everett pass in the second quarter and returned it 42 yards to the Ram 16-yard line, setting up a New Orleans field goal. “We came out today with the attitude that we weren’t going to leave without a win.

“A few weeks ago, you (media) guys said our season was over, but look at us now.”

Well, the Saints might not be on their way to a rare home field advantage in Super Bowl XXIV, but 3-4 does beat the heck out of 2-5.

If New Orleans running back Dalton Hilliard never visits Anaheim Stadium again, it won’t be a game too soon for the Rams.

Hilliard left here Sunday with three touchdowns, including two by the run and one by the pass. In all, he rushed for 87 yards and caught two passes for 24 yards.

The performance was similar to his 1987 effort at Anaheim Stadium, when he rushed for 92 yards, caught four passes for 84 yards and a touchdown and also completed a pass for a score.

“Things just have been going good here for me,” Hilliard said. “It’s been good for me the last two times.”

Well, at least, two of the last three times. In 1988, Hilliard wasn’t quite as successful, with two carries for three yards--including a four-yard touchdown run--and two receptions for 27 yards.

Maybe his mind was weakened by the effects of the flu, but Hebert actually said this after Sunday’s victory against the Rams:

“We’ve always played well out here in the Coliseum.”

Uh, Bobby, it’s called Anaheim Stadium.

Times staff writer Gene Wojciechowski contributed to this story.