L.A.’s Defense Gets Unexpected Boost : Rams: Injuries result in scrambled lineup that proves to be a winning combination.

And then there were two.

That had to be what Ram Coach John Robinson was thinking as he stood over fallen defensive tackle Bill Hawkins in the fourth quarter of Monday night’s loss to San Francisco.

The Rams, a team Robinson said has the best chance of any he has coached to excel in the postseason, had yet to clinch a playoff spot and were left with only two injury-free defensive linemen.

They went into Sunday’s game against the Jets with veteran linemen Shawn Miller and Alvin Wright masquerading as linebackers, and a linebacker, Brian Smith, playing defensive tackle. Smith had not played a down all year.

And what happens?

Smith, who spent the season on injured reserve, had two sacks and linebacker Brett Faryniarz, who made most of his contributions this season on special teams, played tackle and recorded three more sacks and two fumble recoveries.

“Brett Faryniarz has played very well all year and today he put constant pressure on the quarterback,” Robinson said. “I mean no one confused us with the Vikings’ pass rush, but we put some consistent pressure on. We play a lot of zone with three men rushing and have had trouble getting to quarterbacks, but we did OK today.”

Faryniarz, who has been used as an inside pass rusher on obvious passing downs all season, had not come up with a big play all year until one fell into his lap--literally--midway through the second quarter.

Jet starting quarterback Tony Eason dropped back to pass and linebacker George Bethune stripped the ball from his hand. Faryniarz recovered the fumble at the Jets’ one-yard line.

“I was laying on the ground and the ball was just sitting there,” he said. “I tucked it into my stomach and tried to roll into the end zone, but an offensive lineman was on my back.”

Greg Bell scored on the next play, however, and the Rams led, 14-7. If the play wasn’t a game-breaker, it was definitely a momentum-swinger for Faryniarz. All of a sudden, the second-year free agent from San Diego State switched into his Lawrence Taylor mode.

He sacked Eason again on the final play of the first half. Then, midway through the fourth quarter, he slammed into the Jets’ second quarterback of the day, Ken O’Brien, forced him to fumble and recovered the ball. Seven plays later, Cleveland Gary scored and the Rams were rolling, 38-7.

“I’ve had a few whiffs of the quarterback before this and I’ve had a couple of sacks taken away (by penalties), but this has been a long time coming,” Faryniarz said. “I’ve been doing all right at linebacker, but I haven’t been satisfied with the way I’ve been rushing the passer.

“When you’re 0 for 14 in sacks, you begin to feel like you’re not contributing.”

Just imagine how Smith was feeling. He’s been on the injured reserve list with a wrist injury, but the Rams’ second-round pick in ’89 has put on 25 pounds--he’s now 6-foot-6, 265--and some serious mileage on the Lifecycle in the last 14 weeks.

“I made a lot of mistakes early on,” Smith said. “When I first got out there, I wasn’t too comfortable. But I been playing this game awhile and I got the feel of it.”

And, by the middle of the fourth quarter, he was tied with Wright and Fred Strickland for fifth on the team in sacks.

He caught O’Brien twice--with a little help from Faryniarz.

“Brian didn’t fall into them, but he was right there when I was chasing after (O’Brien),” Faryniarz said. “If he didn’t get him, I would have.”

So the Rams’ makeshift defensive line got the job done, much to the bemusement of quarterback-thumper Kevin Greene.

“A couple of young guys took charge in this game,” Greene said. “I’m happy for the young guys. When they do well, it takes the pressure off of me.”

Robinson was so happy he presented the game ball to Faryniarz.

“That’s a nice honor,” Faryniarz said. “It helps to have a game ball in your closet.”

Closet? You’d figure this ball would be a centerpiece on the mantel.

“Hey, I wasn’t a No. 1 or No. 2 draft choice,” Faryniarz said. “When I can afford a mantel, I’ll buy one and put that ball up there.”