Talent Logjam Creates Battle Over Jobs : Rams: Coach John Robinson will let his players determine who starts.
More than ever, this summer’s Ram camp promises to be a case of survival of the fittest, quickest and fastest.
It’s all a part of Coach John Robinson’s new theory on natural roster selection. He has created competitive situations and is asking his players to determine the starters.
Then again, such a course becomes a must when a coach has so many players of comparable worth. Some years, the gap between Ram starters and reserves has been wide enough to drive a truck through.
Not this year, as veterans will discover next Wednesday when the camp moves to UC Irvine.
“One of the real stories of this training camp is competition between squad members,” Robinson said. “Members who have made the team.”
At quarterback, for instance, the Rams signed Chuck Long to challenge backup Mark Herrmann for the No. 2 spot and, to some extent, push starter Jim Everett. Everett and Long are rivals from their days in the Big Ten Conference, so who is Robinson to snuff old competitive flames?
Robinson signed veteran Curt Warner to motivate younger runners Cleveland Gary and Gaston Green.
The list goes on:
--Inside linebacker. Last year, the Rams were touting Fred Strickland as all-world, playing him both at linebacker and as a down rusher. But a series of nagging injuries has changed the thinking. Strickland will be used only inside this year and will battle second-year man Frank Stams for one starting inside position.
“We might have overstated ourselves,” Robinson said of the Rams’ grandiose plans for Strickland. “We were looking on the optimistic side, if he was healthy.”
Larry Kelm, who calls the team’s defensive signals, seems secure at the other linebacker spot. The odd-man out here seems to be 10-year veteran Mel Owens, the former outside linebacker who starts the season as Kelm’s backup.
On the outside, Brett Faryniarz and George Bethune push for more playing time.
--Cornerback. Here, two players with no previous NFL starting experience, Darryl Henley and Alfred Jackson, will compete with veteran Bobby Humphery for two starting positions. The other name is third-round choice Latin Berry, who learns the position this season while returning kicks.
--Safety. Five players will compete for four roster spots. Four-time Pro Bowl selection Jerry Gray is a lock at free safety, leaving veteran Vince Newsome, Anthony Newman, Michael Stewart and second-round choice Pat Terrell to battle for three other positions. Terrell, still unsigned, doesn’t help his chances with a prolonged holdout.
--Offensive line. First-round center Bern Brostek, when he signs, will push 13-year veteran Doug Smith; Plan B acquisition Joe Milinichik figures to put considerable pressure on right guard Duval Love; and Robert Cox will try to squeeze some playing time out of Jackie Slater and Irv Pankey.
--Defensive line. The team is changing its basic 3-4 defense this year. Either Brian Smith or Bill Hawkins will line up at one end position as a pass rusher alongside linebacker Kevin Greene. On the other end, Doug Reed and Mike Piel will compete for the position of primary run defender.
--Punter. Instead of sitting still after acquiring veteran Hank Ilesic in Plan B free agency, the Rams drafted one of the top college prospects in the country, Tennessee’s Kent Elmore. --Receiver. Aaron Cox, who lost his starting job to Flipper Anderson after pulling a hamstring in camp last summer, will be fighting an uphill battle to get it back. Anderson, of course, emerged as a star, setting the single-game record with 336 yards against New Orleans.
Ram Notes
Free-agent linebacker Kevin Greene stopped by Rams Park Friday but offered no updates on his contract negotiations. Greene, one of seven unsigned Ram veterans, is coming off consecutive seasons with 16 1/2 quarterback sacks, and he made the Pro Bowl for the first time in 1989. No one expects Greene to report to camp any time soon.
