RAMS : Safety Gray Is Shifted to Cornerback Because of Henley’s Injury
Jerry Gray’s dream of guiding the Rams’ secondary from his natural free safety position, as San Francisco’s Ronnie Lott does from his, lasted about a month.
The Rams announced Monday that they have moved the four-time Pro Bowl selection back to cornerback.
At first, Gray didn’t take the news well. “No comment,” he said, “or I’ll get upset.”
Later, he cooled somewhat. “I think the move is better for the team,” he said.
The move was precipitated by cornerback Darryl Henley’s hip injury. The team’s trainer, Jim Anderson, said Henley could be cleared to play as soon as this weekend. Henley was in pads for Monday’s practice, although he was held back.
Coach John Robinson said he is not optimistic Henley will return soon, and said Gray’s switch needed to be made now.
“At some point we might make that change back,” Robinson said. “But my guess is that this is probably for the year.”
Robinson said moving Gray to safety depended on his corners--Henley, A.J. Jackson and Bobby Humphery--proving that they could handle the assignment.
Robinson said Henley’s injury clouds that issue.
“It’s disappointing that Darryl is injured,” Robinson said. “Every thing we had was based on getting great preseasons out of those guys. We got two out of three. I think we needed three out of three.”
Here is the new alignment: Gray moves back to right corner, the position at which he has made the Pro Bowl four consecutive seasons. Humphery moves from right to left corner. Jackson and Henley (when he returns), will be backups, although both will play considerably in the team’s nickel defenses.
Anthony Newman takes over for Gray at free safety and Vince Newsome stays at strong safety, where he is enjoying one of his best summers.
Said Henley: “I can’t comment on it because that’s a decision that’s out of our hands. It’s not like we talked about it before.”
Was the move a little premature?
“I guess it’s a little different than the way we started,” Henley said.
The injury to Henley is explained as an abdominal strain caused when a small piece of bone pulled away from the pelvic socket during a recent practice. Henley said the injury feels like a pulled muscle and that he has lost strength in the area.
Anderson, however, said Henley is in the final stage of his recovery.
“Toward the end of the week, if he feels no problems and is confident playing, we’ll clear him to play,” Anderson said.
Play what? Henley was projected as the starting right corner this season as the team finally seemed committed to making the move with Gray, who was an All-American safety at Texas before joining the Rams in 1985. The Rams moved him to corner because they already had Nolan Cromwell and Johnnie Johnson in the secondary.
The Rams toyed with the idea of moving Gray to safety last season, but relented before training camp opened.
This summer, Gray has been playing exclusively at the position and enjoying it.
Gray said he still thinks he is a better safety than corner, but it may be another year before anyone finds out.
“Personally, I like free safety,” he said. “As a team player, which I am, I think it’s still a good reason to move back, because of the team.”
Gray said he understands why Robinson had to make the move, even if Henley returns in a week or two.
“Who knows?” he said. “If Darryl comes back in the Washington game (Aug. 31) and pulls it again, then I have to play in the Green Bay game as a corner. And not have any work as a corner.”
Ram Notes
Linebacker Mel Owens’ back injury is apparently serious, and he was sent to see Dr. Robert Watkins on Monday. “He’s had trouble getting out of bed,” Coach John Robinson said. “He’s got radiating pain down his back. So Mel’s on the shelf for a while.” . . . Not satisfied with the work of punters Hank Ilesic and Kent Elmore, the Rams may bring a new face to camp this week. “That’s one thing we will consider,” Robinson said. How desperate is the coach? “They look like they can punt in this room and not hit the ceilings and walls.”
Robinson on the play Saturday night of second-round choice Pat Terrell, who moves up a rung on the safety ladder with the switch of Jerry Gray to safety: switch, was ragged in Saturday’s game. Robinson: “I think Pat Terrell went the wrong way most of the time Saturday night, but he went the wrong way fast.” . . . Even with Albert Lewis holding out in Kansas City, Robinson said he never considered trading for a corner and leaving Gray at safety. “If you made a move for another corner, then somebody’s got to go, and we don’t want to lose any of these guys,” he said. “We just need to cover ourselves.”
Nose tackle Alvin Wright returned to practice Monday after recovering from a quadriceps injury. . . . Robinson said it’s hard to figure why safety Michael Stewart is still holding out. “With some of the holdouts, there’s big money and ramifications,” Robinson said. “But Mike’s just got to get in and get playing.”
