RAMS, RAIDERS UPDATE : Punters May Get Boot; Schroeder to Start
With the regular season set to begin in a little over two weeks, Rams Coach John Robinson is concerned about his team’s punting situation.
The Rams, 1-1 in the preseason, entertain the Phoenix Cardinals (0-2) Saturday night at Anaheim Stadium.
After punter Dale Hatcher left the Rams as a Plan B free agent for Green Bay, the team signed Plan B free agent Hank Ilesic and drafted Kent Elmore in the seventh round.
One of those two, they figured, would make a solid replacement for Hatcher this season. So far, however, neither man has seized the job.
Elmore, who averaged 40.2 yards a punt as a senior at Tennessee, has averaged 38.7 in two preseason games for the Rams. Ilesic, who punted for 13 years in Canada and averaged 40.1 yards in San Diego last season, is at 34.5 yards.
Robinson made it clear this week that the club is taking a close look at the situation. He threatened to bring in another punter, but decided to sit pat at mid-week.
“We’re going to continue evaluating them through the weekend,” Robinson said. “Then we’ll make a decision.”
In all probability, one of them will be out of a job if they don’t show some spark against the Cardinals.
“It’s a bit startling,” Robinson said when asked if he was surprised by the performance of the two punters thus far. “It’s obviously a situation we’re concerned about.”
Jay Schroeder will start at quarterback for the Raiders tonight at Chicago, but he will be backed by Vince Evans, who last week was 6 of 18 for 66 yards in passing. Evans also rushed for a game-high 73 yards on eight carries.
With Steve Beuerlein unsigned, Evans is making another comeback at age 35 after being in and out with the Raiders last season.
The Raiders are 2-1 in preseason play and are coming off a 16-4 victory over Dallas.
So far in preseason, Evans is 17 of 40 for 223 yards. Schroeder is 16 of 41 for 185 yards.
“I worked hard in the off-season, and it’s paying off,” Evans said. “I’m just glad to have the opportunity to play, and if I wind up being No. 1, that’s just the way it is.”
Evans once was the top signal-caller for the Bears. In 1981 he completed 195 passes in 436 attempts for 2,354 yards and 11 touchdowns. But that was the year before Mike Ditka took over as head coach and the Bears drafted Jim McMahon.
When Evans gets into the game, one of his targets could be another old Bear favorite, wide receiver Willie Gault. Gault has seen limited action this season, but Coach Art Shell plans to use him more against the Bears.
Mike Tomczak will get the start at quarterback for the Bears, but Jim Harbaugh will get equal playing time.
In the Bears’ 3-0 preseason, the two have been head-to-head and nearly flawless. Neither has thrown an interception. Tomczak is 21-of-37 for 251 yards and one touchdown. Harbaugh is 20-of-31 for 297 yards and one touchdown.