RAMS : Everett’s Footwork Too Fancy
This morning, while they’re stretching before practice, a lot of Rams will be praying that their hands don’t fail them now.
A fumble in practice today will surely bring the wrath of the gods at Ram Park. After all, Coach John Robinson has just about reached the end of his rope on this matter.
Ram coaches, however, will be hoping one player keeps his mind on his feet. Quarterback Jim Everett’s problems seem to stem mostly from faulty footwork.
Against Phoenix Sunday, Everett was “credited” with one of five Ram fumbles, but guard-turned-center Tom Newberry said the mishandled snap that led to the Cardinals’ first touchdown was his fault.
Everett completed 25 of 35 passes for 290 yards, but two were intercepted and he wasn’t consistently sharp. A couple of his passes floated and wobbled, and his setup and delivery looked awkward at times.
“Jim was effective through most of the game,” Robinson said. “Some of (his problems) come when he’s attempting to make plays and do things, when he doesn’t stick within himself.
“He has some problems throwing to his left, putting his foot in the bucket. He tends to pivot too hard and drift left. He has to stay fundamental and stay within his game.”
Staying within his game translates into staying in the pocket and stepping up to throw. Most of Everett’s off-the-back-foot passes come after he has attempted to slide out of harm’s way.
Everett’s happy feet are not what’s making the Rams sad these days. In fact, Robinson was generally pleased with Everett’s opening performance and discounted the two interceptions.
“I think he had a very good game,” Robinson said. “On third and (18 with two minutes left in the first half), he pushes one down there, and that’s all right, you’ve got to try to get a shot at a score before halftime.
“That interception was all right and the one at the end of the game was somewhat the same.”
Everett was 13 of 16 for 198 yards in the first half, but the Rams were forced into a catch-up mode during the second half and the passing game suffered.
“If we’re in control of the game, or even, or down three, then the second half is a very different half for him,” Robinson said. “We run the ball more often, there’s a little more play action and a little more rhythm.”
Robinson isn’t the only one who’s had his fill of fumbles. Some members of the defense--while trying desperately to cling to a team-unity philosophy--are beginning to vent some of their frustration about the situation.
“What we have to do is stand together, but we can’t keep fumbling the ball,” cornerback Jerry Gray said. “You’ve got to remember there’s guys on the other end of this, playing defense for you, and you’ve got to help us out. You have to remember there’s other guys on the team.”
Gray wasn’t the only veteran defender to issue a not-so-subtle reminder to teammates whose job description includes hanging onto the football.
“We did some great things out there defensively,” defensive end Kevin Greene said, “but it doesn’t matter how well you play if you make mistakes and let the other team capitalize. You can be the No. 1 team defensively in the NFL, but if you make mistakes, you will lose.”
Last add fumbles: Is it a case of bad hands or bad heads?
“It can become a psyche thing for a player,” Robinson said. “When you see a guy or get hit and something goes in your mind and you freeze a little bit.”
Cleveland Gary, who fumbled 12 times last year, lost his starting job to Robert Delpino when he fumbled again Sunday.
“Everybody zeroed in on Cleveland fumbling last year,” Robinson said, “but on our practice field and in the (exhibition) games that he played, he didn’t fumble at all. Here, he gets his third carry and makes nine yards and fumbles the ball.
“Whatever it is, we can’t afford to have it happen anymore.”
Catch up: Robinson on the running game: “If you take away the quarterback’s run, we averaged 4.9 (yards per carry). We probably should have run it more, but again the circumstances were such that we found ourselves in a game much like a lot of the games last year, where we allowed ourselves to fall behind and spent the game trying to catch up.”
A note of hope: Robinson, on why he believes there will be better days ahead: “I have a strong belief in this team. I think this team is doing a lot of things very well and has the foundation and character, however one describes it. I think they are ready to put together a good season.”
Ram Numbers Highlight Robert Delpino Years from now, when he looks back on his pro career, Robert Delpino will remember Sept. 1, 1991 as the date he re-established himself as an integral part of the Rams. The fourth-year pro from Missouri, after a productive 1989 season in which he played in all 16 Ram games and rushed for 368 yards, just about dropped out of sight last year, a victim of the numbers game. Sunday, the backup fullback/tailback got an early call when Cleveland Gary fumbled the third time he handled the ball, the Cardinals recovering. Ram Coach John Robinson replaced Gary with Delpino. The 6-foot, 205-pound Delpino turned out to be one of the few bright spots in the dismal 24-14 loss--rushing 15 times for 81 yards, catching 10 passes for 113 yards and returning three kickoffs for 48. His performance earned him a start Sunday against the Giants.
SEASON TO DATE First Downs Rams: 25 Opp: 13 Rushing Yards Rams: 99 Opp: 69 Passing Yards Rams: 276 Opp: 124 Punts/Average Rams: 2/32 Opp: 5/45 Rushing
att avg TDs Rams 21 4.7 2 Opp 34 2.0 1
Passing
att cp TDs Rams 35 25 0 Opp 18 10 1
Penalties/Yards Rams: 9/70 Opp: 3/41 Fumbles/Lost Rams:5/5 Opp: 1/0 Interceptions: Rams: 0/0 Opp: 2/3 Scoring by Quarters
1 2 3 4 OT Total Rams 0 7 7 0 0 14 Opp 14 7 0 3 0 24
Possession Time Rams: 28:06 Opp: 31:54