NOTES : Everett Doesn’t Put Up Big Numbers in Victory

Sunday was not a great day for quarterbacks in Giants Stadium.

New York’s Jeff Hostetler completed only 17 of 32 passes for 187 yards with one after-the-game-was-lost touchdown and an interception. Jim Everett was seven of 16 for 83 yards. His longest completion was 18 yards.

Ram Coach John Robinson, who has admitted recently that Everett has been struggling with his footwork at times, was very pleased with his quarterback’s outing this time, however.

“I thought Jim Everett played an outstanding game,” Robinson said. “We did not do very well pass blocking-wise. We had some problems. (Giant linebacker) Lawrence Taylor was all over the field and they do a great job with schemes to put pressure on you.”

The Rams may have beaten the Giants at their own game--plowing out the yardage on the ground--but Everett kept two scoring drives alive with pass completions for first downs.

“Jim was able to skirt around some unblocked guys and make some effective passes,” Robinson said. “The stats regarding Jim really mean absolutely nothing.”

Future Shock: Last week, Robinson called it his Ram line of the future, only he didn’t know the future would come Sunday, when 37-year-old Jackie Slater was knocked out of the game--and possibly a lot longer--with a partial tear in his right shoulder.

Slater was sidelined in the second quarter, forcing Gerald Perry into full-time action at left tackle because Robert Jenkins had to move to the right side to replace Slater.

“The offensive line adjusted great,” said Everett, who was sacked only once--before Slater was out of the game. “I thought Gerald Perry did an excellent job of stepping right in.

“He had to have a great game because he had to immediately go up against Taylor.”

Perry, who was only supposed to see spot time because he is still recovering from a training-camp injury to his knee, said he was pleased with his play.

“It feels good,” Perry said. “I feel really good about it.”

Winded City: Defensive end Kevin Greene, who rarely left the field when the Rams were playing defense last season, stood on the sideline quite a bit when the Giants were in running situations.

The New York offense had success running in Greene’s direction, but Ram defensive coordinator Jeff Fisher said he pulled the Rams’ star pass rusher only because he was tired.

“I had to get my wind,” Greene said. “I’ll tell you what, I don’t know how much it took out of me, but (battling New York tackle) Jumbo Elliott at 300-something pounds took some of the energy out of me.

“I just needed to get my wind on a couple of plays and then I was ready to go again.”

Big Foot: Tony Zendejas’ 50-yard field goal in the third quarter was the longest by a Ram since Nov. 3, 1986, when Mike Lansford kicked a 50-yarder at Chicago. Lansford also had two 52-yard field goals in 1985.

Giving Credit: The Giants, while careful to salute the Rams, made sure to emphasize how far off their own game they were Sunday.

“You’ve got to give them credit, they played a great football game,” said defensive end Leonard Marshall. “I don’t think they’re that great a football team, we just didn’t do things well.”

Times Staff Writer Tim Kawakami contributed to this story.