RAM NOTEBOOK : Robinson Hoping Offense Can Enjoy the Best of Both Worlds

The Rams must have an inner-ear problem. They can’t keep their balance.

First they’re a power running team, then they’re absolutely pass happy. What they’d like to be is the best of both, but the way things are going in the NFL these days, it’s pretty hard to mesh a successful running game and an efficient passing attack on the same Sunday.

Look at what the Rams did to two of the league’s best running teams on successive weeks. The Chargers took one look at the Rams’ we-dare-you-to-run scheme and came out passing. Under similar circumstances Sunday, so did the Raiders. Both teams had fewer than 90 yards on the ground, however.

“You have to respond to people,” Coach John Robinson said. “One of the big trends over the last two, three years--Philadelphia and Chicago were the big instigators--is what’s called the eight-man front, which says if you’re going to run, it’s going to be hard because there’s eight guys up there.

“So you either hunker down and plow at them or you go to the pass.”

The Rams established themselves as a premier passing team in 1989, but early this season their once-vaunted air attack was rendered less fearsome than a paper airplane. The Rams, while refining their run blocking, forget how to protect their passer.

They averaged more than 105 yards a game on the ground during their first three games. Since re-discovering their passing game, they have averaged 70 yards rushing in the past three games.

Taking advantage of what a defense is willing to give you is the key, of course, but Robinson still says he is concerned about the Rams’ recent inability to consistently run the ball effectively.

“What you have to be concerned about is what’s next?” he said. “Ultimately, somebody is going to be defending the pass and you go to run the football and you don’t do it well.

“Being able to pass for 300 one week and then come back the next and rush for 160, that’s what I think the championship teams are doing.”

In the Wings: Cleveland Gary’s fumbling problems cost him the chance at a 1,000-yard season in 1990. The emergence of Robert Delpino at tailback this season has relegated Gary to back-up status. And it has taken Gary almost half a season to surpass the 100 -yard mark.

Now, Robinson is talking about the need to revive the power running game and considering activating Marcus Dupree, although he insists the two subjects are unrelated.

Delpino--who took over the starter’s duties after the first game of the season when Gary fumbled on his third rushing attempt--has carried the ball 114 times, gaining 370 yards for a 3.2 average. Gary, who was hobbled by a sore hamstring in training camp, has 121 yards in 32 carries for a 3.8 average.

“My health is good and I’m ready to carry the ball,” Gary said. “My main goal now is to execute each and every play that I’m in there to the best of my ability.”

Gary, who on Sunday had five carries, including an impressive 14-yard run up the middle, admits it has been frustrating, but he’s not complaining.

“The more opportunities I get, the more I can help our team. That’s my only concern.”

It’s a concern Robinson says he shares.

“Again, I want to get him the ball more,” Robinson said. “But Bobby is an absolutely fabulous football player. Maybe we can accommodate both of them some way in what we’re doing. I think there’s a place where we could equally balance Cleveland’s and Bobby’s carries.”

Gary has never had more than eight rushing attempts in a game this season. He’s averaging 4.5 per game. Delpino has had 13 or more carries six times, and he’s averaging 16 a game.

Future Shocker: Vernon Turner’s first reception in the NFL resulted in a 19-yard touchdown Sunday when he outran a defender after catching a short pass over the middle and then flung himself headlong through two Raiders and into the end zone.

Robinson hopes it was just a glimpse of things to come.

“He’s getting on-the-job training,” Robinson said, “but I think we look at him and say, ‘At some point, you’re looking at a pretty dangerous fellow.’ ”

The Rams picked up the 5-foot-8, 185-pound receiver/kick returner Aug. 27 after he was waived by Buffalo. Turner played in one game last year with the Bills and had no statistics. For the Rams, he has returned nine punts for 68 yards and eight kickoffs for 186. He also has two rushes for 19 yards.

Turner has fumbled a couple times and caught a couple punts he probably shouldn’t have caught, but they’ve been the kinds of mistakes Robinson says you have to expect from a rookie.

“He’ll learn,” Robinson said. “I can remember Bill Parcells saying about Dave Meggett, ‘This guy’s never going to play again until he learns how to hold onto the ball.’ He learned.”

The Rams are currently using Turner mostly as a receiver out of the backfield rather than a fourth wide receiver, hoping to make better use of his quickness.

“He’s obviously quick,” Robinson said. “He’d be an interesting guy in a run-and-shoot. This guy’s got some stuff.”

Down, but Out? The Rams have experienced more downs than ups during a roller-coaster ride through a season that will be half over after Sunday’s game in Atlanta.

The Rams (3-4) have virtually given away two games--a seven-turnover opener with Phoenix and Sunday’s self-destruction in the Coliseum--so they feel confident they have playoff talent.

Veteran cornerback Jerry Gray agrees the Rams have the talent but suggests their attitude may need adjustment.

“Realistically, I think we have a good chance to make the playoffs,” he said. “We’re 3-4, but the season is long. But we have to get together as a team and decide, what’s it gonna be? Are we always going to wind up on the losing end of the thing? Or are we going to take control and win, 3-0 or 7-3 or whatever it takes?