Lions Will Try to Raise Roof Again : Rams: Detroit is 6-0 indoors but has struggled since an injury to quarterback Peete.
The Rams have drawn a line on the turf, and across it lies the possibility of a respectable season.
The Rams (3-7) will play in the Silverdome today against a Detroit Lion team that has lost its starting quarterback and three of its last four games.
If the Rams win today and then again against the injury-plagued San Francisco 49ers at Anaheim Stadium on Nov. 25, they would have a shot at a seven-victory season.
“This is the time of the season when some teams collapse and some teams continue on,” quarterback Jim Everett said.
“I think there’s no doubt that all the way up to here, we’re a much better team than when we first started. We’ve got a lot of young people, new people, and hopefully we’ll build throughout the rest of the season.
“We’re not folding any tents. We’re way too young to do that. This will be a good experience for us, going up against a team that can be very aggressive. It’ll be pretty violent up there in the Lions’ den.”
The Rams’ primary problem is that the Lions (6-4) have gone 6-0 indoors this season, outscoring teams, 129-60.
Take the Lions and their run-and-shoot offense from under a roof, and they are 0-4, outscored by 130-34.
But that does not help the Rams, who have had signal-count problems in domes recently and today must face Lion tailback Barry Sanders in his element.
Sanders has gained an average of 100.2 yards in nine games this season, but on artificial turf, with defenses spread to cover the Lions’ four wideouts, his zigging and zagging is nearly unstoppable.
“He’s just like one of those toys . . . kind of back and forth,” Ram Coach John Robinson said of Sanders. “He can change direction almost without losing any speed, that twist and change. He’s really got something special.
“If you miss him, you’ve got to turn around, because he’s liable to be coming back at you.”
Since starting quarterback Rodney Peete was sidelined for the season because of an Achilles’ tendon injury on Oct. 27 in a home victory over the Dallas Cowboys, the Lions have fallen from the top of the NFC Central Division with consecutive losses at Chicago and Tampa Bay.
“With our quarterback down and (our being forced to use) a young, inexperienced quarterback (Erik Kramer), who’s only had two starts in his life on this level, we don’t want to put the game in his hands in the sense of saying, ‘You go out and win it,’ ” Lion Coach Wayne Fontes said.
“We’re trying to put the game a little more in the offensive line’s hands, a little more in Barry Sanders’ hands, a little more ball control, take some time off the clock and maybe win it late in the game.”
Kramer has thrown four interceptions and been sacked seven times, showing neither the agility nor the savvy of Peete, who is better suited to the run-and-shoot style.
And the Ram offense, which has had to face Pat Swilling and Derrick Thomas in the last two games, is breathing a sigh of relief. With Pro Bowl player Mike Cofer hurt, the Lions’ weakside attack will come from sackless Tracy Hayworth.
Also, the Lion defense surrendered 139 yards to Buccaneer tailback Reggie Cobb last Sunday, which should boost the confidence of Ram tailback Marcus Dupree, who is expected to be used often today.
“If you look at the schedule, we’re still in (playoff contention),” Ram defensive line coach John Teerlinck said. “Last year, 8-8 got in it.
“I think Detroit, they’ve lost a couple. They have to look at us as a must, must game. Hey, they’ve got a tougher road than us.”
Ram Notes
Ram quarterback Jim Everett doesn’t appreciate anyone who asks him why he is playing so much better recently--he has thrown eight touchdown passes in his last five games after having none in his first five. “I think there’s some pretty glaring reasons why,” he said. “Early on, the focus being on the running game, and (as) such, we really didn’t practice (throwing the ball). Minus (Plan B departure) Pete Holohan, we have a new guy named Jim Price, who’s doing a much better job (recently). There’s no doubt from the first four games to these past four games that our offensive line is much more solidified and knows what they’re doing, or at least maybe my vision and confidence in them (are greater).”
Starting tailback Robert Delpino has a sore hip and his status won’t be determined until pregame warmups. . . . Kevin Greene will move back to defensive end from linebacker today to rush the Lions’ run-and-shoot offense.