PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Coaches Want Better Rush

The Rams are planning to rush one or two linebackers on obvious passing downs in an attempt to improve on last year’s NFL-low total of 17 sacks.

Through the early weeks of camp, Coach Chuck Knox has emphasized one-on-one pass-rush drills, looking for the right combination of players.

So far, No. 1 draft choice Sean Gilbert appears to be the most impressive lineman, and Kevin Greene and Fred Strickland, probably both at times, will be used as ends on passing downs.

“When we go to the nickel (defense), we’ve got some linebackers that we’ll put over there in the nickel down, the guys who won’t be involved in cover,” defensive coordinator George Dyer said.

“Kevin, we’re going to look at, Freddie Strickland we’ve looked at, so we’ve got a wide variety of people to choose from. There’s been some bright spots there. The guys we thought could get on the corner are doing a pretty good job there.”

Said Knox: “We’ll just have to keep working to find that guy or guys that can do that. You know when it’s third and 10 and everybody knows in the stands that they’re going to throw, that’s when one of your guys has got to beat one of their guys. And if you can’t do that every now and then, you may not get a sack, but you can hurry them, pressure him, make him throw it sooner than he wants to, see?

“We’ve got to have better pressure attacking.”

Tackle Jackie Slater returned to practice after being excused Monday because of flu. . . . Defensive lineman Mike Piel had his sore knee examined, and there was no serious damage. He is day to day. . . . The Rams announced that their scrimmage at noon Saturday against San Diego will be held at the Chargers’ UC San Diego practice site.