RAM NOTEBOOK : Robinson Hopes Three-Sack Attack Has Big Impact on Coaches

IRVINE — Understanding that you never get a second chance to make a three-sack first impression, Gerald Robinson exploded from out of nowhere and the right defensive end spot Saturday to reintroduce himself to the Rams.

Robinson, a forgotten man amid last season’s Ram flop, flew past Charger backup left tackle Darryl Jenkins three times in the scrimmage with San Diego, garnering three sacks and the very focused attention of a Ram coaching staff searching for pass-rushers.

“I felt I needed to make a big showing,” Robinson said Monday. “It was the first scrimmage game (for veterans), and your first impression is a lasting impression.”

Robinson came to camp unofficially considered the third wheel at the right defensive end spot behind starter Bill Hawkins and veteran Jim Skow, and even on the preseason depth chart, issued after Saturday’s triple-sack outing, Robinson is listed on the third team.

But who knows for how long?

“He had a couple real good rushes that dented the pocket,” said defensive coordinator George Dyer. “They were good rushes. It sure didn’t hurt him.

“He sure made a statement--that’s what you want to do.”

A sixth-year player who signed as a Plan B free agent before the 1991 season, Robinson saw significant time early, then sort of disappeared from view as the season turned more and more sour.

Coming into this season, with a new staff, he was an unknown. Robinson said in his situation, he has too many people listed ahead of him to start out slowly.

“I feel I’m like at the bottom of the totem pole here,” Robinson said. “I’ve got to step it up. I can’t be half-stepping it. I’ve got to make a showing every day. Every day I’m out here, I’ve got to make something happen.”

Robinson actually tied with Kevin Greene for the team lead in sacks with three, but that is hardly a number to inspire instant kill-the-quarterback credibility. After registering two early sacks, Robinson fell out of favor with the old Ram defensive staff, which began picking up new linemen almost every week to slap in at right end.

His last sack came Oct. 20 against the Raiders.

“I thought I was playing great,” Robinson said. “I never understood why they did what they did to me.

“We started losing last year, so all of a sudden they just stopped playing me as much. They started playing younger guys. But you can’t make anything happen when you’re not playing.

“Hopefully this year will be a lot better.”

Dyer said he is impressed with Robinson’s pass-rush ability, but there are other areas Robinson needs to improve before he gets serious consideration as a prime-time player.

At 6-3, 267 pounds, Robinson sometimes doesn’t show the strength to hold up consistently against power running attacks.

“He’s a gifted athlete,” Dyer said. “He needs to play the run as well as the pass. He’s a gifted pass-rusher and if he could play the run adequately, it’d sure help.”

Right now, Hawkins appears to be the more consistent player, and has practiced with the first team from Day 1 of camp. Hawkins and Skow each recorded a sack Saturday.

“Bill Hawkins has been doing a real good job there,” Robinson said. “They like Bill Hawkins, and I understand that. He’s been doing a good job, I have no complaints.

“(But) I’m excited about Saturday. It’s the first time I felt real, real comfortable and good about coming into a scrimmage. I think I’ve got a lot to prove this year, I’ve got new coaches who don’t know what I can do, so I’ve got to go out there and show them I can play football.

“And that’s a good start to what kind of year I’m going to have this year.”

Chuck Knox and his group of former Seattle assistants aren’t the only coaches who are going up against their former team Thursday night when the Rams open their exhibition season against the Seahawks.

Hudson Houck, who coached the Ram offensive line through countless Pro Bowl appearances the past nine seasons before leaving when John Robinson resigned last year, is now Seattle’s offensive line coach.

Tom Flores, on a conference call with local reporters Monday, said he had followed Houck’s career since Flores was with the Raiders and Houck was at USC.

“I’ve liked his style, the way he coaches and the style of play his line will play,” Flores said. “He was my first choice, when he was available I talked to him at length.

“I’m very happy because he brings to us a style of football I like a little bit more, a little more power-oriented with the offensive line.”

Clarence Shelmon, who coached the Ram running backs last season, also joined Flores’ staff in Seattle.

There were some interesting tidbits of information in the just-released Rams depth chart, the first one Knox has issued since becoming head coach.

Paul Butcher is listed as the first-team, right-side linebacker, when it was thought to come down to a battle between Frank Stams and Roman Phifer.

Second-year fullback Ernie Thompson, after drawing early praise, isn’t even on the three-deep chart, falling behind starter Robert Delpino, David Lang and rookie Tim Lester.

“We haven’t made any determination on Ernie or anybody else at this particular point,” Knox said. “There are some guys continuing to improve, get better and that’s what we’re striving for.”