PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Slater Working Harder Than Ever

Chuck Knox was coach of the Rams when they drafted Jackie Slater in the third round in 1976. Sixteen years later, Knox still likes what he sees. The 38-year-old tackle has been in camp from the outset, sweating through two-a-day workouts like a rookie trying to make the team.

“Jackie Slater has not missed a beat,” Knox. “He’s done everything that everybody else is supposed to do, been in every practice with the exception of when he had the flu. We’ve made no concessions and he hasn’t asked for any. He just comes out and does a day’s work.”

Slater, at the former coaching staff’s suggestion, took a more laid-back approach to training camp last year, but he has barely had a chance to catch his breath this summer.

“There’s not much time to take it easy,” he said. “There’s a lot of work to be done, a lot of new things to learn, and I’ve got to work hard if I’m going to master these things. That’s one of the reasons I wanted to get signed early and get into camp, so that I could get these things down.

“I’m hanging in there pretty good. They’ve been taking good care of me and giving me an ample amount of rest.”

Actually, Slater says the prospect of learning a new offense and new blocking schemes has given him a new energy.

“At this point in my career, it’s a refreshing challenge,” he said. “I’m still learning and adjusting and it’s not easy. Change is not always comfortable, but I see that once I get these things down and start doing them, I can have success.”

The Rams, who have been hit by a number of minor injuries, did not wear pads in their practice. “We’re nicked up pretty much,” Knox said. “That’s why we had the pads off.” First-round draft choice Sean Gilbert (sprained ankle) and defensive ends Bill Hawkins (calf injury) and Jim Skow (shoulder injury) will not play Saturday night against the Raiders at Anaheim Stadium. . . . Knox said quarterback Jim Everett will play the first quarter of the exhibition, with backup Mike Pagel starting the second quarter and rookie T.J. Rubley taking over in the second half.