PRO FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Team’s Progress Encourages Knox

It’s still August, but a day after the Rams ran their exhibition record to 2-0 with an overtime victory over the Raiders, Coach Chuck Knox said the signs of a Ram recovery are there.

“I’m encouraged by the progress that we’re making,” Knox said. “I’m not ready to go out and say we’re going to go undefeated or anything like that. I mean, I’m realistic about the situation here. But I like the way they’re working.

“That’s the satisfaction that you get from coaching. You go out there, people work and try to do what they’re supposed to do the way they’re supposed to do it.”

The Rams’ muddled running back situation might have become a little clearer--and a lot more competitive--after Marcus Dupree’s 100-yard performance Saturday night.

With Cleveland Gary and Robert Delpino sidelined because of minor injuries, the Ram tailback spot was the biggest question mark heading into the game. Now Knox says he will consider giving Dupree the starting role for Saturday’s game against the Green Bay Packers.

“He ran hard, he got some yardage on his own, he protected the football,” Knox said of Dupree. “The big thing is to be able to come out and do it again. He’s missed some practice time. But I’ll tell you, he got stronger as he went along (Saturday night). Shows you he’s in pretty good shape.”