Rams’ Hopes Are Buoyed by Anderson
At about the time the Rams were carted out of contention last season, Flipper Anderson was being carried gingerly out of their locker room on a stretcher.
It happened on Sept. 22 at Candlestick Park. Anderson suffered a broken bone in his back, sidelining him for the next four games.
“It was scary,” Anderson said this week.
It was scary for the Rams’ offense, too, which stumbled out of the gate. An offense built around big plays went the rest of the season with only three plays from scrimmage that covered more than 40 yards.
When the Rams’ offense works, Anderson has been responsible for many big plays. There was the winning touchdown against the New York Giants during a playoff game in 1989. And his NFL record-setting 336-yards earlier the same season.
But when Everett-to-Anderson is not in sync, the result is the first five games of last season, when the Rams went without a touchdown pass.
Which is why there was so much relief within the Rams’ organization when Anderson reported to training camp this year and proceeded to hook up with Everett for for some long passes.
“Last year, it was an off-year for him,” offensive coordinator Ernie Zampese said of Anderson.
“Of course, he got hurt. But even without getting hurt, he did not have the kind of the year . . . he did not play like he can play.
“But he seemed to be very determined from the minicamp on. He’s continued right into the regular camp. We’re looking for a big year from him.
“I think he’s gotten to the point now where he’s ready to really blossom. He’s been good, but. . . . That could happen very easily. He’s working good, he’s catching the ball. He’s there.”
Anderson’s teammates have noticed a difference from the beginning of the off-season, when he and Everett for the first time worked out with each other on their own.
Everett said the proof of their work together already is evident. With veteran Henry Ellard sidelined for a few weeks because of a sore hamstring, the Everett-to-Anderson combination has been the one to watch.
They combined for a long gain against the San Diego Chargers during the Aug. 1 scrimmage and hooked up on a 25-yard scoring throw during the opening exhibition against the Seattle Seahawks.
“I think Flipper’s working hard,” Everett said. “I mean, he’s working as hard as anybody else on this field. You could say it’s a coming of age as far as knowing what’s expected of him. He’s very professional.
“It feels good when you’re working with somebody. They know where to be, they know what you’re thinking about, and they’re actually putting themselves in a position to be real successful, which allows you to be successful.”
Anderson caught only 32 passes last season, after catching 51 in 1990; averaged only 16.6 yards per catch, after averaging more than 20 yards in each of his three previous seasons, and caught only one touchdown pass.
Anderson, who signed a lucrative contract extension at the beginning of last season that takes effect this season, is disappointed with that performance.
“I think it was just a bad year overall for the whole team, the passing game, the running game, offense, defense,” Anderson said. “I guess I just contributed to it by having a bad year myself.
“But things can happen. . . . Hopefully, we can turn it around this year. Looks like it’s going to be a pretty good season for us.
“My main goal is to get to the Super Bowl. But my personal goal is try to have a real good year, be a full receiver--blocking, catching, running with the ball and everything. And if everything works out, I can get some stats behind me and go to the Pro Bowl.”
What are the specific changes he is trying to make? More dedication, he said, and a better idea of what he needs to do aside from running fast and catching the ball.
“I think it’s mainly due to my improvement in my route running,” Anderson said. “I’m running my routes a lot better this year, where the last few years it was just send me deep.
“I think Ernie has a lot more confidence in me running the out-routes and the corner routes. . . .”
Zampese said he has to have confidence in Anderson for the offense to succeed. If Anderson isn’t running the correct patterns or if Everett doesn’t feel comfortable, the big play vanishes from the Ram playbook.
“The previous two years (1989 and ‘90), we probably were one of the better teams in the league with regard to 25- and 30- and 40-yard plays,” Zampese said. “And last year, we really dropped off. We didn’t make those plays.
“It’s important for us to do that if we’re going to score points. And certainly (Anderson is) one of the real guys in the league who can do those kinds of things.”
(Orange County Edition) Anderson’s Career
Year Rec. Yds. Avg. Long TD 1988 11 319 29.0 56 0 1989 44 1146 26.0 78 5 1990 51 1097 21.5 55 4 1991 32 530 16.6 54 1 Totals 138 3092 22.4 78 10