PRO FOOTBALL THE NFL OPENERS : Rocky Road Awaits Them : Rams: Knox returns to another of his former coaching venues with a team that appears to match up poorly against the Bills.
Chuck Knox, acting like a politician approaching an election he has long realized there is little chance of winning, is already preparing his concession speech for today’s return to Buffalo.
Knox was successful in his victorious exhibition return to Seattle, the city he left to return to the Rams, whom he coached from 1973 through 1977.
But when the Ram coach talks about bringing his team to Buffalo against the two-time defending AFC champion Bills, the team he coached from 1978 through 1982, Knox simply shrugs.
“Opening on the road, before 80,000 . . . in (Rich) Stadium in Buffalo, playing a team that’s been to the Super Bowl the last two years . . . “ Knox said. “I mean, that speaks for itself.
“We’ll tee it up at 1 o’clock on Sunday. We’re going to play hard, and we’ll see.”
The Bills scored 30 points or more in half of their regular-season games last year. The Ram defense gave up 20 points or more in every game but one last season.
To thwart the Bills, defenses have to have linebackers who can stop Thurman Thomas, the league’s best all-purpose running back the last two seasons and 1991’s most valuable player; linemen who can rush quarterback Jim Kelly, who threw an NFL-high 33 touchdown passes
last season, and backs who can stay with 1,000-yard receivers Andre Reed and James Lofton.
The Rams have serious holes at linebacker and both of their starting defensive ends are sidelined because of injuries. An untested secondary that will bear the brunt of both situations.
Teams can at least slow the Bills if they can run the ball at their shaky defense--they were the 27th-ranked defense in the league last year.
But the Rams have all but given up trying to rush consistently, are using a one-back, pass-oriented offense, and are very thin in the offensive line.
Knox said he plans to start both Cleveland Gary and Robert Delpino in the backfield today, but has said that the Rams are now primarily a one-back offense and will have to rely on trickery--draws and screens--to slow down any kind of pass rush.
Thursday, Knox released the team’s only real fullback, Tim Lester, leaving the team with four running backs, all of whom are best at catching Jim Everett passes.
The Bills’ defense is susceptible to rushing, but can put pressure on the passer.
And unlike last year, the Bills will open the season with both defensive end Bruce Smith and linebacker Cornelius Bennett in the lineup.
“We’re not saying that we have to throw every down,” Knox said.
“Certainly, it would be helpful to us if we could control the ball some and keep that talented offensive group of the Buffalo Bills off the field.
“But we’ve still got to put points on the board. And it’s a tough assignment.”
And Knox’s hopes going into the regular season?
“I’m very excited about it. . . . We’ve been in training camp, we’ve been through the preseason, and I know it’s a tremendous challenge to go in there and play,” Knox said.
“We have to look at it realistically, look them in the eye, goplay it, and hell, see what happens.”
Ram Notes
Coach Chuck Knox didn’t hesitate when asked what he remembers most about his time in Buffalo.
“I remember when the Rams came in there and we beat them 10-7 (in a 1980 overtime game, three seasons after he had left L.A. for Buffalo). Big, big ballgame. Tough, tough ballgame.”
Buffalo Coach Marv Levy on Knox’s reputation in Buffalo: “He’s remembered here. Quite often, I run into people who remember Chuck. He’s held in great regard here.
“He did a great job with the team, took a team that was down and made them a consistent playoff team.”
Bill receiver James Lofton needs only 55 yards to pass Steve Largent as the league’s all-time leader in receiving yards.
Buffalo defensive end Bruce Smith, who sat out most of last season because of a chronic knee problem, is scheduled to be in the lineup Sunday.
“He’s rusty,” Levy said. “Just needs to get his sea legs back.”
Both of the Rams’ starting defensive ends are sidelined. Left end Robert Young was put on the injured-reserve list Friday because of a sprained left shoulder, and right end Bill Hawkins hasn’t practiced in a month after suffering an injured calf muscle.
