RAM NOTEBOOK : Newman Shows Versatility at Free Safety

ANAHEIM — Nobody is making any Ronnie-Lott-in-his-prime comparisons, but Anthony Newman is steadily working his way into his coaches’ good graces, a starting spot in the secondary and a role as leader in the Rams’ youth-oriented defense.

Newman, 26, worked at strong safety during training camp while Michael Stewart held out and is now playing free safety because Pat Terrell suffered a nerve injury in his neck during the season opener.

Newman made the transition remarkably well.

“Anthony has played very well,” Coach Chuck Knox said. “He had a great training camp and he’s practiced hard. He did an excellent job last week, making the calls and making the adjustments.

“He’s an excellent football player and he can play strong (safety) and free (safety).”

Terrell is listed as probable for Sunday’s game in Miami and Knox isn’t saying yet who will start, but it’s obvious the Rams aren’t in any hurry to rush Terrell back into action if Newman continues to play well.

“It could really retard Pat’s progress if he takes a hit on that thing,” said Joe Vitt, assistant head coach and safety coach. “And there’s no question Anthony is a versatile football player. We worked him some at free in training camp and he’s intelligent and he studies and plays really hard.

“He had a superb game last week. He broke well on the football, made the proper audibles and proper checks. He’s the signal caller in the nickel huddle and he didn’t blow any calls. He did a great job for us.

“Of all the people on our defensive football team, I think Anthony Newman has the best command of the system. He really understands our nickel package too. He doesn’t have total command yet but I really think he has the best command.”

Obviously, Newman has been making all the right moves on the field. So why not say all the right things when he’s off?

“I’m just doing anything I can to help the team win,” he said. “They put me back at free safety and I feel confident there. I like free safety a little better. You can roam a little bit, get a little more freedom. You know, get away from those pulling guards and all that hitting and make some interceptions.

“That’s what I’m looking forward to, but you can’t take anything away from Pat, because he’s a great athlete. It’s just a team thing and that’s what were working on here, a team thing. We’ve got to do things together so we can go to the playoffs. I think everybody understands that we all have to do every little thing we can to help the team out.”

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A real blowout: Most of the Miami Dolphins escaped a direct hit by Hurricane Andrew, but the devastation in South Florida still affects their daily lives.

“A lot of the guys have family and friends that have really been hurt badly by it,” quarterback Dan Marino said. “I think it’s going to affect us, it’s not going to affect our jobs so much, but it’s always something that will be affecting this team and the whole area for years.”

Marino said the feeling of helplessness immediately after the disaster was overwhelming.

“Everybody wants to help, but there isn’t a whole lot you can do,” he said. “It’s just a matter of having the officials, police and national guard get in and help as many people as fast as they can.

“Some of the players went down to try and show our support. We helped out by unloading some trucks a few days afterward. Besides that and trying to raise money, that’s about all you can do.

“It was like there was a war there, like a bomb hit it. Everything was just flattened. And to see all those people with no homes, nowhere to go. It’s depressing, but hopefully, the community can pull together and we can come back.”

The Dolphins are hoping a victory over the Rams in their home opener can lift spirits. Miami Coach Don Shula probably won’t need to give his team any pregame pep talks.

“We just want to get our team ready and do the best we can for the community,” Shula said.

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The Lyght years: Cornerback Todd Lyght, NFC defensive player of the week after two interceptions and nine tackles against New England, says it’s only the beginning of many happy returns.

“This year is going to be a big year for me,” he said. “Last year was a season in which I learned to be a professional football player. I learned to take the game home with me. I learned a lot with each game because the NFC West has more talent at wide receiver than any conference in the league.

“Now, I have a lot more confidence.”

Lyght also thinks the young Ram defense will soon have opponents dreading--not daydreaming about--playing them.

“We have a lot of talent,” he said. “I think we have a great secondary. But we feel we have things to prove and that’s good because you can get around guys who feel they are already established and maybe just want to finish up there careers.

“But we’re all hungry.”

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Yawn. Dan Marino, on the Dolphins’ 84-yard touchdown drive in the final 1 minute 15 seconds that lifted them to a 27-23 victory over Cleveland Monday night: “We’ve done that a few times before, but we needed this one to win the ballgame and that makes it important. Everybody just stepped up to another level. The receivers responded well and made some good catches. It’s fun. It makes you feel good.”