PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Lang’s Versatility Gains Attention

David Lang, a second-year running back, continues to be impressive in several roles, serving well on the special teams and as a replacement at fullback for Robert Delpino, who has been out the last four games because of a knee injury.

Lang has been most exciting when he has carried the football. His speed was on display Sunday against Phoenix, when he had an eight-yard dash up the middle that would have given the Rams a first down on the Phoenix nine-yard line late in the fourth quarter, had it not been nullified by a penalty. He also turned a short swing pass into a 24-yard gain.

“He was playing hurt with a (sore) neck and ankle, so he wasn’t quite 100%,” Coach Chuck Knox said, “but you still got an idea of what he can do when he took that little swing pass. You saw the burst. He’s got that kind of explosiveness.”

Knox says Lang will continue to get plenty of action--he’s now returning kickoffs, too--but barring injury, it might be awhile before you see him playing tailback, his natural position.

“It’s a question of him maturing,” Knox said, “and it’s tough to take out a guy who has been running the ball as well as Cleveland Gary.”

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If you can’t beat the 2-6 Cardinals in Anaheim, how are you going to beat the 7-1 Cowboys in Texas?

Knox doesn’t have all the answers, he has some things to say to his team before the Dallas game this week.

“No. 1, you have to talk about the great challenge presented to us,” Knox said. “Dallas has one of the best teams in the NFL. They have outstanding talent. They’ve built that team up from 1-15, and now they’re among the elite. So we have to be on the top our game to be able to compete, and that’s the challenge.”

The Rams signed defensive lineman Jim Skow to replace Bill Hawkins, who is out for the year because of a knee injury. Skow, who played for Knox in Seattle, was signed by the Rams during the Plan B period and released Aug. 31.