Chadwick Is Rams’ Center of Receptions : NFL: Plan B free agent acquired from Seahawks makes the most of his opportunities to become the new go-to guy.

It’s time for America’s favorite pro football game show “Armchair Defensive Coordinator,” where we test your knowledge of your favorite NFL team.

The first question is for you Ram fans out there. OK, it’s third and long and Jim Everett’s dropping back to pass. He’s most likely going to throw the ball to . . .

Henry Ellard?

Bzzzzzzzzzz.

Not anymore. Ellard, the most prolific receiver in Ram history and the quintessential possession receiver, has seven catches in the last four games.

The correct answer--and we researched this--is Jeff Chadwick. Chadwick has 12 receptions in the last four games and he played in only three of them. He had the stomach flu during the Phoenix game and the only route he ran was between the sideline and the locker room.

The Rams’ new go-to guy had six catches for 58 yards against Atlanta, missed the Cardinal game and came back with four receptions for 38 yards and a touchdown during Sunday’s victory over the Cowboys.

And these weren’t four ordinary catches:

--On third and nine at the Dallas 20, Everett hits Chadwick over the middle for a first down at the Dallas seven-yard line.

--On second down from the Dallas eight, Chadwick breaks free in the end zone for a touchdown and the Rams take a 14-13 lead.

--On third and seven from the Ram 25, Chadwick finds a seam over the middle, Everett finds him for a nine-yard gain and the Rams drive 78 yards for a 21-13 lead.

--On third and five from the Dallas 28, Everett-to-Chadwick works for eight yards and another first down en route to a field goal and a 24-23 lead.

He also had another clutch catch on third down nullified by a holding penalty.

“When the money’s on the line, he’s been doing a really nice job of finding the right spot, no matter what the down and distance is,” Everett said. “He’s been making some really clutch catches.”

Chadwick, a 10-year veteran who started for three years in Detroit and later played for Chuck Knox in Seattle, was acquired from the Seahawks as a Plan B free agent. He came to the Rams as a “Knox guy”--which means a player who does everything humanly possible to get better and prepare for each game--but nobody figured he would make this kind of impact on a team laden with talented wide receivers.

When Ellard, Flipper Anderson and Aaron Cox are all healthy, Chadwick usually plays only in four receiver sets. He obviously knows how to make the most out of his time on the field.

“It’s being able to read the coverage,” Knox said. “Whether it’s zone or man, and being able to find the dead spots. If it’s a zone and you hook up and then catch the ball, you know that you’re going to get hit pretty quickly in that area and it could be coming from a couple different sides.

“Plus, he’s a big target and he’s got excellent quickness, so he can get off the line. He’s got the quickness, he’s got the strength and he’s got the size.”

Considering that in his underwear, the 6-foot-3, 190-pound Chadwick looks a a lot like Everett, that’s about as glowing a tribute as you’ll hear from Knox.

So what is the secret of making the right impression on Knox?

“See, I don’t know if it’s the impression I’ve made on him or the impression he’s made on me,” Chadwick said. “Chuck has really brought the best out of me as a football player.

“He’s taught me what it means to practice hard, to be prepared, and that’s something I can’t really say I’ve always done in the past. In Detroit, I played a lot more, but I wasn’t prepared like I am now.

“When I got to Seattle, I realized early on that preparation is a huge part of success in this business and if you’re prepared, you’re going to make less mistakes. Now, I take pride in being prepared, in knowing what to do.”

Chadwick’s career might have ended years ago if Knox hadn’t picked him up off waivers after his release by the Lions one game into the 1989 season. He caught 57 passes in his two-plus seasons with Seattle and scored seven touchdowns.

“Chuck taught me that if you focus on what you’re doing in practice, work hard and be prepared, then you have a chance,” he said. “If you don’t do that, then in a game, when you’re in a tight situation, you’re not going to know what to do.”

Chadwick might have earned the coach’s respect in Seattle, but he knew he would have to earn the respect of the quarterback in Anaheim. Considering how often Everett is looking for him in clutch situations these days, he must be making inroads.

“I get out there and practice and work and I think Jim is getting a little more confident in me,” Chadwick said. “That’s a very big thing you have to do as a receiver. You have to show them that you’re capable of making the big catches, show them that they can rely on you.

“I’m only in there on third down most of the time, so I don’t get that many opportunities. So when I’m in there, I need to make the plays. If I don’t make the plays, then we don’t continue to move the ball. But I think they’re starting to believe in me.”