PRO FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : RAMS : Knox Questions Everett’s Decision

After watching game films of the Rams’ 30-24 loss to Atlanta, Coach Chuck Knox wondered if quarterback Jim Everett should have run instead of forcing a bad pass on the third-down play of their final drive.

On third and 10 from the Falcon 27, Everett scrambled out of a shotgun formation and had nearly 15 yards in front of him without a defender in reach.

Instead of running, Everett forced a pass to Flipper Anderson that was nearly intercepted by the Falcons’ Melvin Jenkins.

“I think maybe he could have (run),” Knox said. “There was a defender further downfield. He might have won a footrace to the boundary line and the yard marker.”

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Anderson said referees “clearly missed” a pass interference call on Atlanta cornerback Elbert Shelley on the Rams’ final drive. Shelley broke up a pass from Everett to Anderson at the Atlanta eight-yard line.

“He (Shelley) clearly hit me when the ball was 10 yards from me in the air,” Anderson said. “I was looking around for the flags. . . . I don’t want to downgrade the referees, but that was a clearly missed call. It makes no sense missing a call like that, it was so blatant.”

Said Knox: “Everybody saw it. Interference is when the defender collisions with the receiver before the ball gets there. I can’t really go into that because of the NFL rules, but if you understand that contact cannot be made until the ball arrives, you’ll understand it (the call).”

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Injury report: Knox said he hopes to have injured defensive tackle Sean Gilbert back by early next week. Gilbert strained his hamstring tackling Atlanta’s Erric Pegram in the second quarter and didn’t return.

“We’ll see how it goes,” Knox said. “He may be ready to go Monday.”

Knox said David Lang, slated as the starting fullback entering training camp, is expected to return to practice next week. Lang has been out since undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery July 25.

Knox said defensive end Robert Young, out since straining knee ligaments against New Orleans, was improving but was still listed as questionable for next week.

Other injuries: defensive tackle Marc Boutte (knee contusion), center Bern Brostek (back spasms) and linebacker Thomas Homco (knee contusion).

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Special teams follies: Knox offered this solution to the Rams’ special teams troubles his season: “We have to continued to work hard and do a better job of coaching it,” he said.

The Rams had a punt partially blocked, and first-time kickoff returner Todd Kinchen lost a fumble