Roster Shows Ram Injuries Cut Too Deep

Mitchell Price, Kevin Robbins, Jeff Esters, Wymon Henderson, Dexter Davis--those names explain in part why the Rams are 3-9 and looking worse every week.

Forced to grab people off the street, the Rams have been unable to overcome a staggering list of injuries. And they are not only losing, but are being beaten badly.

“Oh, they’re beating us,” Coach Chuck Knox agreed. “Sure they are. There isn’t any question about that. . . .

“I think, realistically, you have to take a look at how many starters that we have had out. I know some people, if you had 22 starters out, would still think you should win. But when we had some healthy people, we played some pretty decent football.”

The Rams defeated Pittsburgh and Houston earlier this season, but were also troubled at the time with injuries. They played without starting tight end Pat Carter, starting linebacker Shane Conlan, starting linebacker Henry Rolling, running back David Lang and wide receiver Todd Kinchen in compiling a 2-2 mark at the start of the season.

All NFL teams have to contend with injuries. Some overcome such problems.

The Falcons, who were 0-5 at the time, had to start Billy Joe Tolliver at quarterback against the Rams. The Falcons won, 30-24. The Cardinals, the Rams’ opponent on Sunday, lost running back Garrison Hearst and defensive lineman Eric Swann, their top defensive performer, for the season. Phoenix won, 38-10.

“I don’t know of anybody that has lost eight starters,” Knox said. “That’s all I’m saying.”

The Rams have not gone into any game this season minus eight starters. They did, however, play without five of them Sunday--guard Tom Newberry, tackle Jackie Slater, defensive end Robert Young, cornerback Todd Lyght and cornerback Darryl Henley.

To compound their problems, the Rams also have suffered injuries to key reserves, a situation that has provided employment for such players as Price, Robbins, Esters, Henderson and Davis.

“We got to play the hand we’re dealt,” Knox said. “We’re out there getting people off the streets. Wymon Henderson and these guys were out there. Mitchell Price was out there. Those people had opportunities with other teams (and were cut). They’re starting for us.”

In the last two weeks, the Rams have been outscored, 73-20. The team’s poor play has prompted questions about Knox’s future with the team, although he has two years remaining on his contract. Some have wondered whether, at 61, he still has the energy and the staying power to turn the Rams around.

“Yes, I’ve got the staying power; there’s no question about that,” Knox said. “I know what has to be done to turn a program around and it’s not pleasant going through this.

“I know this, we’re going to stay the course.”

But what about all the problems facing the Rams? What about all those empty seats in Anaheim Stadium? What about the fans, who have been asked to support a team that has failed to finish better than .500 during the 1990s? What about the talk of a move to Baltimore?

“I don’t focus on any of that because I don’t have anything to do with that,” Knox said. “There isn’t anything I can do. I’m just trying to improve the quality of the product we’re putting on the field. That’s the only thing I’m concerned about.”

Knox, who remains the sixth-winningest coach in NFL history with a 180-133-1 record, has never experienced more than 11 losses in a season. He might have a tough time avoiding that dubious distinction this year.

“I knew this was going to be a tough job when I took it,” he said. “I knew it wasn’t going to be any quick fix. I didn’t expect it to be this tough because I thought if things went according to the normal plan, we could get it turned around. And we did turn it around the first year, doubling the number of wins, and I thought it would be better this year.

“But we’re not. The facts are, we’re 3-9.”