Injuries Have Put Rams at Disadvantage All Season

Mitchell Price, Kevin Robbins, Jeff Esters, Wymon Henderson, Dexter Davis--those names help explain 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. The Rams, however, are not only losing but are being beaten badly.

“Oh, they’re beating us,” agreed Coach Chuck Knox. “Sure they are; there isn’t any question about that. I’m very much aware of it; I was probably closer to the scene than you (media) were.

“I think realistically you have to take a look at how many starters 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 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 to open the season.

All NFL teams have to contend with injuries. Some teams overcome such problems; some rely on injuries as an excuse for playing poorly.

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, who were the Rams’ latest opponent, lost running back Garrison Hearst and defensive lineman Eric Swann, their top defensive performer, for the season. They still managed to score 28 more points than the Rams.

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

The Rams have never gone into a game this season minus eight starters. However, they played without five in Sunday’s 38-10 loss to Phoenix. They were without 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, which has provided employment once again for such players as Price, Robbins, Esters, Henderson and Davis.

“Some teams are better able (to get the job done) if you have quality depth,” Knox said. “ . . . We’ve got to play the hand we’re dealt. 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 failed). They’re starting for us.”

In the last two weeks, the opposition has outscored the Rams, 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 also have wondered, at age 61, whether 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. We’ve got to suck it up, cinch it up and give it whatever we got . . . coach them, put them out there and try to find a way to get it done.”

Entering this weekend’s games, the Rams, who have lost seven of their last eight, are the biggest underdogs. The Saints, their opponent Sunday, have defeated the Rams in 14 of their last 18 meetings, including eight in a row.

“We’re not going to roll over,” Knox said. “We’re going to try and get it done with what we’ve got.”

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.

“The rest of it I’m not concerned about. In fact, I know very little about some of the things you’re talking about.”

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

“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.”