ANALYSIS : Second-Half Games Favorable to Rams if They Pick up Pace
The Rams have reached midseason 3-5 for the fourth time in the past five years, are now halfway to Baltimore or St. Louis and remain a million miles away from the playoffs.
Two and a half years into Chuck Knox’s rebuilding plan and the Rams are 2-14 in NFC West Division games, 0-4 this season and cellar dwellers once again.
Is the credibility of a head coach measured in his team’s record?
“That may be true, and then again it might not be true,” Knox said. “I mean, the season isn’t over. I think the time to make that determination is when it’s over.”
The Rams, 14-26 under Knox and 22-50 since last appearing in the playoffs, have not won seven games in a season since 1989. A second-half schedule, however, allows the Rams to play six of their eight games in California and ends promisingly with games against New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Chicago and Washington.
But how can the Rams count on better results when in Knox’s three years on the job they have failed to win two consecutive games?
This season the Rams appear improved on defense, and yet their defense ranks No. 27 in the league in first downs given up and No. 27 in the league in stopping the opposition on third down.
Special teams received a boost with the hiring of coach Wayne Sevier, and yet the Rams rank No. 27 in the league in kick return yardage given up and No. 26 in punt return yardage given up.
The Rams paid $9 million to sign quarterback Chris Miller for the next three years, but they seem more interested now in starting Chris Chandler, who will be a free agent at season’s end. Miller, Chandler, Everett, Rubley--does it matter? Under Knox the Rams have emphasized the run, and have scored more than 20 points only 11 times in 40 games.
The opposition, meanwhile, has scored more than 20 points on 22 occasions, including 14 times in which they scored 30 or more. While the opposition has had a good time at the Rams’ expense, local attendance has dropped to an average of 41,130.
Based on the first eight games of 1994, which produced results similar to 1992 and 1993, why should anyone think the second half of this season will be any different?
“Well, I think, one, if we get a couple of people healthy, and two, we’ve been in three games that we should have, could have had a chance to win,” Knox said. “And they played hard. The schedule doesn’t get any easier, but we just got to take it one game at a time and go and do it.”
In the meantime, here’s a look back--one position at a time--on the first half of the season:
QUARTERBACK
Knox raved about Miller’s accuracy in training camp, but a pulled abdominal muscle, stretched rib cartilage, jammed shoulder and concussion had fans in the stands ducking for cover every time Miller threw the ball, and Knox pushing Chandler to save the day. Chandler got hurt, and Tommy Maddox demonstrated why Denver was willing to unload the former No. 1 pick for a third-round choice.
Second-half possibilities: If Miller stays out of training room, the passing game gets healthy and the team wins more than it loses. If Miller stumbles, providing Knox with opening to play Chandler, there is a quarterback controversy and the team continues to flounder.
Just a thought: Miller has completed 51.2% of his passes, and Detroit’s Scott Mitchell, who was No. 1 on the Rams’ free agent wish list, has completed 48.8% of his.
RUNNING BACK
Jerome Bettis’ 200 carries represents 43% of the Ram offense, which explains why the Rams have a losing record. Bettis, of course, is one of the game’s best running backs, but Ground Chuck is 3-8 in games in which Bettis runs for more than 100 yards. Bettis’ ability to gain 723 yards behind a crumbling offensive line is an amazing feat, but team needs more zip in its passing game to keep Bettis on the move and put more points on the scoreboard.
Second-half possibilities: Where’s Johnny Bailey, the team’s most explosive back? Although he leads the team in receptions with 23, he has carried the ball only three times. Imagine Bailey and Bettis in the same backfield. Imagine Bailey and Troy Drayton on the field at the same time. Imagine the Rams scoring more than two touchdowns on offense in the same game for the first time since Oct. 14, 1993.
Just a thought: If Rams persist in throwing the ball to Jerome Bettis and Tim Lester, shouldn’t the equipment manager outfit each with hockey goalie masks to keep them from getting hurt?
RECEIVERS
If this coaching staff had Frank Thomas, they would employ him as a pinch-hitter. If this coaching staff had Hakeem Olajuwon, they wouldn’t let him play until he improved on his three-point shooting. This coaching staff has Troy Drayton and the Rams are 3-5. Drayton continues to spend much of his Sunday standing on the sideline although he leads the team with four touchdowns. Why isn’t he leading the team in receptions? Flipper Anderson remains a home run threat, and if you can guess the second-leading touchdown scorer, you no doubt are also making plans to accompany the team to St. Louis or Baltimore. Answer: Isaac Bruce with three.
Second-half possibilities: Drayton and more Drayton.
Just a thought: Who needs Henry Ellard?
OFFENSIVE LINE
Miller has a history of getting hurt, so the Rams assign Chuck Belin, Keith Loneker, Wayne Gandy and Clarence Jones to protect him. Jones has actually distinguished himself for the most part, but then that’s in comparison to Gandy, who failed as a No. 1 pick to beat out a guy released by the New York Giants. Tom Newberry, who was considered too small to play this game anymore, is now offensive team captain and starting center.
Second-half possibilities: When Darryl Ashmore’s knee allows him to play and Jackie Slater’s triceps heals, do Rams stick with Gandy as starter? Why not move him to guard?
Just a thought: Ten years from now, Slater turns 50 and receives telegram from stock broker Gandy, who congratulates Slater on playing in his 412th game.
DEFENSIVE LINE
First clue of how bad this season was going to go was when that little kid manhandled Sean Gilbert in commercial. Preseason injuries to Gilbert and Fred Stokes and slow start by Robert Young got pass rush off to inconsistent start. Saints ran over D’Marco Farr, forcing training staff to work overtime to get Gilbert healthy again. Young has as many sacks (6) as Gilbert, Stokes, Jimmie Jones, Farr and Gerald Robinson combined.
Second-half possibilities: First three games after bye feature John Elway, Jeff Hostetler and Steve Young; pass rushers best be ready.
Just a thought: Who paid ESPN to liken this group to the Fearsome Foursome?
LINEBACKERS
Shane Conlan, the Chris Miller of defense, looks like a man who spends spare time as speed bump on I-5, and yet he leads the team in tackles. Roman Phifer has big-play potential and Joe Kelly packs a wallop, but whatever happened to Henry Rolling?
Second-half possibilities: Crack in foundation spotted when Saints found running game at Rams’ expense. If Raiders can run on these guys, there goes the defense.
Just a thought: Rams running out of time to tie up Phifer with new contract.
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Most improved lot here, and because of youth figures to get even better. Marquez Pope, acquired in trade from Chargers, has made huge impact, and rookies Toby Wright and Keith Lyle have bolstered special teams as well as secondary. Todd Lyght has shut down game’s top receivers and Darryl Henley has been worth every bit of that bail money. Anthony Newman even has an interception.
Second-half possibilities: Rams rank No. 27 in stopping opposition on third down; improved pass rush would make these guys look better in critical situations.
Just a thought: How do you explain the draft expert, who picked promising players such as Wright and Lyle, being so foolish as to also take Brad Ottis? Brad who? The big guy on the bench.
SPECIAL TEAMS
Tony Zendejas has made 10 consecutive field goals, and there you have the Ram offense. Sean Landeta has been just as effective punting the ball and Todd Kinchen’s 31.3-yard average returning kicks has been a plus. Special teams, however, have allowed one punt and two kickoffs to be returned for touchdowns, which figured directly into two defeats.
Second-half possibilities: Knox points to David Lang injury as part of reason for team’s woes. What? Lang has lower kickoff return average than Bailey, Kinchen and Chris Brantley.
Just a thought: Zendejas has best percentage in NFL history kicking field goals from 50 yards or beyond, so why have Rams elected to punt rather than go for the three points from that distance this season?