Ram Camp : Brock Has Popular Injury--a Pain in the Back
When Jack Youngblood hurt his back at Tampa late last season, the Rams didn’t figure that it would become a trend disability.
But the team doctors recently have been handed a series of sore sacroiliacs, among them one belonging to Dieter Brock, the new quarterback. And Tony Hunter, the tight end acquired last week from Buffalo for the old quarterback, Vince Ferragamo, was also rumored to have had one.
Not anymore, though. Hunter, who missed five games last season because of a back injury, passed the Rams’ physical examination Monday and was scheduled to participate in today’s scrimmage against the Chargers.
“He had a totally normal examination,” Ram surgeon Dr. Clarence Shields said. “Everything looks fine.”
Actually, Hunter said, his back injury had never been especially serious, even though the Bills put him on injured reserve, automatically grounding him for at least four games.
“I was ready to go a lot sooner,” Hunter said. “I stayed out of action about three weeks too long.”
Brock, 34, apparently is a different story. He has been bothered by a strained back muscle for two weeks, and although he practiced with the squad for the first time Monday, he said his movement was still restricted.
Brock, a fitness fanatic, hurt himself lifting weights.
“It’s moved down to here,” he said, rubbing his right hip. “It bothers me when I twist to the left. I’ve had some little (back) problems over the years, but nothing as nagging as this.”
Shields was scheduled to check Brock again at the Cal State Fullerton training camp Thursday but didn’t think the injury would be chronic.
Youngblood’s case, however, is different, for several reasons: his age, 35; the shaky situation in the defensive line, and the severity of the injury. Shields and Dr. Robert Kerlan, the team physician, both recommended surgery for the herniated disk that stopped Youngblood’s club-record series of consecutive games at 201, but Youngblood overruled them.
“If I laid down, I might not get up again,” he said.
The former all-pro defensive end was determined to heal himself with a rigorous off-season conditioning program, although he also had a heavy traveling schedule to fulfill his commercial commitments.
Apparently, he has done what he hoped to do. From outward appearances, he is as healthy as any other guy who models underwear.
Trainer Garrett Giemont said: “He’s right back to where he was (before the injury), doing his normal lifting pattern, including full back lifts. He’s doing everything that he was before.”
Youngblood also has been doing considerable running and plans to challenge a small hill on his ranch in Orange this week as sort of an acid test before reporting to camp next Monday.
Still, there are reservations.
“The real test will be when he hits somebody--or somebody hits him,” Giemont said.
Shields also planned to see Youngblood this week but was optimistic.
“He’s not having any pain, is working out normally and seems to have all his strength back,” Shields said. “Jack’s an incredible human being. It may be that he’s overcome this.”
Ram Notes Rookies and other early arrivals moved into Cal State Fullerton Monday after a week’s work at Rams Park. The veterans are due to report next week, but a few who reported early are wide receiver Otis Grant, linebacker Mike Wilcher, tight end James McDonald and running back A.J. Jones. . . . The San Diego Chargers and Dallas Cowboys will come to Fullerton for scrimmages today and Thursday, respectively, at 1 p.m. The sessions will be open to the public, free. . . . The Rams Monday signed former USC receiver Kevin Williams, who played with the Express and Denver Gold in the United States Football League. . . . Special teams coach Gil Haskell had a complaint about rookie punter Dale Hatcher. “He’s kicking too far,” Haskell said. “Most of his punts are going 60 yards. We can’t cover them.” The third-round draft choice from Clemson will be joined by the incumbent John Misko and free agent Russell Erxleben next week. . . . Quarterback Jeff Kemp was a featured speaker at the Billy Graham crusade in Anaheim Stadium Monday night.
