Robinson Will Try to Let Some Air Out of Rams’ Big Win
Sunday’s aerial show by the Rams was almost enough to scare their coach back to football’s Stone Age.
Teams aren’t supposed to roll up 449 yards in total offense and then wonder what might have been if not for the dropped passes.
It’s liable to go to a young team’s head. The players might think they can do what they did to Indianapolis every week. The boiler room of a team is still the running attack which, John Robinson quickly pointed out Monday, managed only 97 yards against the Colts.
Coaches are paid big money to worry about their teams’ smallest flaws, even ones that amount to a smudge on a Rembrandt.
Robinson preached for years about the evils of becoming the old San Diego Chargers, a team that could sell tickets and pass you silly in a 55-54 loss.
“This team will be balanced, too,” he said. “I am not dumb, I’m not going to let my team become a great passing team and win eight and lose eight. That’s dumb. If you understand the context, I think great passing teams are ones that win the world’s championships. The (San Francisco) 49ers were a great passing team, and when you look carefully, they always led the league in rushing.”
Robinson used to warn that a team that scored too quickly put strain on its own defense, forcing it to stay on the field longer and thus, wear out faster.
Have there been telltale signs? The Ram secondary has been beaten three times on long touchdown passes in the first two weeks.
Does a team that scores a lot have to concede it will give up points in return? Robinson says no.
“We’ve given up less than 200 yards rushing in two games,” he said. “I think we’re very focused on defense. That isn’t going to happen to one of my teams. If it does, I’m not going to go to the games, because we’re going to lose them.”
Robinson campaign speeches in the coming weeks will focus on what happens when the offense isn’t working. Can it still win the ugly games? Can it dominate the fourth quarter on the ground if necessary.
“We have to be prepared to win football games without the finesse clicking for us,” he said. “ . . . Because the average guy that watched us yesterday said, ‘Man, they can’t stop them.’ Then they’ll be out there saying, ‘What’s wrong with Henry Ellard, God almighty.’ You just know it’s going to happen. And winning those football games becomes the mark of the eventual champion.”
Robinson is already preparing his team-meeting rhetoric.
“I will exaggerate and bitch and moan about the running game,” he said. “I’m going to say we’re not tough anymore--I’ll do all that. And they’ll say, ‘Here he goes again.’ ”
The last time Robinson lectured so vehemently on the subject came after a 31-10 victory over Seattle last season in which the Rams amassed 465 yards of total offense.
That speech sent the Rams into a four-game losing streak.
Is this going to be another long year on the bench for 1988’s first pick, Gaston Green? You be the judge. Greg Bell is the starting tailback, and a good one, Eric Dickerson comparisons notwithstanding. And Bell is only 27.
Robinson said Monday he has to get Robert Delpino more carries at tailback, a position he auditioned for this summer after a rookie season at fullback.
Robinson also announced that rookie Cleveland Gary will be activated this week and be utilized at . . . tailback. Gary was a fullback at the University of Miami, but Robinson plans to use him in a variety of roles, especially as a receiver out of the backfield.
Where does that leave Green? Apparently with a couple of sore hamstrings. Green didn’t play at all Sunday after his legs tightened in pregame warmups.
“If he was going to play he was going to pull it,” Robinson said. “which didn’t make much sense.”
Ram Notes
To make room for Cleveland Gary on the roster, the Rams released rookie linebacker Mark Messner. There is an open spot on the team’s developmental roster, so Messner could end up there if he clears league waivers. . . . Linebacker Larry Kelm’s injured foot is improving, but he is out of Sunday’s game against the Green Bay Packers. . . . Plan B updates: Two of the players the Rams lost to free agency had big days Sunday. New England tight end Eric Sievers had nine receptions for 70 yards and Cleveland tailback Keith Jones had 49 yards rushing and three catches for 55 yards.
Last week it was Eric Dickerson. This week cornerback Mickey Sutton returns to Anaheim Stadium with the Packers, though there appears plenty of seats remaining for this comeback. Sutton was one of 12 Rams lost to free agency in the off-season. . . . This could have been the week for the big letdown had the Packers not upset the New Orleans Saints, 35-34. It may have saved Robinson an inspiring pep talk. “Green Bay obviously got everybody’s attention,” he said. . . . The Rams blitzed only once on Sunday, which may explain why they did not have a sack. Afraid the Colts would counter the blitzes with draws and screens to Dickerson, the Rams opted for a more conservative game plan.
