Rams to Face Wade Wilson Not Kramer
The Minnesota Vikings, an offensive dream team on paper, shuffled a struggling but star-studded deck on Wednesday as Coach Jerry Burns announced quarterback Wade Wilson would start ahead of Tommy Kramer against the Rams.
Burns is hoping Wilson, who opened the season as the starter before breaking a knuckle on Oct. 1, can breathe some life into an offense that has been disappointing despite an assemblage of stars that includes receiver Anthony Carter, tackle Gary Zimmerman and, more recently, tailback Herschel Walker.
Despite all that talent, the Vikings remain the National Football League’s 22nd-ranked offense.
Wilson made the Pro Bowl last year, signed a new million-dollar contract before the season, but was sputtering before his injury against Tampa Bay, having thrown more interceptions (five) than touchdowns (three) at that point.
But Kramer’s two-interception performance in Monday night’s loss to the New York Giants wasn’t much better, so Burns turns once again to Wilson.
Kramer injured the elbow on his throwing arm slightly in the Giants’ game, but that’s not why Burns is making the switch.
“He’s able to play,” Burns said of Kramer. “But I just haven’t been satisfied with a lot of elements of the offense, one of them being the quarterback. And Wade was No. 1 before he got hurt in the Tampa game, and he’s all set and ready to go. He played against the Giants Monday night and we’ll start him.”
The Vikings, at 5-3, remain one of the league’s mysteries, a team seemingly loaded with offensive talent that isn’t producing.
Some have suggested the Vikings need continuity at quarterback if they’re going to make a serious run at the conference title.
“How do you establish it?” Burns asked rhetorically. “You establish it through winning, you establish it by being productive. No question that continuity is going to help you, but I’m not going to sit by and just leave one guy in there and try to determine the continuity when we’re not getting anything done.”
Neither quarterback has earned the permanent starting spot to date, though both have played at Pro Bowl caliber.
Kramer leaves center stage, at least for now, with a 75.9 quarterback rating, having thrown six touchdowns and six interceptions. But that still ranks ahead of Wilson’s 67.0 efficiency rating.
Ram safety James Washington collapsed in full stride during a coverage drill in Wednesday’s practice, having suffered what trainer Jim Anderson called a strained left quadriceps. Washington, who was escorted off the field by cart, was listed as 50-50 for Sunday’s game.
Ram Notes
The team announced that it has released offensive guard Mark Schmidt off injured reserve. . . . Quarterback Jim Everett’s hip is still bothering him, and he took less snaps in practice Wednesday. . . . Linebacker Fred Strickland has begun light running on his sprained ankle and fears of a serious membrane injury appear quelled. When will Strickland return? “There’s hope for the Giants game,” Rams Coach John Robinson said of the Nov. 11 meeting against New York. . . . The Rams are the only NFL team to have surrendered more than 2,000 passing yards, leading the pack with 2,044. The Rams remain 28th overall in pass defense, but moved up a notch in total defense, from 25th to 24th.
Cornerback Darryl Henley (hamstring) practiced Wednesday and is expected back against the Vikings. . . . Dale Hatcher boosted his net punting average a yard this week, from 30.7 to 31.7, but still remains last among NFC punters. . . . Green Bay’s Don Majkowski has moved ahead of Everett in the NFC quarterback ratings race. Majkowski is in third place with an 88.4 rating, trailing Joe Montana and Bobby Hebert. Everett is fourth at 85.4. . . . Any wonder why the Rams have been sacked 10 times in three games? Take a look at the level of competition. Three weeks ago, the Rams faced Buffalo’s Bruce Smith. Last week, it was Chicago’s Richard Dent. This week, the Rams will face Minnesota defensive tackle Keith Millard, the NFL’s sack leader with 13. “And next week we get Lawrence Taylor,” Robinson said.
