RAMS ’94 / SEASON PREVIEW : Rams Appear to Be Heading for Another Slaughter : Analysis: After another dismal exhibition season, team faces grim task of playing 16 games that count. Despite evidence, coaches say they’re ready.

DISASTER CENTRAL —  Sifting through the debris, in what has become an annual ritual of despair, the Rams decided early this week to play on this season.

A close vote, no doubt, but a month ago--before four lackluster exhibition losses and a belly-flop by their offensive line--the Rams had the look of a winner, or at the very least, a team with a chance to be the most improved in the NFL.

Chris Miller had been hired to play quarterback, and with two healthy legs beneath him he has proved to be both accurate and effective. Jimmie Jones, recruited heavily by a number of teams, took the Rams’ money to play alongside defensive tackle Sean Gilbert.

The addition of linebacker Joe Kelly, safety Marquez Pope, running back Johnny Bailey and wide receiver Jessie Hester provided something the Rams have been sorely lacking: depth.

And the Rams already had Jerome Bettis, Flipper Anderson, Todd Lyght, Robert Young, Bern Brostek, Shane Conlan, Roman Phifer and Steve Israel on the payroll, and that’s not exactly the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

“On paper, it’s a better team,” said Bettis, who was the NFL’s No. 2 rusher as a rookie last season. “But after what’s happened in the preseason the team doesn’t have an enormous amount of confidence.”

No, not much to build on here.

Wayne Gandy, the team’s No. 1 draft selection, failed to beat out some guy named Clarence Jones at left tackle. The coaching staff anointed Bill Schultz starting left guard, played him there for the second half of the exhibition season, and then cut him as preparations began for the regular-season opener.

Keith Loneker, previously known best for having a Jayhawk tattoo on his lower leg, is now the guy protecting Miller at left guard.

Who knows who will start opposite Flipper Anderson at wide receiver?

“It’s still early yet,” Coach Chuck Knox said after the end of the exhibition season.

The Rams scored three touchdowns in four exhibition games, allowed their opponents to complete 66% of their passes and throw for nine touchdowns. In first-half play, when most teams match starting units, the Rams were outscored 65-19.

It’s time to play the games that count, and history suggests it will be business as usual: The Rams have dropped four consecutive regular-season openers, including the last two by a combined score of 76-13.

Not good, and now they get Buddy Ryan’s blitzing in-your-face Cardinals.

“When you talk about opening at home against the Arizona Cardinals and Buddy Ryan, it’s a dream come true for this football team,” said Joe Vitt, Ram assistant head coach. “Everybody thinks we’re terrible: The coaches can’t coach; the players can’t play; the administration doesn’t know how to administrate.

“You can’t ask for a better scenario than to have Buddy Ryan and his football team come in here for the opener. We will line up and play this game the way it’s supposed to be played. The Cardinals are going to know they have been in a football game, and we fully expect to win this football game.”

We fully expect to win this football game . . .

After winning only 19 of their last 64 games, how can anyone employed by the Rams say such a thing?

“Absolutely no doubts,” Vitt said. “Let me tell you something, I feel as good about this football team right now as I did six weeks ago when we went to training camp fully expecting to be a playoff team. We still believe we’re a playoff team.

“We have to correct our mistakes, play with more poise and more confidence and we will be. Nobody believes that. Everybody is off the bandwagon now except for these 10 coaches and players, but that’s fine. We have upgraded our personnel, we’ve worked hard and now it’s time to step up and show it.”

QUARTERBACK

Rams might have the best threesome in league in Miller, Chris Chandler and Tommy Maddox, and good thing, looking at the offensive line they have assembled.

Miller, who has had a history of knee problems, should complete a high percentage of his passes and has the arm to burn defenses deep if they creep forward to stop Bettis. Chandler has starting experience, and Maddox is the Rams’ future.

Question: What’s the over-and-under on how many games Miller starts?

Comment: Note to T-shirt entrepreneurs in Baltimore--your future quarterback is currently wearing No. 8.

RUNNING BACK

Bettis carried the ball only 20 times in the exhibition season because of Knox’s paranoia about him getting hurt. But Bettis hinted that that wasn’t enough work to prepare him for the regular season. Rams can’t afford a slow start from “The Franchise.”

Bettis wants 2,000 yards, a chance to top Dallas’ Emmitt Smith, but this year defenses will be gunning for him.

Rams rely so much on Bettis that it makes no sense that they released Gary. Who steps in for Bettis if he gets nicked? Howard Griffith and James Bostic? Wave the white flag.

Bailey provides pep on third downs much like Ronnie Harmon does in San Diego, but someone’s going to have to issue Super Glue to David Lang if they are going to put the ball in his hands.

Question: Does Bettis get the chance to top Eric Dickerson’s team record of 404 rushing attempts in 1986?

Comment: Smith plays for a winner, Bettis doesn’t. Smith gets the ball to run out the clock in second half, Bettis watches from sideline as Rams throw to catch up.

RECEIVER

At season’s end everyone will know: Was it Jim Everett? Or was it Anderson’s fault? Anderson has had three consecutive forgettable seasons and the Rams contend it’s because Everett struggled throwing the ball deep. Miller’s strength is the long ball, and so Anderson gets the chance to shine.

Unfortunately, the opposition might elect not to cover the Rams’ other starting wide receiver and concentrate on Anderson. The best thing that can be said about Anderson’s running mate is that it will be a warm body.

Indianapolis no longer wanted Jessie Hester and Indianapolis does not figure to challenge Buffalo for Super Bowl consideration. Hester, however, competes for starting time with Isaac Bruce, the team’s No. 2 draft pick, who doesn’t always run to the right spot.

Tight end Troy Drayton has shown the ability to save the day, but Ram quarterbacks ignored the big target in exhibition play.

Question: How much of a difference to this team would Haywood Jeffires or Alvin Harper have meant?

Comment: Don’t be surprised if Drayton leads team in receptions this season.

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

What do these guys have against Miller? You’d think they were conspiring to make Chandler the starting quarterback, but then that’s Chandler holding his sore ribs because these guys can’t stop anybody.

Rams used their first-round pick on tackle Wayne Gandy. Why? He looks like a guard, plays like an undrafted free agent and is currently sitting on the bench.

Darryl Ashmore gets his 117th chance to replace senior citizen Jackie Slater at right tackle, and surprise, surprise, Knox says such a move is not etched in stone.

Talk about scary: Loneker starts at left guard right next to Clarence Jones at left tackle and these two guys will be responsible for protecting Miller’s blindside.

Question: What’s the name, rank and serial number of the genius who allowed Gerald Perry to defect to the Raiders?

Comment: Tom Newberry has started 114 games for this team and is now deemed not good enough to play. What’s in the water these coaches are drinking?

DEFENSIVE LINEMEN

Injuries sabotaged performance in exhibition games, but if this group fails to unite in fearsome fashion, the Rams’ defense collapses.

Gilbert, Young, Jones and Fred Stokes looks like a mighty fine line, but Young, coming off knee surgery, had no impact in exhibition play and Stokes is trying to overcome a sore knee. Gilbert injured an ankle and Jones hurt a wrist. Time for a visit to Lourdes, because there’s nobody on the bench to throw a scare into the opposition.

Question: If Knox was so concerned about getting people hurt before the season began, why was Gilbert, who injured an ankle and knee on the play, rushing the quarterback with less than a minute to play in the half against the Raiders?

Comment: Defense has a chance to keep the Rams in every game, but Young’s return is essential to that plan.

LINEBACKER

Phifer and Conlan should be dependable and successful. Phifer is ready to emerge as one of the game’s top linebackers, while Conlan still has speed and grit to shut down an opponent’s running game.

Kelly gets the edge over Henry Rolling for left outside linebacker, but can the Rams afford to keep two veteran outside linebackers (Rolling and Chris Martin) on the bench?

Question: Do people really realize just how good of a player Conlan still is?

Comment: Serious knee injury to rookie Ernest Jones leaves Rams with a void of talented youngsters at all three linebacker positions.

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Starting cornerbacks Todd Lyght and Steve Israel have raised expectations for an 0-16 season. Lyght, who was playing like a Pro Bowl performer before being hurt last year, had no clue in exhibition play. Israel, who has great speed, looked like he was in a different area code when assigned to cover a receiver.

Rams chose to keep Wymon Henderson and Dexter Davis instead of Darryl Henley, which is the plot for new Charles Bronson Death Wish movie. Steve Young threw for 482 yards against the likes of Henderson and Davis, and Young comes to town in three weeks.

Strong safety will be played by committee: Pope and Toby Wright. Anthony Newman anchors the defense at free safety, and Keith Lyle offers promise down the road.

Question: After watching videotape of the Rams this exhibition season, do you think the opposition will come looking for Lyght?

Comment: You would think these guys were all former soccer players with instructions not to use their hands; no one on this team had more than two interceptions last year.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Bailey and Lang are explosive on kickoff returns and Bailey’s also a threat on punt returns.

The hiring of Wayne Sevier, one of the game’s most respected special teams coaches, during off-season bodes well.

Kicker Tony Zendejas, otherwise known as the Rams’ offense, remains consistent, and punter Sean Landeta is a proven contributor.

Question: What’s the NFL record for most penalties called on special teams in a season?

Comment: Whatever it is, Rams won’t be denied.