Rams’ No. 1 Offense Will Get Longer Look : Pro football: Starters are expected to play well into third quarter of tonight’s exhibition against Cleveland Browns.
CLEVELAND — Ram wide receiver Flipper Anderson spent the last few days in practice at Berea, Ohio, running free beyond the Cleveland Browns’ defense.
There was the potential there for touchdown after touchdown had it not been for one minor detail: Quarterback Jim Everett could not get the ball to him.
Everett overthrew Anderson, underthrew Anderson and threw nowhere near Anderson.
“We didn’t connect on any of them,” Anderson said. “We just have to get the quarterback and myself hooking up on it.
“Personally, I don’t think we’ve been moving the ball that well on offense. I think we just need to be out there a little longer in the exhibition games.”
Coach Chuck Knox apparently thinks so, too. He announced Friday that the Rams (0-2) will employ their starting offensive unit well into the third quarter of tonight’s exhibition game against the Browns (1-1) in Cleveland Stadium.
“I think we’ll use this game as a measure of how much improvement we have made over the last week,” Anderson said.
The Rams are concerned about their anemic offense in exhibition play. They worked overtime Friday in sharpening the passing game, although it appears they will have to play tonight without wide receiver Henry Ellard, who has an ankle injury.
In last week’s 23-17 defeat by the Chargers, the Rams failed to mount a consistent charge with Everett in command. He completed nine of 19 passes for 71 yards in two quarters and left with the Chargers on top, 17-7.
“We haven’t gotten it done,” said Ted Tollner, quarterback coach. “That’s what the preseason is for. You have different guys catching and running, but even with that, you can’t rationalize and say we’ll turn it on against Green Bay in the regular-season opener.”
The Rams’ determination to become more effective on offense has been undermined by injuries to Ellard, wide receiver Todd Kinchen and running backs Jerome Bettis, Anthony Thompson and David Lang. Cleveland Gary, who recently signed a contract, will not play tonight.
“All the other pieces aren’t there, but I don’t want (Everett) to look at that,” Tollner said. “I want good, solid technical play from him, and I really believe it will happen because he’s done it before.”
Everett, who has always been one of the team’s hardest workers in practice, has taken his erratic start in stride.
“Mentally and physically, I think I’ve got everything intact,” Everett said. “I’ve been running this offense long enough to know exactly where everyone is going to be.
“But it’s like a prizefighter who does months of training. Why does he do months of training? He’s a great athlete, but he’s got to get used to taking the punches, rolling with them, and learning again to react. That’s what you get used to in the preseason games, and that’s why I’m going to play a lot in this game.”
Redskin quarterbacks threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns against the Browns in Cleveland’s exhibition opener. The New England Patriots, however, were limited to 58 yards in the air last week, and failed to score.
“I’m getting to feel confident behind our line, and I know what I’m doing,” Everett said. “It’s just a matter of showing it.”
The Rams will start Anderson and free agent Richard Buchanan at wide receiver. If they line up with one runner in the backfield, it will be Tim Lester. If they start in a two-back set, it will be Lester and rookie Russell White, who has been bothered by a thigh bruise.
This is not expected to be the team’s opening-day lineup against the Packers in Green Bay.
Ram Notes
The Browns will start Bernie Kosar at quarterback, but Coach Bill Belichick announced that Vinny Testaverde will get an extra-long look in this game. . . . Ram starting free safety Anthony Newman left practice because of back spasms. The team said it expects him to play tonight.
Cleveland wide receiver Patrick Rowe, who is coming off knee surgery, had an impressive two days of work against the Rams. Rowe doesn’t figure into the Browns’ immediate plans, and the Rams are looking to add another receiver. . . . Former Ram linebacker Frank Stams is working as a backup to Clay Matthews. . . . The Rams have to release 19 players by Tuesday to make the 60-man limit.
