| | | | | | | |  Thursday, September 19, 2002
Picking apart the Rams woes
By Marc Connolly
ABC Sports Online
Could Az-Zahir Hakim really be the reason the Rams are no longer the "Greatest Show on Turf"?
With Hakim now in Detroit playing what appears to be football with the Lions, the Rams don't have the same look to their once unstoppable offense. The talent is there, sure, but that extra oomph that made defenses shiver in fear since Kurt Warner took over the QB reigns in 1999 is no longer there. Hakim's blazing speed in the slot not only caused mismatches against nickel corners and any free safety who dared line up against him, but it also made it virtually impossible for teams to key on either Isaac Bruce or Torry Holt. This type of weapon fit perfectly into Mike Martz's offense, as teams already had to game plan against Marshall Faulk, Warner, Bruce and Holt first and foremost.
|  | | Kurt Warner and the Rams haven't been able to solve their problems yet. |
Thus far, no one on the Rams has fit this bill, and the offense has averaged only 18.5 points per game compared to the 31.4 ppg. they unleashed on opponents during last season's 14-2 regular season, just below the alarming 33.8 ppg. in 2000 and 32.9 in 1999.
Terrence Wilkins, the slot receiver snagged from Peyton Manning's Colts attack in a trade made before the NFL draft in April to replace Hakim, has been hampered by bruised ribs and hasn't caught a pass yet. Troy Edwards, brought over from Pittsburgh before the start of the season, has been bothered by knee injuries and has yet to play. The Rams took a flier on Eric Crouch in the draft to play this position after he displayed endless moves in the open field, game-breaking slashing ability and receiver-like speed while running the Nebraska offense the past four years. But shortly after opening day, Crouch suddenly retired before his career ever had a chance.
This shortage of talent has forced 34-year-old possession receiver Ricky Proehl into the slot, which is scaring nobody. It has also caused Martz to limit Faulk to a mere 24 carries in two games (106 yards), and throw short passes his way ad nauseam. His 21 catches in two games far and away leads the team, but it's only for a 6.0 average gain (107 yards total). In the process, it's allowing opposing defenses to not only skimp on the slot receiver, but also focus on pass coverage rather than figuring out how to stop Faulk as a runner out of the backfield.
The answer to this problem? No one knows. The turnovers, the false-start penalties and mysterious health status of Warner's thumb have all played a part in this early-season panic story. Yet, one can't help to think that giving Faulk 25 carries a game would help. No matter if the Rams are down early or not, this is Marshall Faulk. He has more of a chance breaking a simple off-tackle play for a TD than throwing the ball downfield to Ernie Conwell or Yo Murphy, who sadly represent the team's fourth- and sixth-leading receivers with a combined total of six catches for 79 yards.
Last year, the Rams were 5-0 when Faulk rushed for at least 100 yards. In 2000, they were 4-0 when Faulk got over the century mark. In the Super Bowl season of '99, Dick Vermeil's boys were 7-0 when Faulk got into triple digits. See a pattern?
In the team's last three losses, including the Super Bowl defeat to the Patriots last February when Faulk rushed for 76 yards on 17 carries, Faulk hasn't been over 100 yards on the ground. But it's not only that. In each game, the Rams abandoned the run. That's fine when you have a serviceable back like an Antowain Smith or a Tiki Barber in the backfield. Not when you have a superstar.
Starting this Monday night against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (ABC, 9 p.m. ET), the Rams need to find that missing part. A player who can step in between the line and the receivers and find that sweet spot in the middle of the defense or spread the D with a penetrating run downfield to be used as an option over the top for Warner or to open up room for Bruce and Holt.
Whether it is Wilkins or Edwards -- both are expected to join the receiving corps this week -- the Rams desperately need someone to step in for Hakim, and in the process, allow Faulk to get back to doing what he does best.
If not, the Rams will still win games and be a force to be reckoned with week-in and week-out -- there is too much talent in St. Louis for this not to happen. But that special aura and air of invincibility that has practically been good for a TD each week before the other team even steps on the field will remain as vanished as that genius label everyone once pinned on Martz whenever possible.
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