Ram Notebook : Rookie Anderson Prefers to Keep His Enthusiasm in Reserve

Figuring modesty is the best policy, Ram rookie receiver Willie “Flipper” Anderson still treats his two-touchdown, 117-yard showing in last Saturday’s exhibition game as if it were a coincidence. To hear Anderson talk, his favorite play is the downplay.

“Even though it was a great feeling, it was just preseason,” he said in his dorm room Monday, his voice barely audible over an episode of “All My Children.”

Fair enough. The San Diego Chargers--the Ram’s most recent opponent--aren’t exactly, to borrow from Coach John Robinson, the scourge of the league. And in most of your word-association tests, hardly anyone ever links the Chargers and pass defense together.

Even so, Anderson had an excuse to brag. One touchdown pass, a 20-yarder, found him unattended in the end zone. Another scoring pass covered 70 yards, this one made possible by Anderson simply running past Charger cornerback Elvis Patterson. Two days after the game, Robinson certainly remembered.

“He’s starting to break the surface a little bit as an NFL receiver and do the things he can do,” Robinson said.

A little bit? What happens when he breaks it a lot of bit?

You’ll get no predictions from Anderson, who spent his interview time complimenting Ram quarterbacks, Ram receivers, Ram anybodys for Saturday’s success. But just when you think Anderson is too humble to be true, he slips up.

Ask him if he pirated any of the touchdown balls and Anderson smiles slightly and says, “Both of them.

“It is the first touchdown,” he said.

Ah-hah. An ego.

Actually, Anderson doesn’t seem to have much of one. He said he was just happy to help the Rams Saturday, what with the way things have gone for him in training camp.

Just 6-foot and 169 pounds, Anderson’s slight frame takes a beating in practice. Last Wednesday, both of his wrists were bent back during a tackle, causing them to swell and his chances of playing against the Chargers to decrease. But there he was Saturday, wrists taped tight, catching passes as if he were back at UCLA.

“I kept practicing at the time (of the injury), but I had a rough time sleeping that night,” Anderson said. “The next morning I could barely move my hands, even my fingers. It was hard to grab.”

Anderson sat out Thursday’s practice, did little Friday and showed up on the Anaheim Stadium sidelines Saturday night with so much tape that he could barely move his wrists.

“It’s crazy how it worked out,” he said. “It made me happy I did play.”

And it made the Rams, who had been waiting patiently for Anderson to adapt to the pro environment, happy too.

This has been some camp for Anderson. The early days went well, he said. But then, as the practices dragged on, Anderson said he became slightly disinterested.

It showed.

“I went through a stage for about a week where I wasn’t doing as well as I thought I could,” he said. “I think camp was taking it’s toll on me mentally and also affecting my physical performance . . . I think I was just losing concentration. I wasn’t going out there thinking about practice. I was going out there thinking about getting off the field than doing what I had to do. It was inhibiting my performance.

“I think I’m bouncing back here of late. I think I’ve been doing pretty good.”

Anderson had one reception entering the Charger game. Now he has five and all sorts of confidence.

“I think I needed that game,” he said. “The first two games I caught one ball. The second game I didn’t get any balls at all. This game helped my morale.”

Ram Notes

Cornerback Jerry Gray suffered a hip pointer during Monday’s practice, but is expected to return today. Also missing Monday’s workout were quarterback Jim Everett (flu), place-kicker Mike Lansford (flu), defensive linemen Ross Browner (flu) and Mike Piel (neck and shoulder), linebacker Mark Jerue (knee), safety Anthony Newman (shoulder) and running backs Charles White (ribs) and Tim Tyrell (hamstring). “Kind of nuisance injuries,” said Coach John Robinson. Because some new defensive schemes are being installed, Robinson said Jerue’s and Newman’s absences hurt the most. . . . The offensive left tackle position, said Robinson, is now shared by Irv Pankey and Robert Cox. Pankey was the incumbent, but a leg injury has hampered his progress. “I’m not sure Irv can play a whole game at this point,” Robinson said. “But we’re not punishing Irv, just allowing it to be competitive.” In fact, Robinson is going to start listing three first-stringers at the tackle position, as well as at outside linebacker. There will be fewer feelings hurt that way and a more accurate description is achieved.

Robinson’s likely position breakdown for the Ram 45-man active roster (plus two weekly reserves): 2 or 3 quarterbacks, 5 or 6 running backs, 4 or 5 wide receivers, 7 or 8 offensive linemen, 3 tight ends, 4 outside linebackers, 4 inside linebackers, 5 or 6 defensive linemen, 8 or 9 defensive backs and 3 special teams players. The first real wave of cuts will come later this week. . . . No word on the backup quarterback situation between Steve Dils and Hugh Millen. There was, however, this comment from Robinson on Millen’s Saturday performance: “I think he was all right. I think, as a passer, he’s good. It’s the other parts of the game, the subtler parts of the game, that he needs more opportunities to develop. That’s the question, really. But if you’re there and he knows where you are, he’ll throw you the ball and it will spiral and it will land near you.” Robinson also hasn’t decided if or how much Dils and Millen might play this Saturday against the Houston Oilers. . . . Former USC head coach John McKay visited Ram practice Monday.