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Show x,pn 1 p"! rr rrj r nr-i- ri ( iWi!hii the best thing the them against the 10 years, eight of the last four three but no losses, games, three-poidecisions. narrow have been are overdue. The Falcons Here's how the two teams shape up: The Falcons QUARTERBACKS one of the young have Bartkowski, budding superstars at the position. When the team ges better, he'll be recognized as a "super." Detroit has capable short Ray Jarvis, Denny Franklin, receivers but now only Larry Charlie Sanders Walton, coming off knee surgery himself can be trusted to go deep. The Lions have three RUNNING fine ones in Dexter Bussey, Horace King and rookie Lawrence Gaines, but will need better blocking to shake them loose. Dave Hampton keys the Falcon rush, with help on the way from rookie Bubba Bean. What probably is Lions have going for Falcons is history ... nt U against Detroit Barney and Levi Johnson; Jeff Van Note, fine Falcon center, operating on Jim Laslavic, mobile Lion middle linebacker; Jim Mitchell, corne-rback- s ihq ! in I -I- Ubu , J 2:00 P.M. Sunday, Sept. 19 Channel 5 NOTES Detroit stayed remarkably healthy through the exhibition campaign, only to lose Hill, for whom they yielded a No. 1 draft choice, in the season opener . . . Atlanta emerged unscathed from opener with Rams . . Hem Weaver, NFC punt . . er mid-wee- k, 15-ya- 30-yar- gas furnace econopac40 An non-electr- 13-ye- up-flo- 199. 1988 355-4b0- 8 486-80- 7 humidifier plates ' , fiber m 1! ph-np- Mon-F- ri Saturday Sunday 10 am 9 pm 9 a m 6 p m 11 a m - 3p m. The High Cost of Losing Los Angeles Linebacker Isiah Ftobert-so- n was relating the circumstances that prompted him to adopt his new look, neatly trimmed mustache and business length hair style which contrasts severely with the. bushy beard and Afro he wore in previous years. "I went to the hair stylist for a wash and blow dry," Robertson recalled. "It was right after we tost the NFL championship game to Dallas (37-7- ). There was a guy in the shop who said, 'If I was a Ram, . I wouldn't warit anybody to know who was. I'd shave my head.. " So he. did.. I H ii If J'l I -an r 'LJUJ La . Li Li LLJ Li k general humidifiers ? :- A national TV audience will see if the Rams can unscramble their quarterback problem Sunday when they play at Minnesota. The groat quarterback debato has featured James Harris and Ron Jaworski in the past, but Harris has been out a few champion last season, got off to a fast weeks with a fractured thumb and stah, hitting a against the Bears Jaworski hurt his shoulder in last weeks for a Sold er Field record . . F alcon rook e So now a new candidate is operc-r-. Sonny Colons of Kentucky was hurt in campaigning tor the job. Rookie Pat training camp and has yet to show much . . H iden, a Rhodes Scholar, proved he is KICKING GAME A toss-u- p with moio than an egg head by replacing STARTING LINEUPS Jaworck; and throwing a long touchdown Falcon John James and Lion Herman ATLANTA FALCONS ATLANTA FALCONS his first in the pros to help sintr Weaver ranking among the top punters in pass the Falcons, 30-1the NFL. Both placekickers, Nick Mike-Mayof Atlanta and Detroit s Errol Mann, As of Hayden seemed a are time tested. sure starter for Los Angeles, as much out of necessity as curiosity. Jaworski, who DEFENSE Lions are living on has a fractured shoulder, figures to be lost 1 1 men to the theirs simple theory, get for six weeks but ther's a chance that ball as fast as possible, but complex in Harris could play against tho Vikings. execution. They gang tackle, they blitz, Harris was throwing this week, a splint they have great speed and a few individual protecting his thumb but restricting his standouts, like tackle Herb Orvis, range. Witnesses said that his tosses were linebacker Paul Naumoff and comerback tirm enough within a range, less Lem Barney. Atlanta has gone to 53" but so for another 15 yards and it was the key is still the pass rush of Claude impossible for him to pass beyond a Humphrey and Mike Tilleman and d distance. of Ray Brown. Meanwhile, the Vikings quarterback KEY MATCHUPS Gilliam running spot is as usual in the hands of the Scrambler. Francis Tarkenton, 36 years old and in his 16th lesson, is probably 1 better now than ever. He is free ot even so much as a nasty scratch. Tarkenton hardly broke a sweat last week in the laugher 40-9- . This game will over New Orleans P, be different, though. econ-o-druni4- 5 WHEN LOS ANGELES HAS THE is?. BALL The Rams are one of pro footballs best rushing teams and as such can control the clock for long periods of time. Fullback Lawrence McCutcheon, a card carrying 1,000 yard type, heads an impressive group of veteran runners who operate behind a rebuilt but solid line. Quarterback and passing problems can t be blamed on Harold Jackson and Ron Jessie two of the NFL swifties. power humidifier Minnesota's defense doesnt receive no motor, tan or pump economical, high the bouquets it once did, "but its still an iG.E. 60.000 BTU installs easily capacity awfully good unit," according to i 7 space-save- r variable control veteran Carl Eller (currently troubled by a gallons daily i our broken left thumb). Last year the Mincapacity reg. 209.95 easy cleaning nesota defense led the NFC in rushing 40. reg. 29.95 42.95 45, reg. defense, also in sacks and interceptions. 88 ... Key players may be showing some age, but the unit has more quality depth because of a trade which strengthened the cornerback positions and a succession of ' v Freeway Store 938 North 900 West"' V N. ,ww good draft choices which have improved Phone several spots. 1311 East 3300 South 5 WHEN MINNESOTA HAS THE Phone 'Mon Thurs 9 a m 7 pm BALL The Vikes don't seem to miss receiver John Gilliam. Bud Grant is Friday 9 a m 9 p m Saturday 9 a m 6 p m optimistic about rookie Sammy White who Sunday 11 a m - 3 p m he says "has big play potential," and 7200 South 900 East in the Family Center ... - jl Ci r LOS ANGELES AT MINNESOTA Atlanta's underrated tight end will be squired on his routes by the Lions' tough strong safety Charlie' West. In the line watch closely the duel between Humphrey and the Lions' giant offensive tackle Rocky Freitas. When the Falcons have the ball, it'll be Greg Kindle trying to thwart the moves of the Orvis. fW'1iW )IM( - a recently acquired veteran Ahmad Rashad. The Vikes pass oriented offense features Tarkenton's short passing game to backs and receivers, and his legendary scrambling. The offensive line is fairly solid. The Rams defense continues to be among the very best in the NFC. Defensive ends Fred Dryer and Jack Youngblood are superb. Youngblood, considered by many scouts to be the best at his position, plays every down like its his last. Thats the way Merlin Olsen taught me, he says. KEY MATCHUPS. A vs. ALAN PAGE crucial matchup which will weigh heavily on the Rams rushing effectiveness. Mack is one of the NFCs best guards, but he'll need a great day to handle Page. RAM WIDE RECEIVERS RON JESSIE and HAROLD JACKSON vs. VIKING CORNERBACKS NATE ALLEN and NATE WRIGHT When their quarterbacks are on. the Rams can burn people with the bomb. The Vikings might be vulnerable at the corners. LAWRENCE McCUTCHEON vs. McCutcheon's running, JEFF SIEMON and occasional receiving, are often responsible for the Rams gainers. Siemon, one of the NFCs best middle linebackers can help put the Rams in a hole and force crucial third down plays. RON YARY and ED WHITE vs. JACK YOUNGBLOOD and MERLIN OLSEN Minnesotas running attack depends largely on how effective right tackle Yary and right end White can be gainst Ramss defensive left end Youngblood and defensive left tackle o so that Olsen. Each of the four is should give you some idea of the competition. SAMMY WHITE and JIM LASH vs. ROD PERRY and MONTE JACKSON White flashes star potential as a wide receiver, while Lash is steady and Rashad waits for either to falter. Some people say Perry is suspect but cornerback Jackson had a big day last week in Atlanta. vs. RAM LINETARKENTON Tarkenton is the master of BACKERS the short pass. Ram linebackers, led by Isiah Robertson, must cover underneath receivers. FRED COX vs. TOM DEMPSEY Cox and Dempsey are two of the league's best at field goals. Cox is perhaps better at medium range but Dempsey has the ege from a significant distance. LAST MINUTE FACTORS The two teams haven't met since 1974. Then the in a regular season Rams won 20-1- 7 game, but the Vikings knocked L.A. out of ttie playoffs with a 0 victory . . The Rams' Knox and Vikings' Grant, two of the NFLs winningest coaches, are believers in fairly conservative football . . . Ram runners McCutcheon and John Cappelleti, replacing Jim Bertelsen, gained 1 1 5 and 102 yards respectively against Atlanta Bobby Bryant, who missed the Vikings entire exhibition season with a broken arm, might play some this week. TOM MACK x All-Pr- 14-1- ... r Sr s STARTING LINEUPS ? |
