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Horne-ing in Rams expect ace kick returner Horne back for playoffs
Updated: Wednesday December 27, 2000 11:30 AM
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- It's as if the St. Louis Rams have been keeping Tony Horne under wraps. Horne, who has returned three kickoffs for touchdowns the last two regular seasons, plus one in the playoffs last year, should return for Saturday's wild-card game against the New Orleans Saints. Horne has been out five games, missing the first two Rams-Saints contests. The Rams (10-6) didn't place Horne on injured reserve to keep him eligible for the playoffs. He's averaging 24.2 yards, including a 103-yard touchdown in Game 6 against the Falcons, and led the NFL with a 29.7-yard average last season. "We hoped we'd be in the playoffs and we thought, listening to our doctors, that we would have him a week after the regular season," head coach Mike Martz said. "We obviously felt he'd be a major factor, and I think he will be." Martz said Horne's work on other special teams is underrated, including coverage on punt and kickoff returns, and believes he was probably the Rams' best special teams player. He's not worried about Horne being out of shape, either. "He doesn't have to line up and play every snap on offense or defense," Martz said. "He'll get that respite, so to speak.
"He may have to go a couple plays in a row, but he should be fine with that." Horne's replacement, Darrius Blevins, is averaging 19.2 yards, with a long return of 26 yards. Martz used punt returner Az-Zahir Hakim late in Sunday's 26-21 victory against the Saints, and also threw Marshall Faulk back there at the end of the Rams' loss at Tampa Bay. Martz believes he can surprise the Saints (10-6) in other ways, even though they've faced each other twice lately. He anticipates that the game plan will be about two-thirds new from the one the defending Super Bowl champions used in the second game against the Saints. "We try to change it up each week, whether it's the same opponent or not," Martz said. Martz also expects the Saints to do some things the Rams haven't seen. New Orleans returned to practice Tuesday, while Martz gave players their second straight day off. "I'm sure they'll have some new things for us, that's just the way it is," Martz said. "You try to get one leg up in some respects by having something a little bit different, whether it's formations and a different run or two, or a pass play." Defense is another story. Martz believes teams are better off going with their best, and not over-adjusting. "I think you play what you play on defense," Martz said. "You can change it somewhat, but my experience this year is the people who have changed for us defensively eventually go right back to what they do normally. "I think it's a little easier to do what you do and adjust to it and just to rally to the ball as opposed to doing something dramatically different." A case in point was the Saints' defense on Sunday. Martz said it was about the same, with New Orleans playing two deep safeties most of the game, except for some increased pressure. "They came after us a little bit more, but by and large I think it was pretty much the same," Martz said. Whether or not the plays change, preparing for a familiar opponent will make the short work week heading into Saturday's game less of a factor. "I think the preparation part of it is a big advantage for us, and obviously it is for them, too," Martz said. "Obviously, you don't use your whole game plan, so there's still some things you've got in and have practiced or worked on that you didn't get a chance to get to."
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