Looker gets noticed with big game

By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch
Monday, Sep. 05 2005

The forgotten man in the Rams' receiver corps, Dane Looker, showed Friday that
he remains alive, well, and ready for whatever role he might have in the St.
Louis offense this season.

"I know Kevin (Curtis) and Shaun (McDonald) are great players, and they're
getting a lot of attention right now," Looker said. "I've just got to make sure
that Coach (Mike Martz) knows that I'm still here. I'm still the same guy that
caught 47 balls a couple years ago."

Looker, 29, did his best to get noticed in Friday's exhibition finale against
Kansas City. He caught a team-high four passes - good for 56 yards - in the
Rams' 27-23 victory over the Chiefs. Included in his night's work was the
game-winning 20-yard touchdown catch with 3 minutes 42 seconds to play.

"It was just a play where I'm coming across the formation, a crossing route,"
Looker said. "I try to outflank the defense. Thankfully, Madison Hedgecock
threw a heck of a block down there, got the guy on the ground, which enabled me
to score."

Although not known as a speedster, Looker turned up field after making the
catch and raced down the sideline to the end zone.

"I can run when I have to," Looker said. "I kind of always get that possession
tag on me. But most of my catches, I have my back to the defense. Most of those
interior slot things. A couple of times (Friday), I got to catch it and turn up
the field."

Looker enters the season as the No. 5 wide receiver on the roster, behind
Curtis, McDonald and starters Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt.

"He did not have the preseason that I'd want him to have," Martz said. "I think
(Friday) night he played very well. He just needed to play. He figures very big
into our plans. ... He absolutely has a role. We mix all five of those guys
into different personnel groups."

Ram-blings

Defensive tackle Jeremy Calahan, wide receiver Jeremy Carter, center-guard Toby
Cecil, defensive end Clifford Dukes, offensive tackle Matt Morgan, wide
receiver Dominique Thompson and cornerback Duvol Thompson have been signed to
the Rams' practice squad. All had been cut from the Rams' preseason roster.

More than $70,000 was raised in the Rams' Hurricane Katrina relief drive before
the Kansas City game.