Screen Test to Help Knox Trim Roster : Rams: Coach says he’ll watch game film of loss to Chargers before he cuts 13 players by Monday.

SAN DIEGO — The answers lie somewhere in the reruns of the Rams-Chargers’ version of Thursday night at the movies. And Chuck Knox will be watching each scene over and over, looking for any clue to help him solve the mysteries.

There weren’t many highlights in the Rams’ 1991 highlight film, so a lot of players are vying for the lead roles in the 1992 edition. At least 13 players will have to be trimmed Monday when rosters must be reduced to 47 players, so auditions were heating up Thursday evening at San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium.

If there’s one recurring theme of the Knox Regime, it’s fairness. The coaches spend equal time on the practice field with the starters, backups and even guys who don’t figure to be around on opening day. And Knox is making sure all the players battling for starting jobs and roster spots get an equal chance in exhibition games to show what they can do.

“I’m not going to comment on any positions until we look at the films,” Knox said after the Chargers beat the Rams, 30-19. “We’ve got a couple of days to make those decisions. I don’t have any impressions on anybody at this point, but we’ll have to decide who our best 47 are and who we have the best chance to win with.”

How the Rams will sort out the mess at tailback is the most pressing matter.

Robert Delpino, who has been hampered by a groin injury and had just three carries for three yards in the preseason before Thursday, saw a lot of action and picked up 21 yards in six carries. Cleveland Gary rushed for 23 yards in eight carries. Marcus Dupree, Derek Loville and David Lang all saw limited action.

So the only thing that’s clear is nobody in blue and gold is doing a very good Walter Payton imitation this summer.

Here’s a look at how some of the other positions in question are beginning to shake down:

--Looking for the right linebacker, Knox and assistant Dick Selcer probably won’t have rave reviews for either Paul Butcher or Roman Phifer today. Two thumbs down? Well, when they break down the film, they’ll see a lot of breakdowns by the right side of the defense.

Running mostly over their left side, the Chargers punished the Rams on the ground, rushing for 124 yards.

Phifer didn’t do anything to help his chances of winning the starting spot when he tried to arm tackle Ronnie Harmon and the result was a 23-yard touchdown run that put the Chargers ahead, 23-13.

--If Steven Domingos was a only a kicker, he’d probably never play on a Sunday. Taking over the kicking duties for Tony Zendejas, who has a slight groin pull, Domingos did connect on 28- and 31-yard field goals, but the 28-yarder was a line-drive shank that caromed off the left upright and he missed an extra point on the Rams’ final score.

Domingos, a free agent who hasn’t been a kicker since high school, is battling Don Bracken for the punting job. Domingos, who punted last year for the semi-pro Fresno Bandits, punted twice for 77 yards. He’s averaging 42.4 yards during the preseason.

Bracken, a free-agent who was released by the Green Bay before the start of last season and did not play in 1991, punted three times for 99 yards.

This could be a lose-lose situation. The Rams might cut both players Monday and see who’s available. One of the two may be re-signed if the Rams don’t see a punter they like better on the waiver wire.

--Who gets to line up next to first-round pick Sean Gilbert at the other defensive tackle spot? Seven-year veteran Alvin Wright, the incumbent, didn’t play in the first half and saw limited action in the second, giving David Rocker and third-round pick Marc Boutte a chance.

Midway through the third quarter, Boutte, a 6-4, 298-pound rookie from Louisiana State who was playing at the right tackle spot, chased Charger quarterback Stan Humphries out of the pocket and Rocker, a free agent who was signed off Houston’s practice squad last November, got the sack.

Boutte sustained a minor injury to his Achilles’ tendon during the second half.

“They both seemed active and I saw some things I liked, but I can’t really comment on how anyone played until we see the films,” said defensive coordinator George Dyer, sounding very much like his boss.

--Rookie Todd Kinchen increased his chances of snagging some regular-season playing time when he leaped over a crowd of seven players--five Chargers and two teammates--to grab a 41-yard desperation pass from Jim Everett for a touchdown as time expired in the first half. He also caught a 12-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, but fumbled on a kickoff return.

The Rams are deep at receiver. Henry Ellard and Flipper Anderson are the starters. Kinchen, the second LSU player the Rams took in the third round, has been impressive in camp. The quick-but-often-injured Aaron Cox and former Seattle receiver Jeff Chadwick, a Plan B acquisition, are also fighting for spots.

So who’s the No. 3 receiver? Will Knox keep six receivers? Is there a trade for a tailback in the works?

Stay tuned. Knox may be bleary-eyed by Monday morning, but he’ll have to come up with some answers.