The Rams have been struggling immensely for three years now on defense in way of not being able to stop the run. Linehan had his first off season try in 2006 and he made as many moves as he possibly could with what he had available. After bringing in Haslett there was just so much that could be done.After finishing a dismal 31st in the league out of 32, the Rams once again find themselves in dire need of doing something to find a way to stuff the run.
'We've certainly got an area that we have prioritized and that's to improve our run defense.' Linehan said to reporters. 'Whether it's in our front or our linebackers. Whatever it is that's going to help us, we're going to scour the league and see if there is somebody there that fits what we lack. I think it would be too early to say that it is a certain position, but we will address that, if we can, right away in free agency.'
The Rams did make key improvements by replacing Chris Claiborne and Adam Archuletta with Will Witherspoon and Corey Chavous. Unfortunately though, the rest of the defense didn't make that much improvement and Witherspoon, the secondary, and linebackers found their jobs extremely difficult against the run.
Finding a big body and one that knows his job in free agency will be a tough task for the Rams to take care of. And as for the draft, they've not had much luck in the past three years, leaving only Jimmy Kennedy out of those drafted to cover the line.
'That's the biggest disappointment,' Haslett said to the Post Dispatch. 'We did well the last three weeks, but in order to play really well in this league you have to stop the run. We have two issues here on that. We didn't play well and when the offense cranks it up like they did at the end of the season, teams want to run the ball to keep the offense off the field and run the ball because it can be effective. That's one issue we are going to have to address. We have to do a better job on the run next year.'
Last year they brought in Glover mainly for leadership and rotation, but due to a lack of depth at the position, Glover had to play more downs than the Rams wanted to have to ask of him.
The possibility exists that the Rams may start looking at some of these linebackers in free agency in the coming months. Chicagos' Lance Briggs, Baltimores' Adalius Thomas, and Buffalos' London Fletcher-Baker just a few of the best of the bunch. Haslett has also said he would like to try and keep Witherspoon in the middle, but that depends on whether or not they add a big tackle up front.
No matter how you look at it, the 'Help Wanted' sign is posted and applications are being taken now.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-23-2007 @ 5:37AM
Sam Hamburger said...
What? NO comment about the "Coach of the Year", a freshman coach for the NO Saints, blowing it totally, calling for a play deep in his own territory on 4th and 13 with over 7 minutes left in the game? I have been an NFL football fan for over 40 years and have seen so many teams score two touchdowns with less than seven minutes left in the game. No great coach I ever watched threw in the towel with that much time left. No confidence in his defense stopping the Bears and getting the ball back? No confidence in a great quarterback throwing two touchdowns, especially with a back like Bush, who is a danger to score anytime he touches the ball, snow or no snow. What in *ell are we teaching all the kids watching? Where has "never give up?" gone? OK, maybe if he or his offensive minions had some kind of a surprise play to eke out 14 yards and a first down. But nothing! Not a chance! It made me sick and even sicker when the announcers gave him a pass and did not mention that cowardice. G*d, I wonder what Howard Cosell [RIP] would have had to say about that. Would he have had the guts to call it cowardice? That is a tough word but that is what such giving up stands for. Sorry. Yes, it was sorry, indeed.
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1-23-2007 @ 11:15AM
Patti LaRue said...
Why would I write about the coach of the year when the article was about the Rams coaches looking for help on the defense? Why would I write about the Saints anyway on a Rams blog? Just curious.
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