Rams News

ST. LOUIS RAMS

Improving the offensive line is the St. Louis Rams' No. 1 objective in 1998.

"Our No. 1 goal between now and our league opener is to improve our offensive line," Rams coach Dick Vermeil said. "Everything is going to be organized and detailed to help our offensive line get better. They have to improve. The offensive line is holding us hostage right now. If they don't get better, we don't get better."

There is plenty of room for improvement. The Rams have allowed 101 sacks over the past two seasons.

And, only Miami, Arizona and the New York Jets averaged less than the 3 1/2 yards per rush the Rams managed last season.

If the Rams are going to block better this season, it's going to be with essentially the same cast of characters.

Orlando Pace is back at left tackle. He's a year older, a year wiser and more than 25 pounds lighter.

"There is no absolutely no reason that Orlando Pace can't make a tremendous move this coming year," Vermeil said. "I think he has missed one workout, maybe two at the most (in the off-season). If you see him, he is not the same guy. He has lost 25 pounds and he's moving like a cat."

Wayne Gandy returns at right tackle after being bounced back and forth between left tackle and right tackle last season. Gandy was the Rams' steadiest lineman last season, but he also was their most-penalized offensive player.

Gandy's starting job isn't set in stone.

"I think he is going to have to play better because Fred Miller by the end of last year had improved more than any offensive lineman in our program," Vermeil said. "He's ready to be a starter. It'll be an interesting battle."

The interior of the offensive line is where the Rams need to show the most improvement.

Second-year man Ryan Tucker will enter training camp as the starting left guard ahead of veteran John Gerak, who played on a bad elbow last season. Gerak is back to full strength after undergoing off-season elbow surgery.

Mike Gruttadauria, a blue-collar player who was signed as a street free agent two years ago by the Rich Brooks regime, is the starting center.

Gruttadauria will be pushed by John Flannery, a free-agent pickup from the Dallas Cowboys. Zach Wiegert is back at right guard. Vermeil wants Wiegert to show more toughness.

"He's got to make a move," Vermeil said. "I'd like to see him just step up and go. I can't worry about if he's going to be healthy anymore."

The rest of the Rams' off-season linemen are a young, unproven lot that includes Ethan Brooks, who took Lawrence Phillips' roster spot last season.

The Rams have signed receiver Johnny (J.T.) Thomas, a restricted free agent, to a one-year contract for the $397,000 tender. Thomas was active for only five games last season. He has 14 catches in his three seasons with the Rams, including two last season.

--Vermeil lists his four goals for the off-season as:

1. Improving the skills within the offensive line.

2. Improving the execution of the quarterback on awareness of secondary and third receivers.

3. Introduction of a scheme to rookies and free agents.

4. Starting right off the bat to eliminate penalties.

--Rams rookie linebacker Leonard Little got to see quarterback Peyton Manning every day in practice at Tennessee, but he never got to actually sack him.

"We were never ever allowed to touch him in practice," Little said. "This is the NFL now and he's fair game."

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Mike White sort of organizes that phase of the program for me. He sort of disciplines it and runs it. You don't want to get on the bad side of Coach White." -- Rams coach Dick Vermeil, on the much-improved attendance at his team's off-season conditioning program.

The Rams are expected to release middle linebacker Robert Jones, the team's leading tackler with 115 stops last season, on June 1. The Rams tried to trade Jones, but no teams were interested, knowing that he'd be available as a free agent this summer. Vermeil has called Jones "the best conditioned athlete in pro football," and expects him to be unemployed for only a short time. The Rams' defensive staff was unhappy with Jones, who had only two tackles for a loss last season.

FRANCHISE PLAYER: CB Ryan McNeil ($3.22M tender).

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: OG Ernest Dye (won't be re-signed); LB Britt Hager (a special teamer and backup who will not be re-signed); P Mike Horan (won't be re-signed); C Vernice Smith (will not be re-signed); LB Brett Wallerstedt (won't be back).

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: OG Zach Wiegert ($397,000 tender; initial indication is that his agent wants John Hannah money for mediocre play).

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: S Billy Jenkins, Jr.; RB David Thompson; DE Jay Williams (was lackluster as Leslie O'Neal's backup).

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED: OT Ethan Brooks (EFA; terms unknown); LB Troy Dumas (RFA; $397,000/1 yr); WR Malcolm Floyd (UFA; 1 yr, terms unknown); QB Will Furrer (UFA; $825,000/2 yrs, SB unknown); RB Derrick Harris (EFA; terms unknown); TE Aaron Laing (RFA; $397,000/1 yr); RB Amp Lee (UFA; $4M/3 yrs, $1.25M SB); DT Chris Maumalanga (EFA; terms unknown); S Gerald McBurrows (RFA; 397,000/1 yr); S Mike Scurlock (RFA; $397,000/1 yr); WR Donald Sellers (EFA; 1 yr, terms unknown); LB Lorenzo Styles (RFA; $397,000/1 yr); WR J.T. Thomas (RFA; $397,000/1 yr).

PLAYERS ACQUIRED: DT Ray Agnew (UFA Giants; $8M/4 yrs, $2M SB); TE Tyji Armstrong (FA); QB Steve Bono (Trade Packers for 7th-round pick in 1999 draft); RB Kevin Bouie (FA); CB Willie Clark (UFA Eagles; $700,000/1 yr, $100,000 SB); OL John Flannery (UFA Cowboys; $1.175M/2 yrs, $175,000 SB); LB Eric Hill (UFA Cardinals; $5.25M/2 yrs, $1M SB/$3.125M guaranteed); DT James Manley (FA); DT Joe Phillips (FA, had been cut by Chiefs; $1.6M/2 yrs, $500,000 SB); WR Ricky Proehl (UFA Bears; $6M/4 yrs, $1.6M SB); P Rick Tuten (UFA Seahawks; $1.9M/3 yrs, $300,000 SB).

PLAYERS LOST: WR Keith Crawford (UFA Falcons; $1.2M/2 yrs, $200,000 SB); DT Bill Johnson (UFA Eagles; $3.9M/2 yrs, no SB/$2.3M guaranteed); DE Leslie O'Neal (cut); QB Mark Rypien (UFA Falcons; $1.8M/2 yrs, $400,000 SB); WR Torrance Small (UFA Colts; terms unknown).

MEDICAL WATCH: S Toby Wright is jogging as he continues his rehab from reconstructive knee surgery. Wright isn't expected to be cleared to practice until August. ... LB Troy Dumas has undergone surgery to repair his separated shoulder. ... Rookie RB Raymond Priester has a slight hamstring pull. He should be healthy for the Rams' second minicamp.

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