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ST. LOUIS RAMS

INSIDE SLANT

Eric Hill, the St. Louis Rams' new starting middle linebacker, has one wish before his NFL career is over.

Hill, who played nine seasons with the Arizona Cardinals before coming to St. Louis, wants to play for a winner.

"After nine years in the league and your best record is 8-8 and your end is a lot closer to your beginning, you want to see the light at the end of the tunnel," Hill said. "I haven't had a good experience as far as wins in Arizona. I'd like to be able to finish off on a good note."

So why did Hill chose the Rams, the worst NFL team in the 1990s?

"I look at some of the young guys they have here and I think this is a very talented team," Hill said. "I see some guys who are hungry."

Rams coach Dick Vermeil sees a hunger in Hill's 31-year-old eyes.

"I think he is sort of a gladiator type of guy," Vermeil said. "He's been in the ring for a number years. He's only experienced one even season and no winning seasons. He is very hungry for success, hungry for more than just a contract."

The Rams hope Hill can be a bulwark against the run.

The Rams allowed opposing running backs to gain 80 yards or more in six games last season. They lost all six of those games.

"I know he's a real run-stuffer and that's what we needed on this defense," outside linebacker Roman Phifer said.

Hill said he was enjoying playing between Phifer, 30, and Michael Jones, 29.

"It's good playing with Roman and Mike because in the past I've always played with younger linebackers," Hill said. "I've always been the veteran so I've always been the teacher. These guys have played enough football that there isn't much I can teach them. I'm actually learning off them."

Hill said he has a good grasp of former defensive coordinator Bud Carson's complex defensive scheme.

"It's coming along," Hill said. "Football is football. Everybody just calls it something different. I played in Buddy Ryan's system, which is similar to Bud Carson's system. Everything we've done so far, I've done before. We just called it something different."

Hill had 100 or more tackles in six of the last seven seasons for the Cardinals. He had 118 tackles last season despite suffering a broken ankle in the second half of the team's season opener against Cincinnati. It marked the first time in Hill's career that he's suffered a broken bone.

Hill was on the sideline on crutches last season when Arizona beat Dallas 25-22 in overtime, ending the Cowboys' 13-game mastery over the Cardinals.

Hill missed out on that landmark event, but he would like to play a part in the Rams stopping their 15-game losing streak against the San Francisco 49ers.

"To have beaten Dallas for the first time in eight years was definitely a milestone," Hill said. "It was a big deal and I guess if you flip the script, you have the same scenario here with San Francisco. San Francisco has been a thorn to the Rams."

Hill signed a two-year, $5.25 million contract with the Rams. He knows his career might expire with the contract.

"I don't know how long I'll play, but I know my end is coming," Hill said. "I'm ready to win. It's one of those situations where I'll do whatever it takes."

NOTES, QUOTES, ANECDOTES

Vermeil and the rest of the Rams' coaching staff has shut down for a couple of weeks prior to making preparations for training camp.

Vermeil is spending a few days with his family -- 10 grandchildren included -- at a resort in the Pocono Mountains.

--Safety Mike Scurlock took a few snaps as a cornerback as an experiment during the last minicamp. The Rams' coaching staff wanted to see if Scurlock could handle bump-and-run coverage. Scurlock said the move was simply an experiment and that he will continue to play safety.

--Dennis Harrison, a defensive lineman who was drafted by Vermeil and the Philadelphia Eagles in 1978, will be reunited with his former coach during training camp. Harrison, now the defensive line coach at Vanderbilt, will report to the Rams' training camp as part of the NFL's minority coaching development program.

Arizona State running backs coach Cornell Jackson also will be working with the Rams under the same program.

QUOTE TO NOTE: "Right now we are exactly where I'd like to be going into the season, except for the offensive line and pass protection." -- Rams coach Dick Vermeil, on the state of his team.

STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL

The Rams plan to use a rotation of four players -- Jeff Zgonina, Ray Agnew, D'Marco Farr and Joe Phillips -- at the two defensive tackle spots. The Rams want to use Farr as a pass-rushing specialist. Vermeil has even toyed with the idea of using the undersized Farr as a defensive end in obvious passing situations.

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

TRANSITION PLAYER: None.

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENTS (not tendered offer): 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).

UNRESTRICTED FREE AGENT (tendered offer): OG Ernest Dye (could be back on one-year contract).

RESTRICTED FREE AGENTS: None.

EXCLUSIVE RIGHTS FREE AGENTS: S Billy Jenkins, Jr.

PLAYERS RE-SIGNED: OG Ethan Brooks (EFA; $198,000/1 yr); LB Troy Dumas (RFA; $397,000/1 yr); WR Malcolm Floyd (UFA; 1 yr, $325,000); QB Will Furrer (UFA; $825,000/2 yrs, SB unknown); RB Derrick Harris (EFA; $238,000); TE Aaron Laing (RFA; $397,000/1 yr); RB Amp Lee (UFA; $4M/3 yrs, $1.25M SB); DT Chris Maumalanga (EFA; $238,000); S Gerald McBurrows (RFA; 397,000/1 yr); CB Joe Rowe (EFA; $158,000); S Mike Scurlock (RFA; $397,000/1 yr); WR Donald Sellers (EFA; $158,000/1 yr); LB Lorenzo Styles (RFA; $397,000/1 yr); WR J.T. Thomas (RFA; $397,000/1 yr); RB David Thompson (EFA; $198,000/1 yr); OG Zach Wiegert (RFA; $397,000/1 yr); DE Jay Williams (EFA; $238,000/1 yr, $12,000 SB).

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); 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); OT Ed Simmons (FA, had been cut by Redskins; $550,000/1 yr, $50,000 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); OG John Gerak (cut); DT Bill Johnson (UFA Eagles; $3.9M/2 yrs, no SB/$2.3M guaranteed); LB Robert Jones (cut); 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 took part in non-contact drills as he continues his rehab from reconstructive knee surgery. Wright isn't expected to be cleared for full contact until August. ... WR Malcolm Floyd has returned to the practice field for the first time since undergoing surgery for a torn Achilles tendon in December.

July 1, 1998* Vol. 4, No. 20

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