Rams News

St. Louis Rams
Team Report posted July 3, 1998
by tsn correspondent JIM THOMAS - St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The Rams will intensify efforts this week to sign first-round draft pick Grant Wistrom, the defensive end from the University of Nebraska.

Four of the team's eight draft picks agreed to terms on contracts last week. Heading the list was second-round selection Robert Holcombe of Illinois, who is expected to compete with Jerald Moore for the starting running back job this season.

Holcombe signed a four-year, $2.55 million deal that includes a $900,000 signing bonus. Also in the fold are defensive end/linebacker Leonard Little of Tennessee (third round), offensive guard Glenn Rountree of Clemson (sixth round), and defensive end/linebacker Jason Chorak of Washington (seventh round).

Little and Rountree agreed to three-year deals; Chorak's is a two-year contract. The Wistrom negotiations could be tricky if only because agent Tom Condon has a lot on his plate. He also represents three other first-rounders, including quarterback Peyton Manning, the No. 1 overall pick.

The Rams' first-round pick of a year ago, offensive tackle Orlando Pace, missed all of training camp in 1997 before agreeing on a contract, which put a noticeable crimp in his rookie season.

The Rams are making a concerted effort to make sure that doesn't happen again this season. Since moving to St. Louis in 1995, only defensive end Kevin Carter has been under contract at the start of training camp among the Rams' four previous first-round picks.

Running back Lawrence Phillips and wide receiver Eddie Kennison were late arrivals in '96. . . .

There's no secret to any Rams success in 1998. They need improved play by Tony Banks at the quarterback position, and offensive line play that will keep him on his feet more often.

Banks has the natural talent and toughness to get the job done, but his commitment to the game has been lacking in the past. That's beginning to change, however.

Banks was a regular participant in the team's offseason conditioning program, something that wasn't the case a year ago.

"His approach has been very, very good," quarterbacks coach Mike White said. "Still not perfect, but I see a definite improvement on his part. He's beginning to learn the respect you have to have for the profession."

Banks worked out on his own one year ago in his hometown of San Diego, but says he now realizes the importance of getting offseason "face time" with teammates at Rams Park. Under the watchful eyes of White and offensive coordinator Jerry Rhome, Banks has worked on his footwork, his pass drop techniques, and other mechanics.

"The key for Tony is to speed up the decision-making process," White said.

Two changes in the Rams' offensive package should take advantage of Banks' skills and avoid sacks. The team is installing the shotgun formation, and inserting more rollouts into the playbook.

Banks remains one of the lowest-paid starting quarterbacks in the NFL, but could cash in after this season because he is in the third year of a three-year contract.

"It's not like I've set the world on fire, so I can demand this or that," Banks said. "It all boils down to performing on the field. I've still got to perform on the field." . . .

The Rams lost defensive assistant Nick Aliotti to the UCLA Bruins, where he is defensive coordinator. Offensive line assistant George Warhop went to the Arizona Cardinals. Assistant head coach White has been shifted from tight ends coach to quarterbacks coach, with team vice president Lynn Stiles moving to tight ends while maintaining some of his front office chores.

But the biggest change on Dick Vermeil's coaching staff this offseason was the retirement of defensive coordinator Bud Carson because of health-related problems.

In an unusual arrangement, Vermeil named secondary coach Peter Giunta and linebacker coach John Bunting co-defensive coordinators. How this new setup works in the absence of Carson, one of the best at his trade in NFL history, is a major question mark entering the 1998 season.

Carson will still drop in on the team occasionally as a consultant, as he did during the club's June minicamp.

"These guys are going to be fine, believe me," Carson said. "This football team on defense will be a lot better as far as what I see."

Giunta has the added title of assistant head coach, meaning he has the final say in case of any disagreements with Bunting. Giunta is a Carson disciple, having worked for him previously in Philadelphia.

"Peter, I raised him," Carson said. "Peter's very smart and so is John Bunting."

DEPTH CHART

Offense

WR -- Isaac Bruce, Johnny Thomas, Donald Sellers, Tony Horne, Donnell Baker, Malcolm Floyd;

QB -- Tony Banks, Steve Bono, Will Furrer, Kurt Warner;

FB -- Craig Heyward, Derrick Harris, Raymond Priester;

RB -- Jerald Moore, Robert Holcombe, Amp Lee, David Thompson, June Henley;

WR -- Eddie Kennison, Ricky Proehl, Az-Zahir Hakim, Russell Shaw, Tyrone Goodson;

LT -- Orlando Pace, Jeremy McKinney, Roger Chanoine;

LG -- Ed Simmons, Ryan Tucker, Jamie Sumner, Fred Pollack;

C -- Mike Gruttadauria, John Flannery, David Kempfert;

RG -- Zach Wiegert, Ethan Brooks, Glenn Rountree, Tom Nutten;

RT -- Wayne Gandy, Fred Miller, Matt Reem;

TE -- Ernie Conwell, Aaron Laing, Mitch Jacoby, Tyji Armstrong, Roland Williams;

Defense

LE -- Kevin Carter, Bryan Robinson, Corey Sears;

LT -- Jeff Zgonina, Ray Agnew, James Manley;

RT -- D'Marco Farr, Joe Phillips, Chris Maumalanga;

RE -- Jay Williams, Grant Wistrom, Jeff Robinson, Glenn Young Jr.;

OLB -- Roman Phifer, Muadianvita Kazadi, Leonard Little;

MLB -- Eric Hill, Lorenzo Styles, Daryl Bush, London Fletcher;

OLB -- Mike Jones, Charlie Clemons, Troy Dumas, Jason Chorak

LC -- Todd Lyght, Taje Allen, Joe Rowe;

SS -- Toby Wright, Billy Jenkins Jr., Gerald McBurrows, Kadar Hamilton;

FS -- Keith Lyle, Gerald McBurrows, Mike Scurlock, Billy Austin;

RC -- Ryan McNeil, Dexter McCleon, Willie Clark, Omarr Morgan.

Specialists: K -- Jeff Wilkins; P -- Rick Tuten, Mark Schultis.

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