Rams News

With McNeil holding out, McCleon tries to take over at cornerback
07/27 10:47 PM

By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch

MACOMB, Ill. -- Not only does Dexter McCleon have a new jersey number this year -- he's switched to No. 21 from No. 24 -- he looks like a new man.
``Last year, he was just learning to line up, let alone play,'' coach Dick Vermeil said. ``I feel good with him out there. He's not an experienced guy like Ryan McNeil. Hopefully, we'll have Ryan one of these days. But Dexter McCleon's going to be a fine corner.''
The sooner the better as far as the Rams are concerned, what with McNeil continuing his contract holdout. McCleon, a second-round draft pick a year ago from Clemson, is the Rams' starting right cornerback as long as McNeil stays away.
Unlike the fullback situation, in which Craig ``Ironhead'' Heyward's days with the team appear to be over, everyone at Rams camp expects McNeil back.
Through all the words of encouragement from Vermeil and co-defensive coordinator Peter Giunta, through all the repetitions he's getting during two-a-days at Western Illinois University, McCleon realizes he may be doing nothing more than keeping a seat warm for McNeil.
``I'm pretty much guarding the spot until Ryan gets here,'' the soft-spoken McCleon said. ``I don't even think about (McNeil's situation). I can't worry about that. I'm just trying to worry about Dexter, and do whatever I have to do to prepare. I still feel I have a lot to prove.''
McCleon has been in McNeil's shadow almost since the day McNeil signed with the Rams on July 7, 1997, as an unrestricted free agent from the Detroit Lions. The two were supposed to slug it out for the starting corner job opposite Todd Lyght, but that battle never materialized.
Both players struggled in training camp and exhibition games. Eventually, McNeil called upon his four years of NFL experience to win the job. In contrast, McCleon didn't even have four seasons of cornerback experience in college.
He was regarded as one of the nation's top option quarterbacks when he arrived at Clemson from Meridian (Miss.) High. In fact, he started three games at quarterback as a redshirt freshman, including a Peach Bowl victory over Kentucky. McCleon wasn't switched permanently to corner until his third season at Clemson.
``All he needs is playing time,'' Vermeil said. ``He really demonstrated in minicamp that he's close to being ready to play. Now, we have to let him play.''
Or Taje Allen. Or Willie Clark.
Unlike McCleon, Allen isn't so circumspect in discussing the possibility of unseating McNeil.
``That's what I came to the NFL to do -- to start,'' Allen said. ``I don't think anybody wants to be a backup for his whole career. I'm looking at this as a super opportunity for myself. Nothing against Ryan. I like him. But for now I've got to be selfish.''
Allen has been getting almost all of his practice ``reps'' at left corner, backing up Lyght. Clark, a free-agent pickup from Philadelphia, has been working primarily as a reserve. So McCleon has been getting almost all the work with the first unit at right corner.
``Dexter looks like a whole different guy,'' Giunta said. ``He spent the whole time in St. Louis in the offseason. He looks like he's in really good shape. The experience he got last year was invaluable. Taje the same way.''
McCleon got in for 21 percent of the Rams' defensive plays as a rookie last year; Allen got in for 17 percent, but took over most of the nickel-back duties from McCleon late in the season.
``Dexter made some good plays, and he struggled at times, which you'd expect a rookie to do,'' Giunta said. ``He's always been a pretty gifted, athletic guy. But now he's starting to feel more comfortable with the techniques.''
Meanwhile, all is quiet on the McNeil front. McNeil's agent, Brian Ransom, hasn't returned phone calls from the Post-Dispatch since the Rams made a two-year contract offer one week ago.
Conventional wisdom at Rams camp has McNeil waiting a couple of weeks to see if any injuries or sloppy play at cornerback help his bargaining power, then reporting about three weeks before the regular-season opener.

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