Rams News

Hill survives trip, vows
to rebound with Rams
08/05 12:13 AM

By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch Staff

MACOMB, Ill. -- No matter what happens to Greg Hill as a St. Louis Ram, he will always remember that getting here was half the battle.
After agreeing to contract terms late Monday afternoon, Hill flew from Dallas to St. Louis, switched planes to a ``puddle-jumper'' at Lambert Airport, touched down in Peoria, then drove to Macomb. There was a two-hour delay in Lambert because of mechanical problems before the flight to Peoria.
``Something was wrong with that little crop-duster,'' Hill said. ``I guess they had to find a couple more pigs to run on that little (treadmill) to get the engine propellers going.''
Hill finally made it to Macomb about 3:30 a.m. He had a 7:30 meeting Tuesday morning to sign his contract (two years, $1.2 million, $100,000 signing bonus). Then he grabbed some breakfast and headed out to the field for the Rams' 9 a.m. practice.
Next thing you know, Hill heard the booming voice of special teams coach Frank Gansz on the portable loudspeaker system that Gansz wears like a backpack.
``I'm hearing my name, `Greg Hill! Greg Hill!' '' Hill said. ``I look up and I'm thinking, `Where is this voice coming from?' ''
Hill looked up to the sky -- toward the towers where the Rams film practice. Then gazed back on the field.
``Then I saw this little guy with this big bass speaker on his back,'' Hill said.
Welcome to Macomb, Greg Hill.
Hill told all with a smile on his face, punctuated by the occasional laugh. The former Kansas City Chief is happy to be working again, and sees St. Louis as a prime opportunity to revive his career. His first chat with Dick Vermeil as a Ram was an eye-opener.
According to Hill, Vermeil told him, ``We've got some guys hurt. This is an opportunity for you to come in here, and if you beat out somebody, then you'll stay. If not, we'll let you go.''
Hill's reply: ``Coach, you're not going to have to worry about me trying to beat somebody out. Because I'm going to beat out a couple people and do whatever I can to help this team.''
Hill would have been a Ram long ago had he accepted the team's original two-year, $1.8 million offer made months ago. He visited Rams Park on March 4 as an unrestricted free agent but decided to play the market for a while longer.
``You always want to see if there's a little more out there for you,'' Hill said. ``To be truthful, I was a young guy and being hardheaded. And it was early (in free agency). So I (thought), `Maybe somebody else will offer me something more.' ''
Nobody did. Hill made free agent trips to New England and Seattle. Oakland and Baltimore also showed some interest. But in every case, either the timing was wrong or the money wasn't right. With August upon him, Hill jumped at the chance to play for the Rams, even for less money than their original offer.
``But it's still good money,'' he said. ``And it's more than what you would think a guy would sign for at this point in time. It's about the same salary I was making the last two years in Kansas City.''
Nagging injuries to Robert Holcombe (hamstring), Jerald Moore (shoulder) and David Thompson (thigh) forced Vermeil to dial Hill's number. (Which is No. 30, by the way.)
Unlike Holcombe and Moore, who entered training camp as the leading candidates for the starting job, Hill is not a between-the-tackles runner.
``He has great speed,'' Vermeil said. ``He's basically a bounce-to-the-outside, and a get-outside runner. He's had a number of 100-yard plus rushing games. He's not a fumbler. He's averaged 4.1 yards per carry in his career.''
Hill was a late first-round draft pick by the Chiefs in 1994 out of Texas A&M. He always seemed to be in Marcus Allen's Hall of Fame shadow in KC and never got to be the team's primary back. Hill never carried more than 157 times or gained more than 667 yards in any of his four seasons in Kansas City.
Still, his rushing totals in 1995 (667 yards) and '96 (645 yards) would have led the Rams in rushing in any of their three seasons in St. Louis. His career rushing total of 2,436 yards is more than the combined total (1,779 yards) of the seven running backs and fullbacks on the Rams' active roster.
So he brings some experience on those speedy, fresh legs.
``When I was in Kansas City, I didn't get a chance to perform,'' said Hill, 26. ``It's hard to perform when you're only averaging four, five carries a game.''
That may not change in St. Louis. Then again, Vermeil likes to ride one horse in the backfield, be it Lawrence Phillips in 1997, or Wilbert Montgomery years ago with the Philadelphia Eagles.
``That's what I like,'' Hill said. ``Let him ride me. Saddle me up, put me in the gates, shoot the gun, and let me go.''

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