Rams News

Rams look for more from defensive line
08/17 10:19 PM

By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch

MACOMB, Ill. -- During the offseason, the Rams cut their 1997 sack leader (Leslie O'Neal) and lost perhaps their most consistent defensive lineman (Bill Johnson) to free agency. That's two out of four starters.
Yet, defensive line coach Carl Hairston says, ``I think we're going to be a better defensive front than we were last year.''
In effect, the Rams are replacing Johnson with two players at defensive tackle in free agents Ray Agnew and Joe Phillips. The Rams are getting two players for less than the price of one. Johnson has a salary cap number of $2.4 million this season with his new team, the Philadelphia Eagles. Agnew and Phillips have a combined cap value of $1.75 million this year.
``They're two big tackles who can handle the run,'' Hairston said. ``Last year, we didn't have that.''
Given the reaction by some to Johnson's departure last February, one would have thought the Rams had lost Merlin Olsen. But Hairston feels Agnew potentially is better than Johnson.
``Bill hustled and everything, but I think Agnew's going to be the better pass rusher,'' Hairston said. ``Agnew's probably going to be a more consistent player, because he's a bigger guy. He's a strong guy. He can take a pounding. Bill could take a pounding, but he'd be hurt a lot during the course of the week.''
Agnew was a backup last season for the New York Giants, but Hairston says the Rams' defensive schemes better suit Agnew's talents. Phillips is strictly a run-stopper who won't be on the field in obvious passing situations.
At age 35, Phillips' legs are more deadened than the average player by the rigors of training camp.
``But when we get back to one-a-days, he's going to be a dominant player,'' Hairston said. ``That's going to help Ray be a better player.''
The plan is to rotate players more on the defensive line this season than the Rams did one year ago. In particular, Hairston doesn't want to wear out undersized tackle D'Marco Farr by having him pound away against the run play after play.
``I'm probably going to use D'Marco differently,'' Hairston said. ``I'm not going to get him beat up all the time. . . . He'll start, but as the game goes on, I'll put Ray in there more to take the pressure off of him.''
Farr is listed as 280 pounds but is playing lighter than that this season. ``He's lost some weight from last year,'' Hairston said. ``He's a lot quicker. He's got more flexibility. But when you do that, you lose strength. When that guy in front of you weighs 315 pounds, you might beat him early, but as the game goes on he'll wear you down.''
Jeff Zgonina and Bryan Robinson should also figure into the tackle mix. Zgonina is tough to budge at the point of attack and can rush the passer. Robinson can play end or tackle, and if he makes the final roster, he could be used at tackle in passing situations. He sparkled early in camp but has been sidelined for most of the past two weeks with a knee injury.
As for the right end position, O'Neal's production tailed off in the latter part of the '97 season, but he still led the team with 10 sacks. Where will those sacks come from this year?
``I'm not concerned with the right end spot like a lot of other people are,'' Hairston said. ``I think we've got two good guys that can play that spot.''
At the moment, unheralded Jay Williams is holding off first-round draft pick Grant Wistrom for the starting spot, and the two appear likely to share time at right end once the regular season starts.
``Jay is playing a lot better than I thought he would,'' Hairston said. ``I guess he sees that he's got a chance to start, and he's had two pretty good preseason games.''
Wistrom's development has been slowed by a pinched nerve in his neck that caused him to miss a week of practice and the San Diego preseason game.
At left end, Kevin Carter has been an above-average performer in his three previous NFL seasons. But the Rams want more.
``Kevin's got to step up and be the guy for us up front, as far as the pass rush,'' Hairston said. ``Because he's got the ability to do it, and he's a talented football player. But he's got to seize the moment. He's got to step up and be the player that he's supposed to be this year.''
Carter, who had the flu Saturday in San Diego and then sustained a minor rib injury, reported to camp heavier and stronger this year.
``I thought that would hurt him, but it hasn't,'' Hairston said. ``As a matter of fact, it's doing him good.''

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