Rams News

Backups in secondary are getting plenty of chances
08/19 08:56 PM

By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch

MACOMB, Ill. -- Ryan McNeil has missed all of training camp in a contract dispute. Toby Wright is working his way back from knee surgery. Keith Lyle has missed much of the past two weeks -- including both exhibition games -- with a tight hamstring.
So for much of the preseason, the Rams and secondary coach Steve Brown have lined up without three of their four starters. Perhaps taking his cue from coach Dick Vermeil, Brown is taking the ``silver lining'' approach.
``It's a blessing in disguise, because we've got a bunch of guys that normally wouldn't start, who are getting valuable practice and playing time,'' Brown said. ``Plus, we know in a pinch if somebody gets hurt, we can put somebody else in and have 100 percent trust in them.''
Second-year player Billy Jenkins has gotten the lion's share of work at strong safety in place of Wright. (Wright made his preseason debut last weekend against San Diego and was in for about 10 plays.)
Fourth-year player Gerald McBurrows started in place of Lyle at free safety in both games. Free safety is a new position for McBurrows, who backed up Wright at strong safety in his three previous seasons.
And Dexter McCleon has started in place of McNeil at right cornerback. McCleon, an early second-round pick in 1997, was expected to challenge McNeil for the starting job a year ago. But the battle never materialized.
It looks like McCleon will make that challenge in earnest this season. McNeil might return at the end of this week, but he has not participated in any team activities since the end of the '97 season because he is unhappy with his franchise player designation.
McCleon played well against Denver in the preseason opener, then gave up two long pass completions last week against San Diego -- and nearly yielded a third.
Brown insists that appearances are deceiving. On the two long completions, McCleon was supposed to have had safety help behind him, Brown said. Help that never got there.
``It looks like he gets beat,'' Brown said. ``Everyone says, `Oh, it's Dexter.' But it's not. Dexter's played very solid. Very solid. He's probably the most consistent of anyone in the secondary to this point. Right now, we're extremely pleased with his progress.''
The starting situation is beginning to crystalize because the underrated Lyle has returned to practice and is expected to play Saturday against the Cowboys. Wright held up well against San Diego and will play more Saturday. And whether it's McCleon or McNeil, the Rams believe the right corner spot is in good hands.
That leaves Brown searching for backups, particularly players to be used in ``nickel'' and ``dime'' coverage situations. Usually, those spots are filled by cornerbacks. Assuming McNeil returns, either he or McCleon will be the team's third cornerback -- or first cornerback off the bench in nickel situations.
The Rams probably will keep five -- maybe even six -- corners, so second-year player Taje Allen, free-agent pickup Willie Clark and free agent Tony Stargell all are in the picture.
Allen has a leg up on Clark and Stargell because he has been in the system a year. Clark can run and is said to have decent coverage skills but isn't physical. Stargell, who joined the team after training camp started, is still grasping the particulars of the defense. But he's a veteran with good bump-and-run skills.
This might sound confusing, but whoever wins the nickel back job will actually line up at left cornerback in nickel situations. Once again, the Rams plan to slide starting left corner Todd Lyght inside to the nickel spot when they go with five defensive backs.
In that spot, Lyght covers the inside -- or slot -- receiver in three-receiver formations. Lyght took over those duties late last season and performed well. ``What you like there is a good cover guy who is physical,'' Brown said.
McBurrows, Jenkins and Mike Scurlock are the top candidates for what probably will be two backup safety spots. Jenkins was a pleasant surprise in two late-season starts a year ago, replacing Wright, but has struggled with pass coverage in the two preseason games.
Scurlock was slowed by an ankle injury last preseason and was released on the final cutdown date. A fifth-round pick in the Rams' 1995 draft, Scurlock rejoined the club Nov. 4 and played in the team's final five games of '97.

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