Rams Team Report
March 26th, 2007 | by Kevin Morris |
Tired of looking up to receivers in the NFC West, coach Scott Linehan is trying to do something about it. Free-agent pickups Mike Rumph (6-2, 205), and Lenny Walls (6-4, 194) won’t start, but both corners provide much-needed size to the St. Louis secondary and will battle for the No. 4 cornerback job. Rumph brings added versatility in that he has played safety before and can play the slot. After being drafted in the first round by San Francisco, Rumph’s NFL career has been a disappointment. But Rams secondary coach Willy Robinson knows Rumph from his days as 49ers defensive coordinator and should know how to get the best out of him. Walls lacks top-end speed, and, like Rumph, has been bothered by injuries at various times in his career. But he has starting experience and the size and long arms to battle receivers such as Anquan Boldin. Despite the addition of Rumph and Walls, the Rams are saying — for now — that Jerametrius Butler still fits in their plans. Butler spent most of last season in the coaches’ doghouse for reasons that aren’t entirely clear. And it’s possible the Rams could be dangling Butler as trade bait. . . .
The Rams are playing a familiar yet dangerous game with free-agent P Matt Turk. The team traditionally doesn’t like to pay for punters, and usually pays for it during the season. Turk gave the Rams the best punting season they have had since the move to St. Louis in 1995 by displaying a leg that remained strong at age 36. That was combined with a good touch inside the 20. But so far the Rams have resisted Turk’s wishes for a multi-year contract. The problems with playing hardball with Turk is that there are few free-agent options and taking a punter in the draft is always a roll of the dice.
SCOUTING REPORT:Free-agent pickup Chris Draft does more than provide much-needed depth to a paper-thin linebacker corps. He is a quality player — not great, but a quality NFL linebacker who can play all three positions. Draft will enter training camp as the team’s No. 4 linebacker even though he’s coming off a season in which he led Carolina in tackles (111) and registered 5.5 sacks. Desperately in search of complementary pass rushers to DE Leonard Little, the Rams will put Draft’s pass-rush abilities to work. He could end up pushing strongside LB Brandon Chillar for a starting job. But he will spend most of the spring minicamp and organized team activities period working with the starting unit at the weakside position while Pisa Tinoisamoa continues to mend from offseason shoulder surgery. Although a bit undersized (5-11, 232), Draft runs the field well and can provide leadership to a defense that is still searching for its identity.
Jim Thomas
For Sporting News
