Possibilities aren’t endless for Rams in free agency

By Steve Reynolds  |   Monday, January 29, 2007  |  Comments( 10 )

St. Louis Rams
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Stink: ('sti[ng]k), transitive verb, noun. 1. To emit a strong offensive odor. 2. The St. Louis Rams' run defense.

With the beginning of free agency just around the corner, the Rams need to open their minds and wallets to the possibilities; namely, the possibilities of shoring up a run defense that would have to monumentally improve just to be considered "pathetic."

Naturally, bolstering a rushing 'D' that finished next to last in the league is of paramount importance; yet, nearly as crucial is finding defensive linemen who can pressure the quarterback. Other than Leonard Little, the Rams' linemen were able to generate very little heat on opposing QBs, forcing defensive coordinator Jim Haslett to blitz simply to hurry the passer.

If the Rams can play "honest" by relying on their front four to harass the QB it will improve the secondary immeasurably, while also giving Haslett the ability to send extra blitzers only when he wants to, not because he must, lest the opposition have an eternity to throw (a common occurrence last season).

The Rams appear unwilling to pay wideout Kevin Curtis the big bucks, making his departure almost a certainty. This allows the Rams' sufficient cap room to snag at least one high-profile free agent. Make no mistake, the Rams need to spend all of their free agent dollars (as well as a majority of their draft picks) on defense and not give in to the previous administration's penchant for adding offensive "toys" (a la Mike "we need defensive help, but Trung Canidate is still on the board!" Martz).

There are a few free agents available whom the Rams should take a long look at, as well as a few who are worth considering:

Charles Grant: DE, New Orleans Saints

Pros:
- Adept at stopping the run and pressuring the quarterback
- Durable
- In his prime
Cons:
- Has the body of a DT, quick but not fast
- Will come with a hefty price tag

Grant would be a perfect fit to play the end spot opposite Little. He is familiar with the Rams' defensive scheme having already played under Haslett in New Orleans. Grant would force the opposition to respect the Rams' pass rush, effectively allowing blockers to pick their poison by only being able to double-team one DE. It can be argued that the Rams should be more concerned with acquiring run-stuffing tackles, but a dual threat like Grant would be a huge step in the right direction.

London Fletcher-Baker: MLB, Buffalo Bills

Pros:
- Familiar with Rams organization
- Maximum effort player
- True MLB
Cons:
- He's on the wrong side of 30
- Undersized
- Questionable coverage skills

Fletcher-Baker is short, maybe 5-foot-10 when he's wearing his elevator cleats, but he's well known for giving his team maximum effort. Reacquiring Fletcher-Baker -- who was in St. Louis between 1998-2001 -- would give the Rams a true MLB, allowing Will Witherspoon to slide over to his more natural OLB spot. Adding Fletcher-Baker to the tandem of Pisa Tinoisamoa and Witherspoon would give the Rams three 100-tackle per year linebackers, making the defense incredibly potent at the LB position.

However, Fletcher-Baker's coverage skills are a question mark. Many fans will remember his disappearance in coverage against the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XXXVI (most notably the final drive), but he has proven to be more steadfast in Buffalo. The MLB's only drawback is that he may demand more money than his ability (and age, he'll be 32 next season) should realistically command. However, if his asking price is reasonable, he could be a very productive addition for the next several years.

Lance Briggs: OLB, Chicago Bears

Pros:
- Integral part of a Super Bowl defense
- Versatile, can play the run or pass
- Just entering his prime
Cons:
- Lacks true sideline to sideline range
- Won't come cheap

Briggs is another hard hitting, sure tackling player who can bring 100-plus tackles to a defense. Although the Rams may opt to keep Brandon Chillar, a player of Briggs' caliber would be a welcome upgrade. The 26-year-old Briggs is just hitting his stride as a player and if the Rams are sincere about keeping Witherspoon at the MLB spot, then Briggs could be their most surefire bet, although it will cost them.

Also worth considering:

Patrick Kerney: DE, Atlanta Falcons
Ian Scott: DT, Chicago Bears
Justin Smith: DE, Cincinnati Bengals
Randy Starks: DT, Tennessee Titans
Alvin McKinley: DE/DT, Cleveland Browns

**You can e-mail Steve Reynolds at sreynolds@realfootball365.com.
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