Rams’ Linehan engaging in most dangerous game

By Steve Reynolds  |   Sunday, April 08, 2007  |  Comments( 5 )

St. Louis Rams
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What does Rams head coach Scott Linehan have in common with country music icon Kenny Rogers?

They're both gamblers.

Linehan has, through addition or subtraction, addressed nearly every position on the team thus far in the free agency period, with one exception.

A rather glaring exception.

The head coach has done nothing to rectify the weakness at the defensive tackle position. Considering the Rams finished next to last in run defense last season, it's a bit odd that Linehan seems to be sitting on his hands at this point, explaining that the team will most likely address the issue on the first day, but not necessarily the first round, of the draft.

Or maybe he's bluffing.

Linehan is not above such chicanery. After all, the Rams' head coach was able to squeeze an extra third-round pick out of the Broncos last year (which they used on a DT, Claude Wroten) by trading a couple slots down in the first round with Denver when Tye Hill was the player they coveted all along.

However, Linehan hasn't addressed the DT position since last year's draft, making Rams fans more than a little nervous. Most agree that any defensive tackle help acquired via this year's draft won't do much in the way of immediate dividends.

Linehan seems to be optimistic that his current crop of players can turn things around, citing the Colts as a team that did just that, "They (Indianapolis) played pretty darn good in the playoffs against arguably three of the best rushing offenses."

Regarding D-line improvement, Linehan added, "I think people will be very, very happy -- hopefully with the addition of somebody if things work out right in this upcoming draft, whether it be the first round or (later rounds). Somebody else is going to be in that mix that's going to make us better. But I really think the players that we have are going to be that much more improved."

However, this begs the question, is hoping a run defense that was among the league's worst can somehow turn itself around a blueprint for success?

Linehan's allusion to the Rams being able to improve upon their disturbingly poor run defense next season without additional free-agent help is unnerving for fans. However, one could also argue that all of this season's free-agent DTs of consequence were re-signed by their existing teams, leaving only potentially overpriced, underwhelming options on the market.

So what's a head coach to do?

Should the Rams seek a trade? Does Linehan have an ace up his sleeve? Will there be any shocking revelations come draft day?

As far as largely standing pat from here on out in free agency and believing the Rams will nonetheless produce a competitive defensive product next season goes, one thing is certain:

Linehan is in the minority.

Fans see the de facto starting unit of Jimmy Kennedy and La'Roi Glover meeting with no more success than they did last year.

In fact, most in Rams Nation feel that fielding a dramatically improved defense without additional help at DT is about as likely as statisticians uttering "Michael Vick" and "65 percent completion rate" in the same sentence next season.

But the fact remains that with existing players, the Colts were able to turn around their terrible run defense and go all the way, so that means the Rams can do it as well, right?

If you're gonna play the game, boy, you gotta learn to play it right.

It's quite a notion to bet your season on.

**You can e-mail Steve Reynolds at sreynolds@realfootball365.com.
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CommentsComments: 5  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
Rik		12:12 PM
04/09/2007
This game scares the hell out of me. It's not just last year our run D has stunk but for a long long time. I truly hope he's got ...
No.2
Cory		11:57 AM
04/10/2007
Thank God my love for football rests with the 49ers because Linehan would drive me crazy with his off-season planning and ...
No.3
Junebug		01:38 PM
04/10/2007
Rik makes good point. We haven't had a good run-stopping Defense for years...including the year we won the Super Bowl! That ...
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