Turf Show Times: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
Around SBN: UNC 77, Ohio State 73

New looks on the Rams defensive line

St. Louis Rams rookie fourth-round draft pick defensive tackle Darell Scott figures to be an important part of the Rams new-look d-line under Spagnuolo and defensive coordinator Ken Flajole. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

More photos » by Jeff Roberson - AP

St. Louis Rams rookie fourth-round draft pick defensive tackle Darell Scott figures to be an important part of the Rams new-look d-line under Spagnuolo and defensive coordinator Ken Flajole. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

One of the things I'm really looking forward to is the new look Spagnuolo and coordinator Ken Flajole are giving the Rams defense. Their re-interpretation will have the defense constantly on the attack, as opposed to running set plays and relying on sideways movement and specific gap assignments.

We've talked some about this lately, taking a look at the Rams' sack rate and the development of Chris Long, who'll play an important role chugging in from the edge. Another change in the defense is the use of specific left and right tackles, rather than UTs and NTs. This should better utilize Adam Carriker, who'll play left DT, over the guard where he can better use his skill set. 3k and I spent some time talking about the new look of the defense, particularly d-line technique, on the last edition of Turf Show Radio, too.

I bring this up again, because Pro Football Weekly has some insider chatter about the defensive extreme makeover. Here's what the team source said about the left and right DTs:

Spagnuolo did the same thing with his tackles when he coached the Giants’ defense. It’s an interesting premise, since neither Carriker nor Ryan was a pure nose or three-technique-type anyway.

On top of Carriker and Ryan, they'll also rotate in fourth round pick DT Darell Scott, a gu with some more size, and possibly Orien Harris (acquired in the Brian Leonard trade) or one of the other tryout DTs now on the roster.

What was most interesting about the PFW piece, however, was that those DTs won't be the only players seeing some time in the middle. Spags made the practice of plugging DTs into all four front spots famous during his time with the Giants. Anyone that watched the Giants Super Bowl victory will remember the sight of DE Justin Tuck breathing fire down the Patriots' cheating necks from a two-point stance in the middle of the line. With the Rams, we'll likely see Adeyanju and James Hall shifted inside, and who knows what other configurations.

Before you light up the comments, let me just say I'm not at all suggesting that the Rams have the same kind of talent and can expect the same kind of results as the Giants d-line did in '07. I didn't sniff that much glue in high school. However, I think it is reasonable to expect to see some positive results from the new look. Consider me excited.

0 recs  |  Comment 4 comments |

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Ugh

  I missed my self-imposed deadline on Pillars and Paucity pt. 2, and it would have tied in perfectly with this.
  In any case, the more I think about this, the more I’m worried that the D-line, and in particular the interior D-line, will define our defensive tenacity this season. I’m hopeful that Spags can duplicate the same kind of defensive pressure he developed in New York, but I’m hesitant.

Your uncle molests collies.

by 3k on Jun 29, 2009 11:33 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

I would think the higher motor guys, if they have a good work ethic, will do more to define the team’s overall tanacity than would any position. Guys you’ve heard about that play hard, like Long, and maybe even the rook Laurinaitis, will probably impose their personality to a larger extent than anyone else. Which I think is why Spags has the 4 Pillars in place for now, to give those recently acquired guys a foothold in the locker room and as field leaders. After being such a glaring weakness, I don’t think a dozen D-linemen is too many to start the season with.

Lived in LA during the Rams and Raiders days. Now based in NorCal, I am still a die hard Rams fan and Raiders season ticket holder.

by CoachConnors on Jun 30, 2009 6:04 PM CDT up reply actions   0 recs

Adam Carriker will be a beast

Returning from shoulder injuries and ankle injury. Entering his 3rd year and having stability at his position on a new scheme allowing him to just play and not have to rely on gap assignment.

We should expect a huge improvement on his part.

Watch out for Carriker next year!

The name's Rams, St. Louis Rams.

by Bond_007x on Jun 30, 2009 11:29 AM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Hmmm, Lets see now, VanRam mentioned Six linemen in this article...

Chris Long, Adam Carriker, (Clifton) Ryan, Darell Scott, Orien Harris (Victor) Adeyanju and James Hall. So I’m assuming VanRam believes all of these linemen will make the Ram’s roster going into the regular season. And of course Leonard LIttle will be there, that goes without saying. So I count eight defensive linemen all tolled. From where I’m sitting that looks like a pretty decent group.

But, that still leaves C. J. Ah Yo, Antwon Burton, Ian Campbell, Gary Gibson, Eric Moore, Kirston Pittman and Willie Williams on the pre-season roster. My question is out of the total 14 linemen how many will the Rams carry into the regular season and would anyone venture a guess as to who they might be? How many can the Rams afford to have on game day?

Just thought I’d ask…

Go Rams!

"We can't run. We can't pass. We can't stop the run. We can't stop the pass. We can't kick. Other than that, we're just not a very good football team right now." --- Bruce Coslett, New York Jets Head Coach circa 1990s

by Nbr1RamFan on Jun 30, 2009 4:04 PM CDT reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to the SB Nation blog about St. Louis Rams.
Start posting about the Rams »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Dickcheneycftblmask2_small
Saints versus Rams - Trap Game?

Recent FanPosts

Andrew602_avatar_small
Ask Revenge of the Birds
Dickcheneycftblmask2_small
Cards versus Rams - close game or blowout?
Ncaab_uclabruins_small
The greatness that is Steven Jackson
Bruce_holt_small
Ndamukong Suh vs. Gerald McCoy
Small
O-line grades
Ricky_prohel_small
Please thank Mike Karney and the offensive line for their job this season
Peter_small
Sent SJAX An "Honorable Tweet" + Shower Loofa
Dsc03827_small
A Link to the Jim Rome Radio Show
Images
The Draft

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

Latest NFL Headlines from SB Nation

Cover the web with Turf

Add a little Turf to your internet!

Become a fan of TST on Facebook.

Follow TST and talk more Rams on Twitter.


Managers

Turfshowtimes_small VanRam

Editors

Spags_victory_small 3k

Authors

340x_small kevinramsfan

Wildcat_small Tackle Box

Uncleface_small taiko

Small ram_rod

Dsc03827_small CoachConnors