St. Louis Rams sign DT Hollis Thomas

by Ryan Van Bibber on Jul 29, 2009 2:14 PM CDT in News

The St. Louis Rams added some heft to their defensive front today, signing 35-year-old DT Hollis Thomas. Thomas, weighing a reported 340 lbs, gives the Rams a run stuffer to use as part of their rotation up font.

Thomas and Spagnuolo got back to their days in Philly together, so he's a known commodity. He's supposedly in good physical condition, for a 340 lbs man anyway. He's still got to stay healthy to have an impact, even on just a dozen or so snaps per game.

I know this news doesn't exactly excite lots of you, but here's my take on it from Monday, which I still think fits:

A player like Thomas, if they sign him and if he's got anything left, would give them a stop-gap solution for a year, allowing them to play competitive football and continue building the roster in the seasons ahead.

Again, staying healthy will be key for Thomas to have an impact.

Now, let's get those last two rookies signed and in camp.

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Yes!

Love the sign. Our Defense would NOT be the same if without help in the middle of the line. games are won in the trenches. we need to put pressure on the quarterback to help develop the coverage skills for our young defense. He adds experience, bulk, and will help develop Carriker.

by PCarn on Jul 29, 2009 2:29 PM CDT reply actions

Could we still sign Warrick Dunn or

another RB like Tatum Bell, JJ Arrington, or Reuben Droughns?
Arrington is 26, Bell 28, Droughns 30, Dunn 34.

The poster formerly known as JoeyBombs.

by RasRoY on Jul 29, 2009 2:40 PM CDT reply actions

Dunn is done...

as are most post-30 year old running backs. There is just too much wear and tear at that position. Even the great Marshall Faulk had to give it up. And look at the decline of Ladanian Thomlinson. SJax only has a few good years left, barring injury.

by edpjr on Jul 30, 2009 8:24 AM CDT up reply actions

Okay, okay, I agree VanRam.

I was a “Doubting Thomas” (pun intended) at first. I wan’t thinking in terms of “limited” service and in running situation when I first disagreed with the Rams being interested in Hollis. But, I see your point about using him as a run stuffer when our oppoent is 3rd and short, 4th and short are we are making a goal-line stand.

So to that I must agree, he’s a good pickup. But, he does have to pass a Physical before we sign him, right? I believe that’s the way it alwasy works.

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 Jul 29, 2009 3:49 PM CDT reply actions

I will celebrate when he contributes something

I have serious doubts that he will produce anything. Prove me wrong, 35-year old oft injured and out of shape 340 pounder.

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 Jul 29, 2009 4:04 PM CDT reply actions

my sentiments exactly...

by edpjr on Jul 30, 2009 8:18 AM CDT up reply actions

Ehh, we will see

This just seems so reminiscent of La’roi glover and i was not a glover fan. I would rather see Dorell Scott get more playing time and experience than see an aging DT act as a holdover guy. This might be a good move in keeping the defense in tact while the new scheme is being assimilated, but I would hope that the majority of starters be young in a non-playoff season.
This might be a little radical but I wanna see Adeyanju, D.Scott, Carricker, Long on the line, Witherspoon, Laurinaitis, and L.Grant at LB’s, and Bartell, Fletcher, Atogwe, and Butler at DB’s (Wade and King for nickel and dime). I know Little, James Hall, Draft, and H.Thomas might work out better but the Rams need to move forward.
Doesn’t really matter though, I have faith Spagnuolo has more football sense then me haha.

by kinzav29 on Jul 29, 2009 5:24 PM CDT reply actions

Good analogy to Glover...

by edpjr on Jul 30, 2009 8:25 AM CDT up reply actions

I was not particularly a Glover fan myself...

But the difference between him and Thomas is that they used Glover far too much and that took a lot out of him. I really don’t see the Rams using Hollis nearly as much and if I know Spag (and I only know him from all I’ve been hearing for months now) he’ll either whip Thomas into shape or get rid of him before the regular season starts. Spags was a good defensive coordinator and I think he will use Hollis very sparingly.

Go Rams!

by Nbr1RamFan on Jul 30, 2009 1:53 PM CDT up reply actions