| The changes were sweeping, the results unpredictable, but
the St. Louis Rams are a step away from being crowned the NFL’s best for the second
time in three seasons. And not just because of that all-world offense this time around. St.
Louis revamped its defense after finishing second in the NFC West and dropping out of the
playoffs in the opening round in 2000. Eight new starters, a new coordinator and a fresh
mindset later, the Rams, and their No. 3 defense, are Super Bowl-bound.
"They deserve (the credit)," said MVP QB Kurt Warner, who helped St. Louis to
a Super Bowl title in 1999. "What the defense has been able to do, in that amount of
time, is really incredible."
The Rams showed their dedication to improving the defense in the offseason by hiring
Tampa Bay LB coach Lovie Smith to be defensive coordinator, acquiring CB Aeneas Williams
from Arizona and spending three first-round draft picks on defensive personnel, including
hard-hitting SS Adam Archuleta.
"I didn’t know what to expect," said Archuleta, who finished with 56
tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble. "I knew right away in training camp that I
was going to be a good slice of a big piece of pie that would make this team roll.
"You could never believe you could be up there with the best defenses in the
league with all the new starters and coaching changes. But that was always the goal."
Williams, who intercepted Eagles QB Donovan McNabb to seal victory in the NFC title
game last Sunday, will play in his hometown of New Orleans. It will be the fifth
postseason game of his career and third with the Rams. Needless to say, it has been a long
time coming for the 12-year veteran.
"One of the loneliest places in the world is the cemetery and so many people die
without ever reaching their potential," Williams said. "The Lord allowed me to
reach all of my potential and I am joyous of what I have with this team."
Williams came up with numerous big plays throughout the season, including a forced
fumble and two interception returns for touchdowns in the NFC divisional playoff against
Green Bay. After the game, Packers QB Brett Favre said Williams was among the "best
I’ve faced," stopping just short of comparisons to Deion Sanders because,
"at least I’ll throw at Aeneas." That doesn’t mean he wants to.
Oakland Raiders WR Jerry Rice said Williams is "one of the best," because he is
fundamentally sound and has very good technique.
"If I could put a number or a value on what (Aeneas) has meant to me, and meant to
this team, I would do that," Smith said. "But I can’t."
Williams joined Archuleta, free-agent FS Kim Herring and holdover CB Dexter McCleon in
the Rams’ revamped secondary. Herring was a member of the Baltimore Ravens’
title team last season before his number came up last summer.
"I did my research," Herring said. "I wasn’t stupid. I wasn’t
going to try another team because the money was there. I wanted to play with a winner and
play in the Super Bowl."
McCleon credited Smith, and the change of scheme, for the success of the secondary and
defense. Smith took the reins from Peter Giunta and Bud Carson. Giunta was fired after he
and Carson, who came out of retirement and made a cameo appearance in an attempt to save
the defense late in the season, continually allowed opponents big plays and big points.
Under Smith, the improvements have been mind-boggling. St. Louis was 23rd
overall last season and allowed more than 29 points per game. This season, the Rams are
third overall, allowing right around 17 points per game and rank third against the run.
The secondary improved the pass defense to 10th overall.
"The difference in the scheme itself is night and day," McCleon said.
"Everyone knows this scheme. It’s just a simple, cover-2 zone. Last year, it was
so complex, we had starters that didn’t know what they were doing."
The Rams solidified the front four by drafting DT Damione Lewis in the first round.
Lewis added a run-stopping, athletic presence in the middle of the line along with veteran
Jeff Zgonina. That opened the door for DEs Grant Wistrom and Leonard Little, a third-down
specialist, to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks. It resulted in a career year for
Little, the team’s sack leader with 14.5 this season despite missing three games.
Wistrom turned in his expected above-average effort, adding nine sacks, and the St. Louis
defense finished with 47 sacks and 34 takeaways.
With the front seven putting more pressure on the quarterback, Rams defensive backs
weren’t being asked to cover for six or seven seconds, but three or four.
"You always think you can be good," Herring said. "It is just a matter
of coming together and then you finally jell. I was surprised how fast the secondary did
that. Our mindset wasn’t to get a passing grade, it was to come out and be
dominant."
Herring and Williams led the campaign to have the defense stick around eastern Missouri
for the offseason training program — not to act as exercise watchdogs, but to build a
bridge toward togetherness. As it turned out, staying around St. Louis wasn’t a tough
sell, unlike Herring’s past destinations.
"We just have a great mix of veteran guys and youth in here," Herring said.
"Last year, (with Baltimore), we were just hoping to make the playoffs. I got here
and it was Super Bowl or bust."
In 18 games this season, St. Louis has allowed one 300-yard passing game (305 yards to
Carolina QB Chris Weinke) and has yet to give up 100 yards rushing to a single back.
Packers RB Ahman Green’s 94 yards and Giants RB Ron Dayne’s 88 yards are the
biggest days for opposing backs. In the playoffs, the Rams have been even more impressive.
Favre was intercepted a playoff-record six times and St. Louis has forced 11 turnovers in
two games.
The Rams have but one test left to pass, that being a rematch with New England Sunday
in Super Bowl XXXIV. The Patriots gave the Rams a game in November, falling 24-17, but
rank 19th in the NFL in total offense, 24th rushing and 15th
passing. |
