In a lot of NFL stadiums, fans frequently rise to their feet and chant: "Defense!" Inside the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis during 2005, however, it was more like "Defense?"During that long and discouraging campaign, the St. Louis Rams gave up more territory than the French Army. By the time the missed Reebok San Francisco 49ers #21 Frank GORE Realtree camo Jersey
tackles and blown coverages were added up, the St. Louis "stop unit" had surrendered a team-record 5,602 yards. And that, new coach Scott Linehan and recently-hired defensive coordinator Jim Haslett realized, was unacceptable.So the Rams pulled out their checkbook and got busy. First, they signed defensive lineman La'Roi Glover, who had been cut loose by the Dallas Cowboys. Then, when the free agent rush finally began, they quickly reeled in LB Will Witherspoon as well as DB's Corey Chavous and Fakhir Brown. The current priority - with $10 million still remaining under the cap - is to retain DT Ryan Pickett.Witherspoon is considered the prize acquisition. As an outside linebacker for Carolina last fall, the University of Georgia product had 109 tackles, 2.5 sacks and two interceptions, one of which he Reebok Washington Redskins #98 ORAKPO Realtree camo Jersey
returned for a touchdowns against the Jets. The Rams plan to move him to middle linebacker to replace Chris Claiborne, and though Witherspoon isn't a huge 'backer (6-1, 231), he performed well in the middle in occasional relief of Dan Morgan. All this made him a big ticket item, roughly $33 million over six years.Chavous was an All-Pro with the Minnesota Vikings, and should fill the hole at safety left by Adam Archuleta's defection to the Washington Redskins. He may also be tapped to advise the Rams during the upcoming draft -- Chavous is a draft analyst at a high-traffic website, and owns over 2,000 videotapes of games and players.In 2005, Chavous made a few highlight videos of his own, ringing up 90 tackles -- 67 of them solo -- and two interceptions. He was also effective on blitzes, being credited with nine quarterback hurries.The third free agent acquisition, Brown, is a six-year veteran cornerback who played for the New Orleans Saints in 2005, recording 31 tackles and six pass deflections. His best season came in 2004, when he had 54 tackles and two Reebok Pittsburgh Steelers 43 Troy Polamalu Realtree camo Jersey
interceptions. A product of Grambling, the 5-11, 192-pounder was originally drafted by San Diego.Glover is a six-time Pro Bowler who was cut loose by the Cowboys for salary cap reasons.No doubt Haslett had some input in the signing of Glover and Brown. The latter played for him last year as he coached New Orleans through its post-Katrina nightmare. The former was also a Saint until 2001.Filling some of their defensive gaps via free agency now gives the St. Louis Rams more flexibility in the draft.Just ask Corey Chavous. (0)
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