Days before the start of training camp, the St. Louis Rams signed defensive end Chris Long to a 5 year contract. The St. Louis Rams are very excited about having Chris Long in the system from day one of camp. This is very big for both the Rams and Chris Long. . The Rams defensive line is upgraded immediately. Adam Carriker played well at defensive tackle and the end position last year. Clifton Ryan was a pleasant surprise in the middle last season outplaying his linemate Claude Woten.
Leonard Little is expected to make a full recovery from his injury last season. James Hall was cut then resigned by the Rams. So for the first time in a long time the St. Louis Rams could have one of the best defensive lines in football. We could be very well be on the cusp of watching another playoff filled run for the St. Louis Rams.
What I have seen with my own eyes over the past two decades watching football is, the front four of your defense is the key. Let’s take the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for example. In the playoff game against the Rams in 2000 it always appeared that Tampa Bay were blitzing on every play. What made them who they were was because of the dominant play of the front line.
And with the variety of tactics that defensive coordinator Jim Haslett like to use, this makes the rest of the defense exciting to watch. Jim Haslett has a way of using players in the right situation. What he was able to do with linebacker Brandon Chillar was fantastic. His fantastic turnaround led him to become a sought after commodity in free agency. Brandon Chillar was signed by the Green Bay Packers.
So only one could wonder what a marriage it would be for Chris Long and Jim Haslett to be on the same page. Haslett is going to have a field day concocting multiple defensive fronts to confuse opposing quarterbacks. Even the once retired Bret Favre marvels Jim Haslett and his blitzing schemes.
Chris Long doesn’t now how happy he has made the Rams fans and especially embattled head coach Scott Linehan. Linehan as I have stated before is on the death watch. So having his impact player signed and ready to go means everything. Especially with the, passing of Georgia Frontierre, and the constant speculation that the team is up for sale.
This gives the Rams fans abroad a little something to cheer about. No rookie missing valuable time in training camp because of a contract squabble. Then fans start getting anxious with both parties. The fans hold a grudge. Then forgive. This gives the fans a chance to have a short memory about the collapse of last season.
And this gives the fans here in St. Louis something to look forward to. Any questions or comments email me @Livnlegend@hotmail.com.