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http://www.theleafchronicle.com/article ... ck_check=1
[wrapimg=left]http://cmsimg.theleafchronicle.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DA&Date=20120629&Category=SPORTS&ArtNo=306290051&Ref=AR&MaxW=300&Border=0&Fisher-building-Rams-Titans-image[/wrapimg]NASHVILLE — When he addressed his new St. Louis Rams team for the first time last April, former Titans head coach Jeff Fisher had the strange sensation of recognizing only a few faces.
It represented quite a change from what Fisher had last experienced with the Titans, whom he coached from 1994-2010 before the two sides parted ways.
“I think that was one of the weirdest moments, when I stood up in front of the team and only recognized two players,” Fisher said prior to the Drive for Dinger Celebrity Golf Tournament on Friday.
“That’s definitely different. But now it seems so long ago … Now it’s become a team and I’m very familiar with the roster.”
Fisher talked about the challenge he’ll face in resurrecting the Rams, who have totaled 65 losses – an average of 13 losses per year – over the last five seasons.
“No team in NFL history has lost more games in a five-year span than the Rams the last five years,” Fisher said. “So the people are anxious. They have high expectations. They want a winner, so we’re going to go up there to get it turned around.”
One of the familiar faces Fisher will be counting on to help turn around the team is former Titan cornerback Cortland Finnegan, who the Rams signed to a five-year contract worth about $50 million.
“That was important. It was a need for us and it happened to be a great timing situation,” Fisher said. “We saw that he was available and we got that put together. We also signed (former Titans defensive end) William Hayes and Will’s doing a great job. He’s healthy now and he’s excited about playing in our system.”
In addition to signing Finnegan, Fisher and the Rams also bolstered their secondary by drafting cornerback Janoris Jenkins in the second round and cornerback Trumaine Johnson in the third round.
Work in progress: Titans defensive tackle Shaun Smith recently admitted he was worried about holding on to his roster spot for the coming season.
It’s understandable, given that Smith is coming off an average year, is scheduled to make $2 million, and is part of a crowded defensive tackle picture that includes Jurrell Casey, Karl Klug, Sen’Derrick Marks, Zach Clayton, Mike Martin, Lamar Divens and DaJohn Harris.
Titans defensive coordinator Jerry Gray said Smith, who has dropped about 20 pounds from last season, is still adapting to Tennessee’s 4-3 system after playing almost exclusively in a 3-4 system while in Kansas City in 2010.
Moving on: A mainstay in the Titans’ secondary over the past six years, safety Chris Hope officially moved on Friday when he signed a contract with the Atlanta Falcons.
The 31 year-old Hope finished his Titans career with 542 tackles and 16 interception.
Berman’s Music City test run: ESPN’s Chris Berman will make his NFL regular-season, play-by-play announcing debut this year, as he and Trent Dilfer have been chosen to work a Sept. 10 game between Oakland San Diego.
[wrapimg=left]http://cmsimg.theleafchronicle.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=DA&Date=20120629&Category=SPORTS&ArtNo=306290051&Ref=AR&MaxW=300&Border=0&Fisher-building-Rams-Titans-image[/wrapimg]NASHVILLE — When he addressed his new St. Louis Rams team for the first time last April, former Titans head coach Jeff Fisher had the strange sensation of recognizing only a few faces.
It represented quite a change from what Fisher had last experienced with the Titans, whom he coached from 1994-2010 before the two sides parted ways.
“I think that was one of the weirdest moments, when I stood up in front of the team and only recognized two players,” Fisher said prior to the Drive for Dinger Celebrity Golf Tournament on Friday.
“That’s definitely different. But now it seems so long ago … Now it’s become a team and I’m very familiar with the roster.”
Fisher talked about the challenge he’ll face in resurrecting the Rams, who have totaled 65 losses – an average of 13 losses per year – over the last five seasons.
“No team in NFL history has lost more games in a five-year span than the Rams the last five years,” Fisher said. “So the people are anxious. They have high expectations. They want a winner, so we’re going to go up there to get it turned around.”
One of the familiar faces Fisher will be counting on to help turn around the team is former Titan cornerback Cortland Finnegan, who the Rams signed to a five-year contract worth about $50 million.
“That was important. It was a need for us and it happened to be a great timing situation,” Fisher said. “We saw that he was available and we got that put together. We also signed (former Titans defensive end) William Hayes and Will’s doing a great job. He’s healthy now and he’s excited about playing in our system.”
In addition to signing Finnegan, Fisher and the Rams also bolstered their secondary by drafting cornerback Janoris Jenkins in the second round and cornerback Trumaine Johnson in the third round.
Work in progress: Titans defensive tackle Shaun Smith recently admitted he was worried about holding on to his roster spot for the coming season.
It’s understandable, given that Smith is coming off an average year, is scheduled to make $2 million, and is part of a crowded defensive tackle picture that includes Jurrell Casey, Karl Klug, Sen’Derrick Marks, Zach Clayton, Mike Martin, Lamar Divens and DaJohn Harris.
Titans defensive coordinator Jerry Gray said Smith, who has dropped about 20 pounds from last season, is still adapting to Tennessee’s 4-3 system after playing almost exclusively in a 3-4 system while in Kansas City in 2010.
Moving on: A mainstay in the Titans’ secondary over the past six years, safety Chris Hope officially moved on Friday when he signed a contract with the Atlanta Falcons.
The 31 year-old Hope finished his Titans career with 542 tackles and 16 interception.
Berman’s Music City test run: ESPN’s Chris Berman will make his NFL regular-season, play-by-play announcing debut this year, as he and Trent Dilfer have been chosen to work a Sept. 10 game between Oakland San Diego.