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Jeff Fisher believes in 'good kid' Nick Fairley
By Mark Inabinett
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/04/st_louis_rams_coach_jeff_fishe_1.html
on April 04, 2015 at 8:15 AM, updated April 04, 2015 at 8:16 AM
Detroit never seemed too interested in re-signing Nick Fairley this offseason, even though the defensive tackle spent his first four NFL seasons in the trenches for the Lions. On the other hand, the St. Louis Rams "targeted" Fairley in free agency and landed him last month with a one-year, $5 million contract.
The Lions lost one of their defensive tackles, Ndamukong Suh, to the Miami Dolphins in free agency for the largest contract ever given to a defensive player. Even that didn't light much of a flame under Detroit to keep Fairley, the Lions' first-round choice out of Auburn in the 2011 NFL Draft.
"We're kind of looking at our situation, what fits, what suits us at this point in time," Detroit coach Jim Caldwell said at the NFL's annual meeting last week. "Taking all things into consideration, we just thought it was obviously one of those situations where it didn't work. We decided to go elsewhere, and those kinds of things. Nothing personal."
St. Louis coach Jeff Fisher said Fairley and linebacker Akeem Ayers were at the top of the Rams' defensive free-agency wish list, and the team landed both of the players.
Fairley was dogged by weight issues in Detroit, and that often got the blame for inconsistent play. Fairley also missed the second half of the 2014 season because of sprained knee ligaments.
Fisher has known Fairley for several years. The coach's son Trent was a redshirt freshman and a teammate of Fairley's on Auburn's 2010 BCS national championship team.
"He's going to be in shape ready to play," Fisher said at the league's meeting. "I know what kind of kid he is. He's a good kid. ... Where you saw the good plays out of Nick in Detroit, I think he can become consistently that player."
Detroit never put Fairley on the injured reserve list after he got hurt last season, hoping he could make it back before the season ended. Fairley warmed up for the Lions' playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys but didn't play. In contrast to his past, Fairley kept the extra weight off while hurt and signed his contract with St. Louis weighing 280 pounds.
"Nick was injured last year, was in his view ready to come back and play the final game. He did not," Fisher said. "So since then he's been doing nothing but working out. Changed his diet, his eating habits. His weight's under control. He's in great shape right now. He will admit that he probably didn't buy into it as best as he could have early on in his career. There's not a doubt in my mind he's buying into it now. He's serious about his football."
Although the Rams made adding Fairley a priority, the former Williamson High School star not assured of stepping into a starting spot. However, he will become a part of what is anticipated to be one of the NFL's top defensive lines. St. Louis used Michael Brockers and Aaron Donald at the defensive tackle spots last season. Donald won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award for 2014. Brockers has started for the Rams since being selected out of LSU with the 14th choice in the 2012 NFL Draft. The Rams have hard-rushing ends Chris Long and Robert Quinn flanking the tackles.
Fisher said the Rams hoped to use a seven-player rotation on the defensive line in 2015 to keep the players fresh.
"He understands he's going to be in the rotation," Fisher said of Fairley. "In a perfect world, I've got a three-tackle rotation. Potentially, you might bring one of those ends down to rush inside. He understands if he wants to play he's going to have to be productive."
By Mark Inabinett
http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/04/st_louis_rams_coach_jeff_fishe_1.html
on April 04, 2015 at 8:15 AM, updated April 04, 2015 at 8:16 AM
Detroit never seemed too interested in re-signing Nick Fairley this offseason, even though the defensive tackle spent his first four NFL seasons in the trenches for the Lions. On the other hand, the St. Louis Rams "targeted" Fairley in free agency and landed him last month with a one-year, $5 million contract.
The Lions lost one of their defensive tackles, Ndamukong Suh, to the Miami Dolphins in free agency for the largest contract ever given to a defensive player. Even that didn't light much of a flame under Detroit to keep Fairley, the Lions' first-round choice out of Auburn in the 2011 NFL Draft.
"We're kind of looking at our situation, what fits, what suits us at this point in time," Detroit coach Jim Caldwell said at the NFL's annual meeting last week. "Taking all things into consideration, we just thought it was obviously one of those situations where it didn't work. We decided to go elsewhere, and those kinds of things. Nothing personal."
St. Louis coach Jeff Fisher said Fairley and linebacker Akeem Ayers were at the top of the Rams' defensive free-agency wish list, and the team landed both of the players.
Fairley was dogged by weight issues in Detroit, and that often got the blame for inconsistent play. Fairley also missed the second half of the 2014 season because of sprained knee ligaments.
Fisher has known Fairley for several years. The coach's son Trent was a redshirt freshman and a teammate of Fairley's on Auburn's 2010 BCS national championship team.
"He's going to be in shape ready to play," Fisher said at the league's meeting. "I know what kind of kid he is. He's a good kid. ... Where you saw the good plays out of Nick in Detroit, I think he can become consistently that player."
Detroit never put Fairley on the injured reserve list after he got hurt last season, hoping he could make it back before the season ended. Fairley warmed up for the Lions' playoff game against the Dallas Cowboys but didn't play. In contrast to his past, Fairley kept the extra weight off while hurt and signed his contract with St. Louis weighing 280 pounds.
"Nick was injured last year, was in his view ready to come back and play the final game. He did not," Fisher said. "So since then he's been doing nothing but working out. Changed his diet, his eating habits. His weight's under control. He's in great shape right now. He will admit that he probably didn't buy into it as best as he could have early on in his career. There's not a doubt in my mind he's buying into it now. He's serious about his football."
Although the Rams made adding Fairley a priority, the former Williamson High School star not assured of stepping into a starting spot. However, he will become a part of what is anticipated to be one of the NFL's top defensive lines. St. Louis used Michael Brockers and Aaron Donald at the defensive tackle spots last season. Donald won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award for 2014. Brockers has started for the Rams since being selected out of LSU with the 14th choice in the 2012 NFL Draft. The Rams have hard-rushing ends Chris Long and Robert Quinn flanking the tackles.
Fisher said the Rams hoped to use a seven-player rotation on the defensive line in 2015 to keep the players fresh.
"He understands he's going to be in the rotation," Fisher said of Fairley. "In a perfect world, I've got a three-tackle rotation. Potentially, you might bring one of those ends down to rush inside. He understands if he wants to play he's going to have to be productive."
