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Fisher on Defensive Roster Moves
By Myles Simmons
View: http://www.stlouisrams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Fisher-on-Defensive-Roster-Moves/88673c03-c010-4ba4-a94c-5311f38f5614
While the addition of Nick Foles may have garnered the most attention of the Rams’ offseason roster moves thus far, the team has also been busy bolstering its defense.
In the first few weeks of free agency, St. Louis has added defensive tackle Nick Fairley -- who was introduced in a fun an unique way during the Foles press conference -- and linebacker Akeem Ayers. Both have a reputation for being tenacious, aggressive players on their side of the ball.
“We actually targeted both Akeem and Nick,” head coach Jeff Fisher said at the NFC coaches breakfast during the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix. “From a fit standpoint and a need standpoint, those were our top two defensive players. Walking away thinking that we were able to get both of them was really good.”
Fairley played his first four years in the league with the Lions, recording 13.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and a safety. He had a good start to his 2014 season playing the first eight games, but missed the rest of the year due to injury.
“Was in his view ready to come back and play the final game but he did not,” Fisher said of Fairley. “Since then he’s been doing nothing but working out. He changed his diet, his eating habits. His weight is under control. He’s in great shape right now. He’ll admit that he probably didn’t buy into it as best as he could have early in his career. There’s no doubt in my mind he’s buying into it now. He’s serious about his football.”
Fisher added that the talent around him will likely help Fairley acclimate and excel in the Rams’ defense. The head coach said that the defensive tackle was excited to come into the building and meet with defensive like coach Mike Waufle and see how the team operates. Fairley said himself after his signing that the D-line in Detroit had often watched a lot of film of St. Louis’ front four to study it, and Fisher added that now Fairley is looking forward to becoming a part of the rotation.
“He fits the same way that Kendall Langford did the last couple years,” Fisher said. “We’re going to play usually seven defensive linemen. Nick is going to fit into the rotation and rotate with the other two tackles and keep him fresh.”
As for Ayers, Fisher said that the linebacker’s versatility helps make him such a productive player. Ayers also has familiarity with Rams linebackers coach Frank Bush, as Bush held the same position in Tennessee early in Ayers’ career. The linebacker played the first three-plus years of his career for the Titans before being traded to the Patriots last season. He’s racked up 252 tackles, 13.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, and three interceptions in the NFL.
“He can play behind the line of scrimmage and not entirely on the line of scrimmage,” Fisher said, adding that Ayers will compete with Jo-Lonn Dunbar for a starting spot. “He can play outside linebacker and he can rush, he can drop. He runs well. He did a great job for New England as a standup rusher. He gives us another guy that hopefully we can create mismatches with from a collapsing the pocket.”
But one of the elements that will help improve the defense is continuity from the coaching ranks. It will be defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’ second season with the club, which means that players will already be more familiar with the system, and Williams will already know the majority of the personnel. Fisher said that it did take some time in 2014 for both of those factors to come together.
“We may have done too much in camp from an install standpoint,” Fisher said. “I think now that he has a better feel for what we have and he has a better feel for what we have, that we can prune things down a little bit and get good at a few things rather than be involved with too much.”
And while he wasn’t an offseason acquisition, Fisher said that the team will continue to use safety Mark Barron -- acquired at the 2014 trade deadline -- in creative ways on the defense.
“That’s what Mark gives us, that flexibility to play around the line of scrimmage, cover big tight ends and just all those things and blitz,” Fisher said. “He’s just a very instinctive player.”
By Myles Simmons
View: http://www.stlouisrams.com/news-and-events/article-1/Fisher-on-Defensive-Roster-Moves/88673c03-c010-4ba4-a94c-5311f38f5614
While the addition of Nick Foles may have garnered the most attention of the Rams’ offseason roster moves thus far, the team has also been busy bolstering its defense.
In the first few weeks of free agency, St. Louis has added defensive tackle Nick Fairley -- who was introduced in a fun an unique way during the Foles press conference -- and linebacker Akeem Ayers. Both have a reputation for being tenacious, aggressive players on their side of the ball.
“We actually targeted both Akeem and Nick,” head coach Jeff Fisher said at the NFC coaches breakfast during the NFL owners meetings in Phoenix. “From a fit standpoint and a need standpoint, those were our top two defensive players. Walking away thinking that we were able to get both of them was really good.”
Fairley played his first four years in the league with the Lions, recording 13.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and a safety. He had a good start to his 2014 season playing the first eight games, but missed the rest of the year due to injury.
“Was in his view ready to come back and play the final game but he did not,” Fisher said of Fairley. “Since then he’s been doing nothing but working out. He changed his diet, his eating habits. His weight is under control. He’s in great shape right now. He’ll admit that he probably didn’t buy into it as best as he could have early in his career. There’s no doubt in my mind he’s buying into it now. He’s serious about his football.”
Fisher added that the talent around him will likely help Fairley acclimate and excel in the Rams’ defense. The head coach said that the defensive tackle was excited to come into the building and meet with defensive like coach Mike Waufle and see how the team operates. Fairley said himself after his signing that the D-line in Detroit had often watched a lot of film of St. Louis’ front four to study it, and Fisher added that now Fairley is looking forward to becoming a part of the rotation.
“He fits the same way that Kendall Langford did the last couple years,” Fisher said. “We’re going to play usually seven defensive linemen. Nick is going to fit into the rotation and rotate with the other two tackles and keep him fresh.”
As for Ayers, Fisher said that the linebacker’s versatility helps make him such a productive player. Ayers also has familiarity with Rams linebackers coach Frank Bush, as Bush held the same position in Tennessee early in Ayers’ career. The linebacker played the first three-plus years of his career for the Titans before being traded to the Patriots last season. He’s racked up 252 tackles, 13.0 sacks, three forced fumbles, and three interceptions in the NFL.
“He can play behind the line of scrimmage and not entirely on the line of scrimmage,” Fisher said, adding that Ayers will compete with Jo-Lonn Dunbar for a starting spot. “He can play outside linebacker and he can rush, he can drop. He runs well. He did a great job for New England as a standup rusher. He gives us another guy that hopefully we can create mismatches with from a collapsing the pocket.”
But one of the elements that will help improve the defense is continuity from the coaching ranks. It will be defensive coordinator Gregg Williams’ second season with the club, which means that players will already be more familiar with the system, and Williams will already know the majority of the personnel. Fisher said that it did take some time in 2014 for both of those factors to come together.
“We may have done too much in camp from an install standpoint,” Fisher said. “I think now that he has a better feel for what we have and he has a better feel for what we have, that we can prune things down a little bit and get good at a few things rather than be involved with too much.”
And while he wasn’t an offseason acquisition, Fisher said that the team will continue to use safety Mark Barron -- acquired at the 2014 trade deadline -- in creative ways on the defense.
“That’s what Mark gives us, that flexibility to play around the line of scrimmage, cover big tight ends and just all those things and blitz,” Fisher said. “He’s just a very instinctive player.”
