Tim Walton out, Gregg Williams in as Rams defensive coordinator
The Rams announced Wednesday that they had relieved Walton from his defensive coordinator position. He was hired a year ago after serving four seasons as the secondary coach of the Detroit Lions.
"I would like to thank Tim for his hard work and contributions to our defense," Rams coach Jeff Fisher said in a press release. "I wish him well in the future."
Williams had served as the defensive coordinator under Fisher in Tennessee from 1997-2000 and signed on to join Fisher's new staff in St. Louis in 2012 before he was suspended indefinitely for his role in the New Orleans Saints' bounty scandal and was later released by the Rams.
Williams' son, Blake, served as the Rams' defensive coordinator in 2012 but was fired at the end of that season. The Rams had agreed to hire Rob Ryan to run the defense, but he changed his mind and took a job with the Saints. Then the Rams hired Walton.
Gregg Williams returned to the NFL last season as a senior assistant/defense under Mike Munchak with the Tennessee Titans.
Statistically, the Rams' defense in 2013 looked a lot like it did in 2012.
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In 2012, when St. Louis went 7-8-1, the Rams were tied for first in the NFL in sacks (52); 18th in fewest points per game (21.8), fewest rushing yards per game (117.5) and fewest passing yards per game (225.1); and 19th in fewest total yards per game (342.6).
In 2013, under Walton, St. Louis (7-9) was third in the NFL in sacks (53), ninth in fewest rushing yards allowed per game (102.9), 13th in fewest points per game (22.8), 19th in fewest passing yards allowed per game (242.1) and 17th in fewest total yards per game (365.4).
Williams, who was the Buffalo Bills' head coach from 2001-03, is known as a coordinator with an aggressive blitzing style that should fit well with the Rams' personnel, including a strong front seven led by defensive ends Robert Quinn and Chris Long and middle linebacker James Laurinaitis.
The Titans (7-9) ranked 11th in the NFL in fewest passing yards per game (225.8) in 2013, 16th in fewest points per game (23.8), 20th in fewest rushing yards per game (112.2) and were tied for 21st in sacks (36).
Tennessee had allowed an NFL-worst 29.4 points per game in 2012.
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