St. Louis Rams hire Tim Walton as defensive coordinator
BY R.B. FALLSTROM Associated Press
Saturday, February 16, 2013
2/16/13 at 4:45 AM
ST. LOUIS - Finally, the St. Louis Rams have a defensive coordinator.
After interviewing several big-name candidates, including Rob Ryan, Mike Singletary and Dick Jauron, coach Jeff Fisher decided on Tim Walton, a Lions secondary coach who is still building his resume.
"At the end of the day, you take advantage of patience, and we did so," Fisher said Friday at a news conference to announce the hire. "Without hesitation, he is absolutely the right guy."
Fisher said he spent two days with Jauron and one with Singletary, neither of whom he felt were good fits because of differences in terminology. Ryan, hired as the Saint defensive coordinator last week, got a longer look before backing out.
"We went down the road and spent a lot of time together and that's what you have to do, you can't just kneejerk react and run out and hire somebody," Fisher said. "We did that with Rob, we spent a day together with the staff and just felt at the end of the day it was not the right fit."
The Rams finally settled on the 41-year-old Walton, whose top selling point for Fisher was familiarity with the system. Walton coached under former Fisher aide Jim Schwartz in Detroit, who runs a similar defense.
Walton understands it so well that Fisher tried to hire him last year as defensive coordinator/passing game coach. Walton got additional responsibilities in Detroit, adding third-down responsibilities to his title, and the Rams went without a coordinator to replace Gregg Williams, who was suspended all season for his role in the Saints' bounty scandal.
"Yeah, I ended up staying around with that," Walton said in a conference call with reporters. "I could have easily still come up there. I'm extremely excited that I get a chance to be involved with him this year. He is a very knowledgeable coach, and a great guy. I hope I get to be there for a long time."
Fisher said he had a "great deal of interest in Tim last year and for whatever reason it did not work out. Things aren't necessarily going to change from the process standpoint," Fisher added, "he just fits in and makes us better."
Walton planned on being on the job Monday. He said adjusting to the style would be an "easy transition and a smooth transition."
"They've got a lot of great players, a great atmosphere and a great attitude," Walton said. "It's a great opportunity for me."
Original Print Headline: Rams hire defensive coordinator
