RAMS : Once-Docile Defensive Unit Fighting to Change Its Image

No longer content to take habitual thrashings from their own teammates--never mind the rest of the football world--the Ram defense this mini-camp began its quest to shed its meek practice attitude and put the mean back into its demeanor.

Yes, growling is now accepted and perhaps even encouraged at Rams Park, which for many years had been a tranquil, peaceful and, not surprisingly, offense-dominated place.

As the Rams’ third and last mini-camp came to a close Thursday, the most obvious transformation of this team-in-transition has been the relentless aggressiveness of the defensive players, spurred by the switch from a passive zone to the attack-first, look-second style of new defensive coordinator Jeff Fisher.

Players barked at each other. Linemen charged into each other without benefit of pads or much common sense. Challenges were offered and accepted. The veteran offensive players, so used to having their way on the practice field, had to adjust and buckle down.

“It’s really refreshing,” said 16-year offensive tackle Jackie Slater. “For years, we’ve been watching guys sit back and throw the ball on our defense, and run the ball on our defense. Plus, on the practice field we pretty much had our way with our defense.

“They were so basic. You knew they were going to be here or there.”

Now, all the offense knows is that the defense, brimming with unproven talent, is coming at them in waves, trying to strip the football at every opportunity and banging into receivers if the ball is up for grabs.

Last year, a disaster year, the defense seemed to play in a daze and gave up countless big plays on the practice field and in games. The defense intercepted only 12 passes and registered just 30 sacks.

So if the defense isn’t running smoothly yet, at least the energy level has soared. The Rams think big plays will follow.

“That’s something we’ve been begging for,” Coach John Robinson said. “We will struggle now between the offense and the defense for who’s king of the hill--just in our own rhetoric that goes on in the locker room.

“In the past, the offense were the arrogant guys. . . . There will be that struggle here and there will be more rhetoric about that here.”

If by rhetoric Robinson means fiery words and brief scuffles, he got that these past two weeks.

In one exchange, safety Anthony Newmann and quarterback Jim Everett snapped at each other during an interlude in the intense one-on-one coverage drill. In another, Slater and Plan B defensive end Karl Wilson pushed and shoved each other above and beyond the call of the drill. In another, cornerback Latin Berry pulled receiver Derrick Faison down hard before the ball arrived, eliciting cheers from his secondary mates and an unbelieving stare from Faison.

Nothing serious, but clearly, there will be no more Mr. Nice Guys on the Ram defense.

“I think you have to create a personality, and I think it’s becoming apparent that the personality is starting to take shape,” Fisher said. “It’s a direct result of the aggressive-style defense and the competitive nature of each individual position.

“They’ve got a purpose now--their purpose is to live up to the reputation of what it is we’re trying to teach. The reputation of being aggressive. If you’re going to be that way you certainly have to act that way.”

Sometimes acting that way, Fisher acknowledges, means upping the tension between some offensive and defensive players.

“There’s a fine line between talking and playing, and I’ve always believed talking is OK if you back it up,” Fisher said.

“But if you don’t back it up, then you just be quiet and do your job.

“You have to play with confidence--not to the point where it becomes arrogance, but with confidence, it can translate into that type of ‘hey, we’re tough, bring it on and let’s play.’ ”

Which has both the offense and defense eagerly anticipating the full-contact matchups in training camp, starting July 17.

If the defensive players are going to go full-throttle without battle gear, what’s going to happen when the pads are on?

“It should be one of the most physical camps we’ve had here in a long time,” said Slater with a knowing smile. “I can’t see any other way for Fisher to find out who those people are but turning up the heat. So that turns it up for everybody.

“It’s going to be uncomfortable somewhat for me because I’m generally not used to guys consistently, play in and play out, making me work as hard as these guys are. . . . And it’s not only me, it’s most of our offensive linemen. Most of our offensive personnel are going to be uncomfortable with this for a while.

“But I think maybe being a little more uncomfortable for the sake of having a more balanced football team and a team that’s eventually going to get us where we say we’re going to be . . . we’ve got to deal with the uncomfortableness.”

Said cornerback Jerry Gray: “We don’t even have pads on and guys are going full speed. You’re not taking guys down, but you’re really challenging after the football.

“Normally it’s ‘don’t hit the receiver, don’t do this, don’t do that.’ But now, it’s a lot of ‘go, go, go, go here, go do that.’ No one is telling me not to do something. They’re telling me ‘do it, do it, do it.’ ”

If there’s one new Ram player who lifted his stock in this mini-camp, it’s middle linebacker Glenell Sanders, a stocky (6-0, 224) Plan B signee from the Chicago Bears.

Sanders, who reminds many of a raw Mike Singletary, is tied with Larry Kelm and Frank Stams in the competition for the crucial starting job in the middle.

And judging by the looks the defensive coaches have been giving him and his pedal-to-the-metal play throughout the camp, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Sanders work his way into the starting lineup.

It’s likely Jerry Gray will sign a multiyear deal late next week, probably Friday.

Gray is flying home to Austin, Tex., this week, but said Thursday he plans to return to Los Angeles on Friday for a final meeting with his agent, Marvin Demoff. By then, the final terms of the two- or three-year deal are expected to be completed, with Gray’s base salary expected to be about $700,000 a season.

“We have something going on,” Gray said.