Knox Fires Defensive Coordinator : Rams: New coach hires George Dyer, a former assistant at Seattle, to replace Jeff Fisher.

New Ram Coach Chuck Knox late Thursday night fired defensive coordinator Jeff Fisher and installed former Seattle Seahawk defensive line coach George Dyer as his new defensive coordinator.

Fisher, brought in last year by former coach John Robinson, said he was told Wednesday that he would be retained by the Rams if Seattle defensive coordinator Tom Catlin chose to stay with the Seahawks.

Catlin decided to stay in Seattle, but Knox, saying on Thursday that he didn’t feel comfortable with Fisher, decided to make the move.

“I called him (Knox) today after meeting with him Wednesday night because I didn’t think 50 minutes was enough to discuss everything,” Fisher said Thursday night. “He told me he didn’t think it was going to work.

“It’s unfortunate, but I understand Coach Knox. It’s his team and he’s being loyal to his (former staff with the Seahawks). It’s apparent he has a direction he wants to take, and apparently I’m not part of it.”

Dyer, 51, has a Southern California background, having attended San Gabriel High and UC Santa Barbara.

Fisher said he will begin looking for other opportunities. He was denied permission over the weekend to interview for the now-filled Cincinnati Bengal defensive coordinator’s job.

“Honestly, I’m a little bit taken by surprise,” Fisher said. “It looks as if most of the jobs out there are being filled up. I’ll just have to go out and find out what’s there.”

As expected, the Rams announced Thursday that Ernie Zampese has been retained as the team’s offensive coordinator, although no other member of the offensive staff has been offered a chance to stay.

“It helps out to know Ernie will still be here,” receiver Henry Ellard said. “The passing game will be pretty much the same. That makes a big difference as a receiver. You don’t have to worry about learning a whole new system again.”

Special teams coach Gil Haskell was informed Wednesday night that he will also stay on staff, and on Thursday, linebacker coach Ronnie Jones was told that Knox will give him strong consideration.

But with at least three and probably four members of Knox’s Seahawk staff coming to the Rams--running back coach Chick Harris, special assignment coach Joe Vitt and Dyer will be at Rams Park with Knox today, and secondary coach Rod Perry could join them later--the rest of the old Ram staff is probably not in the picture.

Perry said that he is taking time to decide whether to accept Flores’ offer to stay in Seattle or rejoin Knox, the man who coached him on the Rams in the 1970s.

“Chuck Knox is obviously the guy who brought me into this league,” Perry said. “I have a lot of loyalty to him, for what he’s done for me. But sometimes you have to look at it from a family situation, figure out what’s best for me and my family.”

The few players around Rams Park Thursday said they looked forward to Knox’s familiar brand of discipline and work ethic.

“His teams, they were pretty tough teams,” said tackle Gerald Perry, who faced Knox’s Seattle teams twice a year when he played for the Denver Broncos. “He didn’t have a whole lot of talent, but he made it work.”

Said kicker Tony Zendejas: “He’s brought every team he’s ever been at from a losing season, right away turned them around real quick. I think that had a lot to do with it. Plus, he’s been coaching for a long time. He’s a solid, solid coach. Looks like they made a great choice.”

Several veteran Rams said that Knox’s clearly defined role as the team’s No. 1 man--including a vice president’s title--is a refreshing break from the vague power structure of years past with John Robinson as coach.

“It’s always nice to know where you stand, know who’s accountable for what,” middle linebacker Larry Kelm said.

“I think it’s a good idea to come out and say, ‘OK, this is what I do. This is how I’m going to handle it. And if things don’t work out, it’s my fault.’ You’ve got to like somebody like that.”

Said Ellard: “Without a doubt, it’s good to know that the management is willing to turn everything over to him and let him take control of everything as far as the football operation goes. That’s really going to help.”