Rams Might Hire Tollner to Coach Quarterbacks : Pro football: Former USC head coach was fired by San Diego Chargers last season. He met with Chuck Knox Thursday.

Ted Tollner, who was assistant head coach/quarterbacks coach with the San Diego Chargers until he was fired by Dan Henning early last season, is expected to be named Rams’ quarterbacks coach.

Tollner, who was head coach at USC from 1983-86, was at Rams Park Thursday for further discussions with Coach Chuck Knox. Tollner interviewed for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offensive coordinator job this week but is no longer considered a candidate.

Knox, who expressed concern about the decline of quarterback Jim Everett over the past two seasons during his preliminary meetings with existing Ram assistants, said this month that it was important to hire “someone who the quarterback can identify with and talk to, someone who can help him fundamentally.”

Also, linebackers coach Ronnie Jones had a second interview with Knox Thursday but has yet to be offered the job.

“We talked some football and then he said he had promised to interview some other guys and would get back to me next week,” Jones said. “Then I’m supposed to get together with the rest of the defensive staff and talk some more football.”

Jones, hoping to join offensive coordinator Ernie Zampese as the only holdovers from the John Robinson era, won’t have many options if Knox decides to hire someone else. Most NFL assistant coaching positions are filled.

“I don’t know if I can take another week of waiting,” he said.

Notes

Nolan Cromwell, a defensive and specials teams assistant for the Rams last season, was hired as special teams coach for Green Bay. “I’m looking forward to it,” Cromwell said. “I’m loading up the snowmobile and heading out to the Bay.” . . . Strength and conditioning coach Garrett Giemont, who had been encouraged to look elsewhere for employment, is conducting serious discussions with the Chicago Cubs.