Ram Lineup Is a Good Fit for Woods : Pro football: Backup defensive end, who played for Knox in Seattle, can fill in almost anywhere with ease.

Tony Woods started 79 games as a defensive end and linebacker during six seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. But lately, it takes something just short of a crisis to get him in the starting lineup.

And the Rams were stuck in just such a situation moments before their game at San Francisco.

Starting right end Fred Stokes left San Francisco that morning to be with his wife, Regina, who was in labor. While Stokes scrambled to find a charter flight back to San Francisco, Ram coaches were scrambling to find his replacement.

It was Woods, whom the Rams had signed after the Seahawks cut him at the end of training camp. Ram Coach Chuck Knox and defensive coordinator George Dyer coached Woods in his first five years in Seattle, and they brought him to the Rams for emergencies such as this.

“I found out I was starting about 20 minutes before we went out for pregame warm-ups,” Woods recalled. “Everybody was looking around for Fred. I was looking around for Fred. We didn’t know if he would be back in time or not.

“But I think I was pretty well prepared. I was a starter since I’ve been in this league, so it wasn’t a real big shock.”

Stokes returned in time for the two-minute warning, just as Steve Young and John Taylor were finishing up a 40-17 rout. Woods finished with five tackles, modest success for a starter.

Still, Woods made his point. Yes, he can still start in this league. Yes, he’s only 28 and can play another five years. And yes, he thinks he has a future as a starter with the Rams, if not elsewhere.

“I’ll keep my options open, but I would like to stay here,” he said. “I got used to playing with great young players in Seattle like (defensive tackle) Cortez Kennedy, and it’s the same situation here with Sean Gilbert.”

This season nearly ended before it began. Woods still ponders why the Seahawks let him go. He’s only 28, and he started 15 games last season, contributing 47 tackles and three sacks. What had he done wrong?

Probably nothing. Seattle, going with youth in a rebuilding stage, wanted a better look at second-year player Michael Sinclair and rookie Michael McCrary. Woods didn’t fit the profile.

“Before I got the call, I knew something was going on,” he said. “I knew I was either getting traded or cut. They just had a couple younger guys that they wanted to keep around.”

He wasn’t unemployed for long.

Seattle cut Woods on a Monday. Within 24 hours, his agent had heard from Atlanta, Phoenix and New Orleans. On Tuesday, his phone rang. It was Knox. After a brief conversation, the deal was sealed. Woods signed the next day.

“For one reason or another they weren’t happy with him,” Dyer said. “We knew there was a chance he would be available, not because of his ability, but because they had a couple of young kids they wanted to keep. It was somewhat of a surprise, but not a complete surprise.”

The Rams wanted Woods for several reasons. His speed and quickness were good for a linebacker, but outstanding for a defensive end. He had converted from linebacker to defensive end in 1990, a transition Dyer had helped him make. He gave them depth at a key position and they knew he would easily fit into the lineup.

“It was the best fit for me because I didn’t have to learn a whole new system,” Woods said. “I knew 85% to 90% of this system from the start, so it worked out well.”

But not good enough for a starting spot. The Rams already had solid starters in Stokes and left end Robert Young. With Gerald Robinson backing up Young, Woods was left with a new role as Stokes’ caddie.

“A lot of people can’t handle being a backup,” Woods said. “I think it was easier for me because I know I’m going to get playing time, because they (coaches) know what I can do. Still, it’s a pride thing, and it hurts you. You have to take a step back and say, ‘What’s going on here?’ ”

Familiar faces made Woods’ transition easier. He moved in with tight end Travis McNeal, a former Seattle teammate. Understanding Knox’s approach to practice and Dyer’s 4-3 defensive scheme also helped.

“Things worked out better because I came here as opposed to somewhere else, where I didn’t know anybody, players or coaches,” Woods said. “It would have taken me half a year just to learn the system.”

As a backup, Woods estimates the Rams use him on 10 to 12 plays a game. After working out at defensive tackle during practice, Woods could get some more playing time there.

“We’ve been nicked so bad with guys getting hurt, we’re trying to get our people so they can play everywhere,” Dyer said. “We’re moving Tony around for some added depth as well as some added snaps for him.”

But Woods worries about more than just playing time. The Rams are 2-6 and aren’t printing any playoff tickets. Woods hasn’t been to the playoffs since 1988, when he started on the Seahawks’ AFC West championship team.

“I want to get back in the playoffs,” Woods said. “A lot of these guys have never been in the playoffs before, and I was fortunate in my first two years in the league to go.

“I think one of the reasons they brought me in here was that I’m a veteran who has been to the playoffs. I can help these younger guys, show them how to practice and when to turn it on and when to turn it off. If that’s how they want me to contribute, I’ll be happy.”