It didn’t take long for word of Gregg Williams’ return to St. Louis to surface after the team fired defensive coordinator Tim Walton, but it took a bit more time for the team to make an official confirmation of the hire.
That came on Wednesday. Williams was set to be the team’s defensive coordinator in 2012, but his suspension as part of the penalties handed down for the Saints’ bounty program forced the Rams to move in a different direction. Williams spent last season working with the Titans defense and has now been reunited with his former Titans boss Jeff Fisher in St. Louis.
“As I’ve stated before, I believe Gregg is an outstanding football coach and is capable of taking our defense to the next level,” Fisher said in a statement from the team.
The Rams got strong seasons from defensive ends Robert Quinn and Chris Long on their way to 53 total sacks last season and finished ninth in the league against the run. Opposing offenses found big gains when they had time to throw the ball, however, and that will likely be one of the first areas Williams is charged with improving.