NFC West Preview | Scott Linehan knows pressure is on him in St. Louis

ST. LOUIS — Rams coach Scott Linehan couldn't have known with any certainty that he'd be returning for a third season in St. Louis in 2008. After a 3-13 record last season, a mark that was actually a lot worse than the numbers suggest, the Rams faced a tumultuous offseason.

How could the team bring back Linehan after the Rams had lost their first eight games of 2007 and Linehan relinquished the offensive play-calling duties?

How would Linehan mend fences with veterans like wide receiver Torry Holt, a mild-mannered player who instigated a made-for-TV verbal assault on the coach last season on the sidelines?

And if Linehan were kept on board, how would he respond to pressure from Rams management to make changes on his coaching staff, most notably ushering in longtime NFL assistant Al Saunders to run the offense?

Making the situation more tenuous for Linehan, a Sunnyside native, was the passing of Rams majority owner Georgia Frontiere in January. Frontiere, who died at age 80 after a lengthy battle with breast cancer, was a huge proponent of Linehan and wanted him to have a chance to work through the '07 disaster.

Despite some sentiment for change among a growingly hostile fan base, Linehan will get a new opportunity.

Citing numerous injuries to key personnel, longtime Rams president John Shaw, who still controls the team despite Frontiere's adult children assuming ownership, said the 2007 season was a difficult year to evaluate Linehan and will give him a chance to coach a healthy team.

Linehan has agreed to a few concessions regarding the coaching staff, and he has patched up relationships with his players. Now he has the Rams gearing up for a new season — one he realizes must be an improvement.

"I feel like I've got to win," Linehan told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. "I'm not going to [con] anybody. There's no question. They want nothing more than for our football team to have success, and to say, 'We did pick the right guy.' It pains me to not be able to give them the product ... especially a year ago."

Linehan, 44, appears to be on the same page with Rams management and the players, although the offseason and training camp haven't gone particularly smoothly.

First, the club released future Hall of Fame receiver Isaac Bruce and watched him sign with the rival San Francisco 49ers, who, by the way, have former Rams coach Mike Martz as their new offensive coordinator.

Then the NFL schedule was released and the schedule-makers did the Rams no favors. In their first seven games, the Rams will face five playoff teams from 2007, including both Super Bowl participants (the Giants and Patriots). The combined 2007 record of their first seven foes is 73-39.

With an emphasis on a good start out of the gate, Linehan and the Rams were blindsided by the decision of running back Steven Jackson to hold out for a new contract in training camp.

Jackson, who has rushed for 4,249 yards and 30 touchdowns in four seasons, missed 27 days of camp before agreeing to a six-year, $44 million contract ($20 million guaranteed). But in the process, Jackson irritated fans already wary of the running back after he chastised them last year for selling tickets to visiting fans.

"I do understand everyone has their own opinion [about the holdout]," said Jackson, who played at Oregon State. "But I think if I can continue to play in the manner that I have in the [previous] four years, and stay healthy on the field, I think all will be forgiven."

Perhaps the biggest development in training camp, besides Jackson's return to the field, is the semblance of a legitimate offensive line. A year ago, the line was decimated by injuries, beginning with Orlando Pace's torn rotator cuff and labrum in his right shoulder in the team's season opener.

Although Pace has been slowed by an unrelated shoulder pain, he has looked solid in camp.

The line was hit by a season-ending knee injury to lineman Mark Setterstrom in camp, but Linehan painted a different picture of how the Rams will answer in 2008.

"This is how we're going to respond to adversity this year," Linehan said. "We're just going to keep playing. We're not going to get into that ['woe is me'] deal."

That's because the Rams — and Linehan specifically — can't afford to take on that mentality any longer.

Scott Hanson