Rams Add Special Teams Ace

[ramsbruce]

Rams add special teams ace
By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
09/01/2008

Looking for ways to bolster their coverage units, the Rams have agreed to terms with special teams ace Gary Stills. Stills, 34, is scheduled to arrive in St. Louis on Tuesday.

Contract terms weren’t immediately available. The team will have to release a player from the 53-man roster to make room for Stills. With seven linebackers already on the roster, the cut is expected to come from that unit.

Stills made his reputation on special teams during his seven seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs. From 2000 through 2005, Stills averaged 25 special teams stops per season. He made the Pro Bowl following the 2003 season as a special teamer.

After signing with Baltimore as a free agent in 2006, Stills set a franchise record with 44 special teams tackles. That’s the second-highest single-season total in NFL history. Stills had 26 special teams stops last season, but the Ravens decided to go with younger legs on the roster following this year’s preseason and released Stills.

Stills doesn’t run like he used to as he enters his 10th NFL season. But the Rams believe he can still be an effective performer on coverage units. They are impressed with his intensity and believe he can be a leader on a special teams unit that continued to struggle in coverage during the preseason.

A linebacker by trade, Stills is 6-2, 250 pounds. He doesn’t play much from scrimmage, but does have 8½ career sacks, including one last year at Pittsburgh.

[TheBritishRam]

Good to hear of a more experience at LB and on special teams. I think that might mean the end for Vobora or McGarigle

[MauiRam]

With only one spot left on the practice squad it looks like a choice between Vobora, and Bassey .. Hope this guy "Stills" still has it ...

[jkramsfan]

this is good news,anything to make the special teams a little more special.

[laram0]

this is good news,anything to make the special teams a little more special.

Hopefully this guy has some fuel left in the tank. Anything will help at this point.

[jkramsfan]

Hopefully this guy has some fuel left in the tank. Anything will help at this point.

well he is 34,hopefully he can beat the kicker down the field.

[Mooselini]

This is a good thing for our special teams unit. We've struggled there for so long, time for change.

[RealRam]

With only one spot left on the practice squad it looks like a choice between Vobora, and Bassey .. Hope this guy "Stills" still has it ...

"Hope this guy 'Stills' still has it". Me too! And you're probably right on those two players: one of them will be prepping his bags to leave soon. I'd like to see Bassey stay.

[Bar-bq]

Great!

This looks like a step forward for our special teams. A self congratulatory pat-on-back in in order for Linehan and Co. if he succeeds.

[chipperjones]

Yes!....Anything will help!

[moloch41]

If this guy can help our special teams and get them a Top 5 ranking, I'll not ony back any push to make him team MVP, but I'll start carving the bust for Canton myself...

[Fortuninerhater]

I wonder how long Drew Bennett would count against the cap if we cut him.

[Aussie Dave]

cutting bennett would be a massive hit to the cap, i think its like over 5mil . that wont happen.

Bassey was already cut to allow for manning jr.

i also think that it will be vobora or mcgarigle getting cut.
mcg is the only other mlb on the roster with spoon so sadly i think mr irrelevant will be gone.
he seemed like a good kid too. damn.

[HUbison]

With seven linebackers already on the roster, the cut is expected to come from that unit.

Let's see here...

SAM - QC, Draft, Vobora
MIKE - Spoon, Draft, McG
Will - Pisa, Draft, Chamberlain

Hmm......if the cut comes from the LBs, I'm betting McGariagle is gone as Vobora has more special teams potential than McG, IMO.

[MauiRam]

Let's see here...

SAM - QC, Draft, Vobora
MIKE - Spoon, Draft, McG
Will - Pisa, Draft, Chamberlain

Hmm......if the cut comes from the LBs, I'm betting McGariagle is gone as Vobora has more special teams potential than McG, IMO.

Ya know Hub .. I think you're right. McGarigle doesn't have the quick feet Haslett seems to prefer. Also, why couldn't Stills himself be a backup at MLB? He's certainly got the size for it and has experience as a linebacker .. We'll soon see I guess ..