Rams Interview Detroit Assistant For Coordinator's Position

**r8rh8rmike** · -02-12-2013

Rams interview Detroit assistant for coordinator's position

15 hours ago • By Jim Thomas jthomas@post-dispatch.com 314-340-8197

Jeff Fisher’s search for a defensive coordinator has taken another turn. The Rams’ coach is interviewing Detroit assistant Tim Walton for the position.

Walton, who was in St. Louis on Monday, has been with the Lions for four seasons. He was their defensive backs coach from 2009 through 2011, and added the title of “third-down package” to his job description in 2012, giving him a greater role in game-planning.

Walton, 41, was interviewed last season by Fisher for what was believed to be a position as assistant defensive coordinator-passing game but ended up staying with the Lions.

Walton is the third known candidate to interview for the coordinator’s job since Rob Ryan dropped out of the running, joining former Cleveland defensive coordinator Dick Jauron and current Minnesota special assistant to the head coach and linebackers coach Mike Singletary.

Detroit is Walton’s first NFL job, but the former Ohio State defensive back worked for 14 years in the college ranks at Bowling Green, LSU, Miami, Memphis and Syracuse. Over that time, he coached 13 players who were NFL draft picks, including five first-round picks and four second-rounders.

Walton was a defensive coordinator for Miami in 2007 and Memphis in 2008.

He coached with Rams assistant secondary coach Brandon Fisher on the Detroit staff in 2011. In addition, Lions head coach Jim Schwartz was a defensive coordinator for Fisher with the Tennessee Titans for eight seasons, so it’s likely Fisher has good insight into Walton’s capabilities.