Vitt stresses business as usual after coaching change

ST. LOUIS -- Until a few weeks ago, Joe Vitt was a typical lifer NFL assistant coach.

Taking charge of the St. Louis Rams with Mike Martz sidelined for the rest of the season by a heart infection isn't going to change his demeanor or put a strut in his walk. Vitt has already run the show for two games while Martz held out hope for a return, and his profile remains low.

"He hasn't changed at all," safety Mike Furrey said. "There's nothing extra, you're going to get straightforward shots and what you see is what you're getting from him."

That's probably to be expected for a coach in his 27th NFL season, all as a behind-the-scenes guy. He's also coached for the Chiefs, Packers, Eagles, Seahawks and Colts after ending his career as a linebacker at Towson State.

In short, it appears he's always been a coach.

"This is what I do. If I didn't love it, I'd do something else," Vitt said. "I can't sing or dance, so this is what I do. I've done it all my life, and I'm blessed."

Most important, he served as assistant head coach and defensive backs coach under Chuck Knox with the Los Angeles Rams from 1992 to 1994. Martz was on that staff, first as an unpaid offensive assistant and then as quarterbacks coach, and the two became fast friends.

Martz hired him as linebackers coach and assistant head coach last season. That made Vitt, 51, the natural choice to serve as the interim coach while Martz recuperates from endocarditis at his home.

The Rams lost their first game without the head man, squandering an early 17-point lead in a 45-28 loss to the undefeated Colts.

Vitt led them to victory last week, beating the Saints without quarterback Marc Bulger, both starting wide receivers and standout defensive end Leonard Little.

"What a remarkable man he is, and he really deserves to be a head coach in his own right," Martz said. "He's just done an outstanding job, and the way the players and coaching staff have rallied to this point is remarkable, so that's a relief for me."

Vitt can relate to Martz's medical situation because Vitt recovered from two bouts of testicular cancer, the last nearly 20 years ago. But with game day looming, all that is of no interest to him.

His first day on the field as the undisputed boss felt no different, either, even with a front office squabble putting some doubt on Martz's eventual return. Martz has long feuded with Jay Zygmunt, president of football operations, and Charlie Armey, the general manager.

"I don't read the papers, and I am not a tabloid guy," Vitt said. "It's my job to prepare our football team to win a big game. We had a good practice today, we'll have a better practice and we're going to prepare to win the game."

Vitt's game plan is Martz's game plan. He's overseeing the operation now, while Larry Marmie remains the defensive coordinator and offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild calls the plays.

When the defense comes off the field on game-day, Vitt quickly checks in with Fairchild, then deals with the linebackers, then turns the headphones back on to monitor the offense. But he stays out of it.

"That's Steve's baby. This offense was very successful before I ever set foot in this place," Vitt said. "I'm not really going to change anything I've been doing so far.

"I am what I am. To me, we're carrying on, and it's business as usual."

Vitt made it clear that he won't forget his boss, even if the front office seems to have.

"We want Mike to get better," Vitt said. "If you're asking me, if Mike calls my office am I going to tell [his secretary] to tell him I'm not here? No, I'm going to pick up the phone and say 'hi' to coach Martz.

"What, are you kidding me?"