Linehan regime begins

ST. LOUIS -- In many ways, the St. Louis Rams' new coach seems a lot like the one they just fired.

Scott Linehan, introduced Friday after agreeing to a four-year contract, will call his own plays. Just like the deposed Mike Martz.

"It's like giving up a dog or something," he said at his introductory news conference on Friday. "I can't give that away."

He'll also leave the defense, largely, to the coordinator. Again, just like Martz.

"The reason you hire coaches is to do the job you hired them for," Linehan said. "I'm going to be involved just so I'm informed."

The biggest difference in the two is his desire to get along. Clashes with the front office hastened an end to Martz' six-season stay with the Rams, including four playoff berths.

Martz was fired the day after the season ended, and also the day after he was cleared medically to return to his job. He missed the last 11 games due to endocarditis, a bacterial infection of a heart valve.

In Linehan's mind, running the Rams is going to be a team effort.

"We're going to do things together, we're going to make decisions together, and we will come to the right decision," Linehan said. "We're not always going to agree, but we're not going to be disagreeable about it, and that's what the most important thing is."

Another similarity: Linehan, 42, and Martz both got their first head coaching job with the Rams. Linehan has been in the NFL for four years, serving as offensive coordinator in Miami last year and Minnesota the previous three seasons.

A fan of Martz's innovations

The Vikings ranked No. 1 in 2003 when Linehan was there. And during Martz' glory years, he was a big fan looking to borrow any and all of the wrinkles.

"I have always admired what the Rams have done offensively, and coach Martz is obviously the guy that's been doing that on the offensive side," Linehan said. "We studied and emulated a lot of things offensively that were done here, just like everybody else in the league, and everybody knows it."

Still, Linehan pledged not to forget the defense. His top priority is to hire an established defensive coordinator, and he wants a defense that is every bit as aggressive as the other side of the ball.

"I think one of the problems when you get such a wonderful, dominant offensive scheme like they've had here that sometimes you get that little brother syndrome," Linehan said. "A lot of it is just bringing them into the fold.

"You've basically got to have the same goals up in reverse order so we're all playing together and on the same page."

Team president John Shaw described Linehan as "one of the young, bright offensive minds in the NFL." He said Linehan stood out during a 17-day interview process.

"After all of these interviews, it was clear to us that coach Linehan should be the next coach of the St. Louis Rams," Shaw said.

It'll be Linehan's first head coaching at any level in a career that began at Idaho, his alma mater, in 1989. He called it a "dream come true," but promised his wife Kristen that he wouldn't cry at his news conference.

"I don't think anybody can tell you or prepare you for all the things I need to be told and prepared to be a head coach who's ready to go out there today," Linehan said. "You really don't know what path it's going to take you, but you're always preparing yourself for this day."

The hiring was finalized after Linehan met with majority owner Georgia Frontiere in Arizona.

"I had a wonderful meeting with Georgia," Linehan said. "It's just been a great experience. I feel very honored to be selected."

Guard Adam Timmerman approved of the move. The Rams' initially had been seeking a defensive-oriented coach, given that the team finished 30th in the NFL and allowed more points than all but one team.

Instead, Shaw went for an offensive mind to take advantage of the team's talent base.

"One of our strengths has been our offense," Timmerman said. "It's good to have an offensive coach who really is going to know how to use those things rather than do a full 180 and try to get a defensive guy."