Marmie to run Rams' defense

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Rams have hired Larry Marmie to replace Lovie Smith as defensive coordinator.

"I worked with and for Larry for seven years," coach Mike Martz told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch for a story Monday. "He probably has had more of an impact on me professionally than anybody. I'm thrilled and excited that we have an opportunity to bring Larry to St. Louis."

Martz and Marmie worked together at Arizona State in the mid-1980s, Martz as quarterbacks and wide receivers coach and Marmie as defensive coordinator. When Marmie was promoted to head coach in 1988, he named Martz his offensive coordinator, and they worked together for the next four seasons.

Martz wanted to interview Marmie, then the Arizona Cardinals' defensive coordinator, three years ago for the Rams' defensive coordinator job, but Arizona denied him permission.

This time around, Marmie was a coaching free agent. The 61-year-old was swept out with the rest of Dave McGinnis' staff by Cardinals owner Bill Bidwill at the end of this regular season.

After the Chicago Bears hired Smith last week as head coach, Martz brought Marmie to St. Louis for a meeting.

Martz also talked with former Chicago head coach Dick Jauron and former Green Bay defensive coordinator Ed Donatell, but it seemed clear Marmie was the front-runner. Jauron was hired Sunday as the Detroit Lions' defensive coordinator.

Martz doesn't think there will be much of an adjustment for Marmie with the St. Louis defensive personnel.

"With his breadth of experience, I don't think it will be a problem," Martz said. "He runs the same basic defense as we've run. Coverage-wise, there's some differences. He's probably a little more multiple than we've been in the past."