St. Louis ready for top picks to shine

The young talent on the defensive line has yet to meet expectations.

ST. LOUIS -- In recent years the St. Louis Rams have placed an emphasis in the draft on building a strong interior defense, taking Damione Lewis and Ryan Pickett in 2001 and then choosing Jimmy Kennedy in 2003.

Now, the team hopes, it's time for an overdue payoff.

"I think this is the year for us," said Lewis, the 12th overall pick in 2001. "We really have three guys that can dominate a game. We have a great tandem in the middle and I think we should be able to dominate a game.

"If we don't, it's our fault, because we're good enough to get it done."

The defense as a whole struggled to assimilate the scheme of new defensive coordinator Larry Marmie last year, the line included. There were marked improvements in the closing weeks of the regular season, followed by a total collapse in a second-round playoff loss to the Falcons in which the Rams were gouged for 327 yards rushing.

The line wasn't totally to blame, of course, but it shouldered it's share for the huge holes that Michael Vick and Warrick Dunn cruised through.

"You've got to be standing in there and be physical and make plays," coach Mike Martz said. "It's not enough just to do your job and cancel your guy out."

"When they've been healthy they've shown some real flashes of being outstanding, particularly at nose tackle with Ryan, and that's what they need to do."

Pickett, who's been the most solid performer of the trio, doesn't know what to make of the Falcons blowout. He's confident the upward plane will continue this year.

"I'm getting the system down, I have it down," he said. "It took us a while to get it and then that last game we kind of lost it. But we're getting it back."

The arrival of Marmie last year brought a change in philosophy regarding weight. Whereas former defensive coordinator Lovie Smith wanted his linemen lean and quick, the Rams don't care anymore how big a player is as long as he's effective and in fact are encouraging larger bodies -- all the better to stuff the run.

Pickett, whose weight is listed as 310 pounds, reported closer to 330, and Kennedy is 320 pounds. Lewis weighed in at 290 last year and wants to play at 300 this year.

"This scheme, it does help us because it allows us to put on more size, but at the same time you're not as fast," Lewis said. "I think in the fourth quarter it'll help us, but it's on us to work and make sure we keep our quickness and our foot speed."

Whatever his size, Kennedy has been improving since missing half of his rookie season with a broken foot.

"The biggest thing is my confidence is through the roof," he said. "I have got the attitude that I can't be stopped. Now, it's a matter of going out there and practicing and becoming the best so I can show you guys instead of telling you."

Martz said Kennedy, like many rookies, underestimated the jump from college to the NFL. He wasn't strong enough and let nerves get to him.

"But this year, after the offseason was over, I just put my hand in the dirt and said 'Who can stop me?"' Kennedy said.

Pickett had a similar crisis of confidence as a little-used rookie in 2001.

"I came in my first year and I didn't get to play," he said. "So I had to find something deep inside of me and find a player. Now, I'm comfortable."

Injuries, primarily a broken foot, have held Lewis back.

"It'll either make you better or you let it hold you down," he said. "I'm not really worried about it anymore. It's in the past and I know it's behind me."