Vitt refuses comment on anonymous quote

~ An unnamed Rams player ripped the team's defensive tackles in a Sports Illustrated story.

ST. LOUIS -- St. Louis Rams coach Joe Vitt had little to say Wednesday about a Sports Illustrated article critical of his defensive tackles.

In Michael Silver's story in this week's edition, an overview of the Rams' troubles and front-office squabbles, an anonymous player ripped the team's trio of first-round picks at defensive tackle.

"We have three No. 1 picks at tackle and those guys are killing us," the player was quoted as saying on the field after Sunday's 31-16 loss at Seattle. "They're not playing hard, and they can't stop anybody. It's horrible."

The Rams (4-5) took Damione Lewis and Ryan Pickett in 2001 and Jimmy Kennedy in 2003. Pickett by far has been the best of the three.

"I don't know who the anonymous player was, what I will tell you is this: I'm here to answer football questions, not tabloid questions," Vitt said. "Let's go on from there."

Vitt said he had not read the article. But he did defend the play of the three, except for Sunday's 31-16 loss at Seattle.

"I thought our defensive tackles have played well this year," Vitt said. "I think we're getting pretty good inside pressure. I think we could have been better last game, but there's a lot of guys who could have been better last game."

Veteran defensive lineman Tyoka Jackson, the players' unofficial spokesman, said the assessment was not accurate and ripped the anonymous nature of the comment.

"I'm not surprised we don't have a name attached to it," Jackson said. "If there's not a name attached to it, it doesn't carry a whole lot of weight with me."

Jackson called Pickett "one of the best" nose tackles in the league.

"Ask his opponents, watch the film, don't take my word for it," Jackson said. "The film doesn't lie."

The Rams likely will be without starting offensive guard Adam Timmerman and cornerback Travis Fisher this week. Timmerman is being held out of practice due to an assortment of ailments and Fisher has a lingering groin injury.

Neither player was on the field as the team began preparations for Sunday's game against the Cardinals.

"Adam was taking a rest," Vitt said. "Maybe he'll be active for the game but we'll not start him."

Vitt said he was sorting out his options at cornerback after Chris Johnson and rookie Ron Bartell took snaps there.

Timmerman has played in 167 consecutive games and appeared in two Pro Bowls. He underwent offseason surgery on both shoulders and a foot.

"He's hurting a little bit right now," Vitt said. "He wanted to play, he wanted to practice and this was a decision we made to hold him out.

"He's sore and we've got to get him better."

Blaine Saipaia will start at right guard in place of Timmerman. He's started three games, two at right tackle and one at tight end.