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The St. Louis Rams have a glaring need at defensive tackle. One intriguing solution to the problem would be Tony Brown, who was recently released by the Tennessee Titans.
Chris Hovan, Gary Gibson, and Clifton Ryan have all been declared free agents and face uncertain futures. That leaves the Rams with only Darrell Scott on the roster as a viable partner for the outstanding Fred Robbins.
And Scott has managed only five starts and 36 tackles in two seasons.
The Rams desperately need a disruptive presence to partner with Robbins. Tony Brown would be an excellent choice.
Standing 6'3" and weighing 315 pounds, Brown is an experienced lineman with good scheme versatility.
He possesses the strength and leverage to play the shade technique over the center and act as an anchor for the Rams front four.
Brown also has a quick takeoff and a good array of rush techniques. These attributes enable Brown to slide down into the guard tackle gap and function as an active 3-technique.
He has amassed a respectable 12.5 sacks during the last three seasons.
Brown's versatility would be useful in Steve Spagnuolo and Ken Flajole's aggressive fronts. The presence of Brown would allow the defensive staff to increase the number of games along the line.
Most importantly, Brown is excellent against the run. Pairing him with fellow space-eater Fred Robbins would allow the Rams to more regularly clog up running lanes.
This would help create more of the kind of down-and-distance situations in which Spagnuolo likes to unleash his myriad of fire zone blitzes.
The combined power and technique of Robbins and Brown would apply consistent pressure to the pocket. Quarterbacks would not be afforded the room to step up, and blitz lanes would be easily opened up for the linebackers and defensive backs to exploit.
Health is a slight concern with Brown. NBC Sports reported that he was waived by the Titans after failing a medical exam. There have been worries over possible chronic knee problems.
But if Brown can prove his fitness, then the 30-year-old will be a valuable addition to the St. Louis defense. The Rams took a chance on Robbins last year despite fitness questions, and the move was a huge success.
With the hiring of Josh McDaniels, the Rams hierarchy is making a concerted effort to become more explosive on offense.
But the strength of the team is still the defense.
To ensure even greater success for their 4-3 scheme, the Rams must have two disruptive defensive tackles, particularly for the base package.
Taking a chance on Tony Brown would be a pivotal step towards fielding a defense stout enough to take the Rams to the summit of the NFC West.
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