ST. LOUIS -- Gregg Williams considers new Rams coach Jeff Fisher one of his best friends. So when Fisher asked him to join his coaching staff, Williams had to accept.
"I have a very close and tight circle of friends. Not many people get inside that circle," Williams said in a teleconference Tuesday, one day after agreeing to become the team's defensive coordinator. "He needed my help, and I couldn't say no."
As for new offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, there's the enticement of working with quarterback Sam Bradford, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2010 draft. Schottenheimer was impressed with Bradford's enthusiasm for the new regime.
"I was blown away with how excited he is about the upcoming year, and he just seems like a terrific young man," Schottenheimer said.
Williams has 22 years of NFL coaching experience, including six as Fisher's defensive coordinator with the Tennessee Titans. Williams left the 13-win New Orleans Saints for the two-victory Rams because of Fisher.
"He's very, very intelligent, and he's very patient for this position," Williams said. "Very, very seldom does he make a rash or improper decision. You'll see Jeff probably be as calm as anybody."
Williams promises a culture change for a team that ranked near the bottom of the NFL against the run and often faded late under the pressure of keeping the league's worst offense in the game. He said getting the most out of players is more important than whether the Rams play in a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme.
"Everywhere I've gone, I've been able to get a top-five defense, and when we do that, it's because I will adapt to the strengths of the people here," Williams said. "I think coaches make mistakes when they pigeonhole."
Williams said the Rams are close to finalizing the defensive staff, which will include his son, Blake.
Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press
