Head Coach Scott Linehan | Adam Carriker

By Nick Wagoner
Senior Writer

For all of the scrutiny involving 40 times, bench presses and vertical jumps, it was one conversation that officially convinced Scott Linehan that Adam Carriker was the guy he wanted for the Rams with the 13th pick in the first round of today’s NFL draft..

When Linehan, defensive coordinator Jim Haslett and Vice President of Player Personnel Tony Softli watched as Carriker put on a show during his workout at Nebraska, they were undoubtedly impressed. But it didn’t mean that Carriker was their guy.

That was decided not much later. During a conversation with defensive coordinator Kevin Cosgrove, Linehan learned about just the type of player the Rams would be getting with Carriker.

Cosgrove and some of his fellow coaches told Linehan that Carriker is everything the Rams need in a player.

“He has been playing at a high level his whole career there,” Linehan said. “The defensive coordinator, secondary coach, spending that time and listening to them explain what they think this player can do for you helps and both of those gentlemen, to a man, said this is the best kid they have ever been around but also has great ability.”

Instantly, Carriker will be installed at defensive tackle and be expected to help the team’s ailing run defense. Cosgrove’s telling Linehan that Carriker is the best player he has been around is quite a compliment considering some of the other players he has been around.

Even more, though, was Cosgrove’s  telling the Rams’ contingent that Carriker’s greatest quality is his ability to stop the run. At 6’6, 308 pounds, Carriker spent most of his college career playing the “Base” end in Nebraska’s defensive scheme.

In that scheme, Carriker was technically an end but where he lined up in relation to the offensive line was the equivalent of where he would lineup as a defensive tackle in the NFL.  

For the ‘Huskers, Carriker posted 20.5 sacks (sixth in school history), 134 tackles and 41 tackles for loss in 45 games.

“The best thing he does is he plays the run,” Linehan said. “He’s one of those guys that is a coach’s dream and a very disruptive player. He understands that a lot of times the role of a defensive tackle is to eat up blockers so that the linebackers can run free. I am really, really excited about this pick. In a crunch, he can probably play every position on our defensive line, but obviously we are going to place him there at defensive tackle to start out.”

After meeting with Carriker and learning about him at his workout, the Rams invited Adam to St. Louis for one of their top  30 pre-draft visits. On that trip, the team got to know Carriker and even let him in on a little secret.

“When I went to visit them, they told me if I was there at 13 they would take me,” Carriker said.

Of course, promises such as that are made regularly to prospects and don’t always come true. However, the Rams made it clear that their interest was genuine.

At last week’s draft luncheon, Linehan even had a bit of a gleam in his eye when Carriker was mentioned. Although he did his best to hide his interest (perhaps by talking up Ohio State receiver Ted Ginn Jr.), it wasn’t too difficult to read between the lines.

The fact that Carriker was more than willing to move inside was enough to solidify his position as the object of the Rams’ desires.

“He didn’t even blink,” Linehan said. “He could play some nose for us. There are all kinds of things you can do. But he said to me, ‘Coach, I will play wherever you want me to play and I will give you my best every week.’”

While it wasn’t a sure thing that Carriker would be the pick or that he would even be there when the Rams pick, there was plenty of speculation that a trade could alter what the Rams do.

Linehan spoke a little last week about the team’s apparent interest in Carolina defensive tackle Kris Jenkins, but said Saturday that there was little to no discussion between the teams.

When it became clear Carriker was going to be available, the Rams never considered making a trade.

But just because there weren’t any discussions about a trade for a veteran and the Rams selected a tackle, doesn’t completely eliminate the possibility of adding another defensive tackle.

“It does not take us out of the running,” Linehan said. “It puts us in a different position maybe and puts a different light on it. We just drafted a defensive tackle which certainly fills a need from the rookie pool coming in. But if something happens we are always looking at improving the team.”

In the meantime, the Rams will continue to build their defense and hope to improve the defense. Carriker was the top player on the team’s board when it made its selection.

Known for his outstanding motor and relentlessness, Carriker should make a good fit in the middle of the Rams’ defense no matter where he lines up.

“It’s a personality, it’s an attitude,” Carriker said. “I hate losing so I am going to do everything I can to win. I am going to run down the field and chase a guy down, I am going to play as hard as I can every play because I want to win.”