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For help, Rams decide to call in the inventor

Lagging on defense, the team got Bud Carson.

By ERNEST HOOPER

© St. Petersburg Times, published December 15, 2000

ST. LOUIS -- Imagine if you had a lighting problem and you could call Thomas Edison to fix it.

What if you could summon Bill Gates when your Windows program malfunctioned?

In essence, that's what Rams coach Mike Martz did when his defense broke down earlier this season. St. Louis had struggled to stop opponents all season, but when the Rams gave up 468 yards and 54 points in a loss to Kansas City, Martz called in the inventor.

It was a long distance call. Bud Carson, the 69-year-old guru who crafted the famed Pittsburgh defense of the 1970s was living in Sarasota, playing golf and paying little attention to the NFL. Martz had called earlier but health concerns prompted Carson to decline an invitation to serve as a "consultant."

After his health improved with an angioplasty procedure in October, Carson received medical clearance and reconsidered.

"I'm here to try to help," Carson said after his first practice as the team's defensive consultant. "If I can, it will be worth the trip."

The Rams players, many of whom were with the team when Carson was the defensive coordinator in 1997, greeted Carson with the kind of reverence reserved for mythical figures.

"Ah, yes, the Jedi master, Mr. Yoda," defensive tackle DeMarco Farr said. "The one thing Bud knows how to do is stop an offense. He doesn't say that much and when he does he's always talking football. He's been a big help for us. We're going to pick his brain all the way to the playoffs."

Said Martz: "As soon as he walks into the room, he commands that kind of respect."

Even when Carson was in Sarasota, relaxing or watching his wife, WWSB news anchor Linda Carson, on television, he was commanding respect. St. Louis defensive coordinator Peter Giunta is a long-time protege of Carson who took over when Carson retired in 1998. It was his defense, but Carson's blueprint.

But St. Louis was not producing the kind of stifling numbers other Carson defenses had posted. It was Carson's Los Angeles Rams defense that shut out Tampa Bay in the 1979 NFC Championship Game. His Eagles defenses in the early 1990s were considered to be among the best ever. And in many circles, he's still known as the architect of the Steel Curtain.

"Most of the defensive football I learned early on was from Bud and Chuck (Noll) when I switched over from offense to defense," said Bucs coach and former Steelers cornerback Tony Dungy. "That was 23 years ago and he was outstanding then."

With his impeccable credentials and legendary resume, it made perfect sense to bring Carson back, but Martz did have to tread lightly. Even though Carson was Giunta's mentor, it took some diplomacy and class from both men to handle the situation. Carson is reticent to talk to the media out of respect for Giunta.

"I think Peter has responded very, very well with this," Martz said. "It's a tough situation but the position we were in defensively, we needed help to bring things back around a little bit and I think Peter appreciates his help. It's Bud's defense to begin with. Nobody understands this defense better than Bud. I think if it wasn't such a good relationship it would be an impossible situation."

Now Carson is trying to create impossible situations for opposing offenses. His title is consultant, but for the past two games Carson has called plays for the defense. The Rams limited Carolina to 16 points two weeks ago, and limited the potent Vikings offense to 29 points and 312 yards Sunday.

Both Dungy and Bucs offensive coordinator Les Steckel believe Carson has the Rams playing more aggressively. St. Louis is more apt to blitz with a linebacker or safety, and the goal is to dictate tempo instead of reading and reacting to offenses.

Carson's influence goes beyond schemes. He inspires the players with blunt honesty. His assessment of the Rams unit was succinct: "It's not a very good defensive team right now. That's putting it mildly."

Said defensive end Grant Wistrom: "I love Bud because Bud calls it like he sees it. He's not going to sugarcoat anything. Before the Carolina game, he said, to quote him directly, "We've been the a-- end of this train all year long and the offense has been pulling us along and we haven't been holding up our share.'

"I think guys really felt that and heard it, as you could tell by our effort last week and this week."

Since Carson came aboard, the average yards allowed by the Rams has gone from 365.57 to 317.42. Since Carson started calling the defense, the average is 274.5.

"Pete is a great, great coordinator in himself," end Kevin Carter said. "But having the guy who invented it makes a difference."

- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.

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