Tom Bettis

Kevin Greene manages to incorporate the word "violent" into every other sentence. Even normally low-key Jerry Gray says he's "pumped up." The Rams began 1991 with six new assistant coaches and one radically different defensive philosophy. The players have embraced the new coaches. Of course, some have been hugging their playbooks, too. "One thing you have to do as a player is adjust to whomever is coaching you. You have to make the adjustment," Gray said.

Kevin Greene manages to incorporate the word "violent" into every other sentence. Even normally low-key Jerry Gray says he's "pumped up." The Rams began 1991 with six new assistant coaches and one radically different defensive philosophy. The players have embraced the new coaches. Of course, some have been hugging their playbooks, too. "One thing you have to do as a player is adjust to whomever is coaching you. You have to make the adjustment," Gray said.

Ending two months of virtually nonstop hiring, the Rams Tuesday added two more assistant coaches--again selecting a former member of Buddy Ryan's Philadelphia Eagle defensive staff. Ronnie Jones, fired as the Eagles' linebacker coach last month, was hired as the Rams' linebacker coach, joining secondary coach Tom Bettis and defensive coordinator Jeff Fisher through the Philadelphia pipeline. Jones, 35, had been with the Eagles as strength and linebacker coach for four seasons.

The Rams' desire to get No. 1 pick Todd Lyght into the game more this Sunday was jeopardized Thursday when he turned his right ankle in practice and did not return. "Doesn't look good right now," secondary coach Tom Bettis said. Lyght, who was pushing both Jerry Gray and Darryl Henley for playing time, suffered swelling of the ankle, which was labeled a slight sprain when X-rays proved negative.

Bill Coffman, who led El Toro High School to the Southern Section 3-A water polo championship, was named the South Coast League's player of the year by a vote of the league's coaches. El Toro had three players on the first team. The Chargers defeated San Clemente, 19-11, in the championship match.

Hours after the afternoon news conference that officially heralded his arrival, new Ram Coach Chuck Knox seized the reins of power and began shaping his version of the Ram future.

Ending two months of hiring, the Rams on Tuesday named two more assistant coaches, including a third former member of Buddy Ryan's Philadelphia Eagle defensive staff. Ronnie Jones, fired as the Eagles' linebacker coach last month, was hired as the Rams' linebacker coach, joining defensive coordinator Jeff Fisher and secondary coach Tom Bettis from the Philadelphia pipeline. Jones, 35, had been with the Eagles as strength coach and linebacker coach for four seasons.

Defensive back Todd Lyght will get a baptism of run-and-shoot tonight when the Rams play the Houston Oilers in their final exhibition game. Lyght, the No. 1 pick whose 30-day holdout forced him to miss the Rams' first three exhibitions, will be playing in passing situations, which for the Oilers and quarterback Warren Moon is almost always.

You thought John Robinson picked Jeff Fisher as his new defensive coordinator? According to the Ram media guide, owner Georgia Frontiere "presided over the restructuring of the Rams' defensive coaching staff, which is expected to produce an aggressive, attacking style of play, designed to wreak havoc. . . . "The architect of this resurgent defense is Jeff Fisher, whom Georgia brought from Philadelphia. . . .