RAMS : Smith Can’t Find Niche; He’s One of Six Cut

The Rams’ big question concerning Brian Smith--where do we play this guy?--was finally answered Wednesday.

Nowhere.

Smith, a 1989 second-round draft choice who has been shuffled around the Ram defense but never stood out at any particular position, was one of six players released Wednesday.

The third-year pro from Auburn, who played in all 16 games in 1990--four as a starter--began his Ram career as an outside linebacker. But a wrist injury forced him to spend the first 10 weeks of the 1989 season on injured reserve. He played in only three games that season.

Smith bulked up from 245 to 268 pounds and moved to defensive tackle in 1990, but never developed into the kind of pass-rusher the Rams thought he could be.

The Rams used Smith in a four-man front line on first downs and in passing situations, but they discarded that alignment, going to a 3-4 after the fourth game of the season.

This year, Smith was moved to defensive end but he has been suffering from a nagging hamstring injury and didn’t play much in the Rams’ two exhibition games.

“He got caught in some different schemes we used, and he never found a niche here,” Ram Coach John Robinson said. “We thought he’d go to the final cut and not make the team, so we figured we’d get him out right away so he’d have a chance to catch on with someone else.”

Robinson said he wasn’t sure what position would best suit Smith.

“But I think he’d be a good outside defender against the run, maybe an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense,” Robinson said.

Booted: What was expected to be a battle for the Rams’ punting job turned into a no-contest Wednesday. Keith English, who had a 31.9-yard average on 68 punts last season, was also cut. That means Dale Hatcher gets the job.

Hatcher was the Ram punter from 1985-89 but was left unprotected after the 1989 season. The Green Bay Packers signed Hatcher as a Plan B free agent but released him during final cuts before the 1990 season.

Hatcher spent the year out of football, working for his wife’s uncle on a peach orchard in South Carolina.

“I’m just very happy to be back, especially after what happened last year,” said Hatcher, who had a 43.2-yard average and was a Pro Bowl selection in 1985. “Hopefully, Keith getting released early will help him catch on with another team.”

English punted only twice in the exhibition season, a 44-yarder and a 41-yarder Monday night against the San Diego Chargers, but Ram coaches thought Hatcher was the better all-around punter.

“It was our opinion that Dale’s hang-time is better, and he’s better at getting the ball inside the 20 without it going into the end zone,” said Gil Haskell, special teams coach.

The four other players released were running back Tyrone Shelton, a seventh-round draft pick from William & Mary, and free agents Brandy Wells (safety, Notre Dame), Ron Slack (running back, San Diego State) and David McKinnon (offensive guard, Cal State Long Beach). The Ram roster, now at 78, must be reduced to 60 by Tuesday.

Still a Ram: Much to his surprise, defensive tackle Doug Reed was still in a Ram uniform Wednesday, and it appears he’ll be with the team at least through Saturday night’s exhibition game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Reed, who turned down an offer of $550,000 in January and asked to be traded or waived during the off-season, settled for a one-year, $200,000 deal last week.

“I think something will be done soon--it’s just a matter of time,” Reed said on his way to the dining hall. “I’m glad I’m here now. I’ll savor every moment. The lunch is good. I’m glad I made it to lunch.”

Reed, entering his ninth NFL year, feels he is grossly underpaid.

“I don’t think I can play under my current salary, but maybe we could come to some type of agreement where I feel I’m fairly compensated,” Reed said. “It’s money, but playing (for $200,000) might harm me more than not playing. I might as well go ahead and file for Chapter 11 (bankruptcy).”

Reed played Monday night, but the Chargers ran the ball only twice when Reed was on the field. The Rams apparently want to showcase Reed as a run defender in hopes of raising interest in him for a possible trade.

However, when asked what were Reed’s chances of remaining with the Rams, Robinson said, “More than they were a couple of days ago.”