imported_JRIB

Rams do the cornerback shuffle

With cornerbacks dropping Sunday in Green Bay like leaves in the autumn, Rams defensive coordinator Jim Haslett was in full survival mode.

"I just kept asking, 'Who've we got in the game?' before I made a call," Haslett said.

With three corners down, strong safety Corey Chavous found himself "manned up" with wide receivers in the slot for the first time in years.

Chavous had so many placards on his arms he looked like a walking billboard.

He needed the cheat sheets for his various roles at safety, and in the nickel and dime packages.

"He had wristbands all over, stuff all over him, just to make sure he knew what he was doing," Haslett said.

With Sunday's NFC West showdown with Seattle fast approaching, the Rams aren't exactly sure what they're doing with their secondary.

Usual starters Travis Fisher (groin) and Fakhir Brown (ankle) remained listed as questionable after Thursday's practice at Rams Park, and coach Scott Linehan sounded more pessimistic about Brown's availability for the Seahawks.

"Fisher looks ahead of Fakhir right now," Linehan said. "Both did limited work. Travis did a little more. With J.B. (Jerametrius Butler), and bringing (Dwaine) Carpenter back and having some options there, we have a couple ways we can go with it."

The Rams could start the way they finished in Green Bay, with Tye Hill and Butler at cornerback, and Chavous playing nickel back.

But if Fisher is ready to play, he could be used at corner, or used on a more limited basis covering slot receivers in the nickel.

That would allow Chavous to stay at strong safety.

If you ask Fisher, there's no doubt about Sunday.

"I'm going to play in the game," he said.

Last season, Fisher tried to play through a nagging groin injury and ended up missing half the season. He doesn't want the same thing happening this year.

"It tightened up a little bit (against Green Bay)," Fisher said. "Kind of scared me a little bit. ... So I had to use my smarts this time and come on out. I didn't want to make a crazy decision by playing hurt and costing the team."

By "costing the team," Fisher was referring both to the short term (Green Bay) and the long term (the season).

"When I had that setback, I wanted it to be a setback just for that game," Fisher said. "I didn't want it to be a setback for the rest of the season."

Nonetheless, Linehan may decide that it's best to rest Fisher this week, or at least limit him to nickel duty.

If that's the case, Butler may get his first start of the year.

"We have 100 percent confidence in J.B. to start and play," Linehan said. "He came in and did a nice job when he played (in Green Bay). Just like we said before, you've got to be ready. You never know when your number's going to be called. That came true last week. He could be in a similar situation again this week."

A starter in 2003 and '04 before missing the entire '05 season with a knee injury, Butler hadn't even dressed for a game before the Green Bay contest.

But Haslett bristled at the notion that Butler was somehow in the coaches' doghouse.

"I don't know how you guys write that, or you guys say this 'doghouse' stuff," Haslett said Monday at his weekly media session. "There's not one guy on this team -- at least I don't know of one -- that's in a doghouse. Period. (Butler) did nothing wrong.

"Basically what it came down to, why he wasn't active, is ... if you're the third, fourth or fifth corner on a football team, you've got to be a very good special-teams player. We have some guys who were a little bit better on special teams. That's all."

Against Green Bay, it took injuries to Brown (a pregame scratch), Fisher and Ron Bartell (calf cramps) to get Butler on the field.

Bartell, by the way, says he's healthy and ready if needed against Seattle.

"I'll be fine for Sunday," Bartell said. "I can pretty much play anything in the secondary, so anywhere they need to put me, it wouldn't be a big deal to me."

As for Hill, whether he's playing corner or nickel back, look for Seattle to test him. Hill made his first career start against Green Bay in place of Brown and was victimized on pass plays of 38 and 46 yards from Brett Favre to Greg Jennings.

After the game, Chavous the veteran gave Hill a pep talk.

"It's not really a big deal," Chavous said. "I remember a game my third year, I got four holding penalties and almost got released the next day."

It's OK to be upset with yourself after days like that, Chavous said.

"But when you're around the guys, it's just a part of what happens," Chavous said. "Because we need Tye. And we need him to play well. We have a lot of confidence in him."

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