Rams to hire Tim Walton

Lions secondary coach Tim Walton has agreed to become the Rams' defensive coordinator. He accepted an offer Tuesday and the Rams should have a deal wrapped up with him by the end of the week.

A quick recap of Walton's resume again:
2009-2012: Detroit Lions secondary coach. The Lions beefed up his responsibilities in 2012 to include their third down package; this was in response to the Rams' attempt to hire him as an assistant DC before the season. The Lions picked off 21 passes in 2011, 16 by the secondary, returning 3 for TDs. Chris Houston had probably the best season of his career under Walton, and Louis Delmas has developed into one of the league's better strong safeties.
2008: Defensive coordinator, Memphis University
2007: Defensive coordinator, University of Miami
2004-06: Secondary coach, University of Miami. Hurricanes had the #1 pass defense in the nation in 2005, with Brandon Merriweather, Kelly Jennings and Kenny Phillips in the secondary.
2003: Secondary coach, LSU. Coached Corey Webster. LSU's defense was #1 in the nation in yardage and points, and was #2 in pass defense efficiency.
2002: Secondary coach, Syracuse
2000-01: Secondary coach, Memphis
1999: Secondary coach, Bowling Green
1996-98: Running backs coach, Bowling Green
1995: Bowling Green graduate assistant

Walton played defensive back at Ohio State, where he was a team captain in 1993 and lettered four years.

Tim Walton's an up-and-coming young coach. Though he hasn't been a defensive coordinator in the NFL until now, he's got experience with the Rams' system and he's got three experienced defensive play-callers on the Rams staff to fall back on. The Lions were one of the league's better third-down defenses last year, and Walton has a very solid record developing defensive backs. This hiring feels like a winner to RamView, and not just because I picked it to happen yesterday. Grade: B-plus

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