Report: Rams interview Lions' Tim Walton for defensive coordinator

Lions secondary coach Tim Walton interviewed for the Rams' defensive coordinator job. (US Presswire)

Using a coordinator-by-committee approach, the Rams improved from 22nd to 14th in total defense in 2012, the team's best finish since 2002.

The Rams seem determined to fill their defensive coordinator job anyway.

Lions secondary coach Tim Walton interviewed for the job Monday, according to St. Louis Post-Dispatch beat writer Jim Thomas.

He becomes the third reported candidate, joining Vikings assistant Mike Singletary and former Browns defensive coordinator Dick Jauron.

Walton, Detroit's secondary coach since 2009, also interviewed with the Rams in January 2012 but ended up staying in Detroit. The Lions have not fielded a strong pass defense, but MLive.com's Justin Rogers says Walton has “gotten the most out of Detroit's secondary” and “shown a knack for developing individual players.”

The Rams fired then-suspended defensive coordinator Gregg Williams in early January and came close to hiring Rob Ryan before both sides agreed it wasn't a philosophical fit. Ryan, fired by Dallas after the season, joined the Saints as defensive coordinator.

Last season, coach Jeff Fisher and assistants Dave McGinnis and Chuck Cecil teamed up to call the defenses.

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