Rams Sign Elmore, Set Up Punting Battle
ANAHEIM — The Rams signed seventh-round choice Kent Elmore Thursday, kicking off a potentially hot summer battle for the team’s vacant punting position.
Elmore, from the University of Tennessee, was the second punter selected in April’s draft but is considered by some the top prospect coming out of college. The Buffalo Bills took Arizona’s John Nies a round earlier, but plan to use him both on punts and kickoffs.
The Rams drafted Elmore despite signing free-agent veteran Hank Ilesic this spring. The plan over the summer is to roll out the ball and see who’s better.
“It’s kind of a unique position for the Rams, because they have both ends of the spectrum to choose from,” Elmore said. “They’ve got a guy with 15 years of experience going against a guy who has none. They can go with youth or a fellow who’s proven himself. It keeps my mind guessing.”
Ilesic, who has yet to arrive in camp, played 13 years in the Canadian Football League before a brief stint with the San Diego Chargers last season.
He and Elmore are competing for the position left by Dale Hatcher, who signed as a Plan B free agent with Green Bay in the off-season.
Elmore, who averaged 42.2 yards on 86 punts during his career at Tennessee, says he can’t wait to get started.
“They just don’t draft punters unless they’re serious about them,” he said.
Ram Notes
With Ron Brown gone, the Rams also need a new kick returner and hope to find one in either Gaston Green, third-round pick Latin Berry or Robert Delpino. . . . How important is it for the team’s wealth of young talent (Bill Hawkins, Frank Stams, Brian Smith, Cleveland Gary, Anthony Newman, Darryl Henley) to emerge this season? “They just have to do it,” Coach John Robinson said. “There is no alternative. . . . We all get used to (talking about) a starting 11, but we’ll probably say we have a starting 40. (Tight end) Pete Holohan has never started a game for us. Those things aren’t functional anymore. I’m going to make a big move this year to see our team as a 40-man team.”
