Monday, July 29, 1996

Oilers hope to return to defensive form

By Associated Press

SAN ANTONIO (AP) - The Houston Oilers have a long, rich legacy of top-notch defenders, from Jesse Baker and Elvin Bethea to Sean Jones and Ray Childress.

Each time one of them retired or was traded, it seemed another great player was waiting to take his place. That is, until last year, when age and free agency finally crumbled the line.

The Oilers are hoping that will turn around this season, as a group of talented young linemen solidify into another solid wall of defense.

Third-year player Henry Ford and second-year players Gary Walker and Anthony Cook, all of whom racked up valuable experience last season, are back this year to anchor the line.

"Our defensive line is young, probably as young as it's ever been," said head coach Jeff Fisher. "We don't have the experience, but the thing we're excited about is the tremendous amount of potential. You can't help but be excited for the future."

It was only three years ago that Childress, Jones and William Fuller lined up to give Houston one of its best lines ever. Some believe Walker, Ford and Cook have the potential to match that level of excellence.

"I wouldn't expect anything that great this soon, but I feel we've got a lot of fresh legs. I feel in time we'll be one of the best lines," Ford said.

Houston had the NFL's fifth-best defense last season, eighth-best against the run. The challenge this year will be to improve on that without veterans Glenn Montgomery and Childress.

Montgomery was traded in the off-season and Childress was released because of salary cap restrictions.

Houston defenders say they can still intimidate quarterbacks without the two veteran linemen.
"I feel it's a strength. We've got young, strong, talented players," said defensive tackle Robert Young.

The Oilers signed Young, a five-year veteran from the St. Louis Rams, as a free agent to add experience. When he arrived at training camp, Young found the Houston line not quite as young and inexperienced as he had heard.

"I think I can bring some leadership and ability to them, but they're pretty mature themselves," he said. "It's a young line, but you would never think they are as young as they are. They're very mature."

Defensive ends Cook and Ford tied for the team lead with 4.5 sacks each last season. Ford was the only Houston lineman to play in all 16 games. Walker, a tackle, is only the third Oilers defensive lineman - Childress and Baker were the others - to have earned All-Rookie honors.

Together, the three had 11 of the team's 30 total sacks in 1995.

Even so, the Houston defense isn't getting much respect. That doesn't seem to bother Ford.

"This is exactly where I want us to be," he said. "I don't want everybody to downplay us, but we're in position now we can gain a lot of respect because we are young."