ST. LOUIS (AP) - The St. Louis Rams have hired Tim Walton as defensive coordinator, a position they did not fill last season after Gregg Williams was suspended for his role in the Saints' bounty scandal.

Coach Jeff Fisher was expected to discuss the hiring Friday afternoon. He said in a release that the 41-year-old Walton, the secondary coach the past four seasons with the Detroit Lions, was in the same system the Rams are using.

The Lions added the title of third down package coach to Walton's duties last season. The Lions were 10th in the NFL in third-down defense, allowing opponents to convert 36.5 percent of their chances.