coaching candidates thread 2

i wouldn’t mind getting a defensive oriented coach as long as they could find an offensive coordinator. i just don’t know who’d they hire. i think people here have suggested turner which i like. mostly cuz you don’t worry about him leaving to be a head coach.

off the net from laram

none of us have an opportunity to personally interview guys, so we go with the information available.

But that aside, we do have some additional information about Kyle Shanahan’s leadership/people skills. I’ve shared this privately, I guess I’ll share it here.

This is directly from Jessie Tuggle in his own words.

Bulldog, intense. a teacher on the practice field and is tough & meticulous on execution. makes them run the plays over and over until executed the way it was drawn up. involved in all parts of the offense, very hands on, line blocking schemes, inside outside leverage technigues. Done a tremendous job working with backs on reading blocks and where the cutback lanes will be. Involved in every aspect of the multiples of the offense and really hard on Matty.on his footwork and keeping a strong base. Historically Matty would have late seaosn collapses, he presses and loses the tenets of the offense. Kyle has stayed on him about staying with teh teachings of the position.. Demands the receivers run crisp routes and being where they suppose to be funny you ask about him now. Gab on the 64yd, practiced that play multiple times against 2 high. Saw a tendency with mike bite heavy on play action. Would hate to see him go, but if you get him you got a good one.

Rams interview with Kyle Shanahan, scheduled for this weekend, has been postponed due to weather issues for LA brass to get to ATL….

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) January 8, 2017

There won't be a way to conduct the interview during this NFL-mandated window though both sides are very hopeful of finding another time…

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) January 8, 2017

Under current NFL rules, Shanahan wouldn't be able to interview again until Super Bowl bye week should Falcons reach that stage….

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) January 8, 2017

Obviously, if Falcons lost in Divisional round or in Championship game, Shanahan could interview after their eliminated

— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) January 8, 2017

There is no limit to what this Rams organization can screw up is there?

nittany ram wrote:

I think it’s a pretty safe bet that they aren’t responsible for the weather

Ah. An innocent.

That’s right you just keep believing that.

The blizzard in Boston, and missing the meeting with Shanahan is a bad omen. I’m thinking GOD hates the Rams or something. There is a curse or something on us Ram fans. We need some how to break the curse. Maybe burn some herbs, like sage, sacrifice a vestal virgin, something. We need to lift this black cloud over our heads. I want to see another Super Bowl title from our Rams before I die. I don’t want this to be like the Cubs where our Rams titles will be 108 years apart. Just saying. I won’t be alive to see it, if that happens.

McVay also interviewed with SF. What the SF press has to say about him ought to be of interest to us, too, though.

Sean McVay is 49ers’ most intriguing head-coach candidate

Eric Branch

http://www.sfgate.com/49ers/article/49ers-most-intriguing-HC-candidate-Sean-McVay-10835854.php

It’s too early to determine a favorite to be the 49ers’ next head coach, but there’s no question about their most intriguing candidate.
He’s younger than five players on their roster and has a close connection to the moribund franchise’s good-old days.
He’s Washington offensive coordinator Sean McVay, 30, the youngest coordinator in the NFL. He is the grandson of former executive John McVay. Sean McVay will interview with the 49ers on Monday in New York, exactly a week after CEO Jed York invoked McVay’s grandfather at a news conference that followed a 2-14 season.

The 49ers also went 2-14 in 1978, and hired Bill Walsh, who hired McVay as the director of player personnel. It was the start of McVay’s 21-season tenure, which included each of the 49ers’ five Super Bowl titles and led to his induction into the team’s Hall of Fame in 2013.
“You need to make sure that the right personalities are there,” York said. “We go back to Bill Walsh. Bill Walsh hired John McVay and they worked together and they were a team.”

The 49ers, of course, are seeking a head coach and general manager after the awkward arranged marriage between Chip Kelly and Trent Baalke dissolved after less than a calendar year.

The question: Thirty-seven years after his grandfather was part of dramatic about-face, is Sean McVay the head coach to hire as York tries to locate another turnaround tandem?

At first blush, McVay’s age would seem to be a disqualifier.
After whiffing on back-to-back coaches, can York really hand over the rebuilding project to someone 11 years younger than kicker Phil Dawson?
McVay, who will turn 31 on Jan. 24, would be the youngest head coach in the NFL’s modern era, eight months younger than Lane Kiffin was when he joined the Raiders in 2007. Kiffin’s two-season tenure was a failure, and the subsequent hirings of 32-year-olds Raheem Morris (Tampa Bay, 2009) and Josh McDaniels (Denver, 2009) also ended poorly.

Still, NFL history also includes plenty of coaches who weren’t much older than McVay when they started Super Bowl-winning careers: John Madden (32), Don Shula (33), Jon Gruden (34), Bill Cowher (34) and Mike Tomlin (34).

McVay’s name might have helped get him in the NFL door, but he has risen through the ranks on merit.
In 2008, McVay was hired by Gruden, a family friend, as the Buccaneers’ assistant wide receivers coach. McVay has spent the past seven seasons with Washington, ascending from assistant tight ends coach (2010), to tight ends coach (2011-13), to offensive coordinator when he was 28 in 2014.

If he’s hired by the 49ers, McVay would bring a deep appreciation for the franchise’s storied past.
Growing up in Atlanta, he played catch with Steve Young and Jerry Rice when the 49ers made their then-annual trip there, it was noted in a Sports Illustrated feature in August.

The story also described McVay studying, again, the 49ers’ final drive in the 1981 NFC title game.
“People think it’s Joe Montana winning this game,” McVay said. “No, sir. It’s this (run) ‘18-19 Bob!’ Look at all these extra bodies in the backfield. Here’s ‘18-19 Bob’ again.”

The game was played Jan. 10, 1982, four years before McVay was born, but, indeed, the 49ers’ 13-play, 89-yard drive that culminated in The Catch included 45 rushing yards and just five completions.

Say this: The kid coach seems to know his stuff.

Interviews: The 49ers conducted their first head-coaching interview with Buffalo interim head coach Anthony Lynn on Wednesday. They are scheduled to interview GM candidates Eliot Wolf and Brian Gutekunst, both Packers executives, in Green Bay on Thursday.[

sanbagger wrote:

it’s not only about the HC it’s about his staff.

I think I heard the reason the Ryan boys were let go was so that Buffalo could lock up Lynn as their next HC (not sure of the logic, but that’s what I think I heard on WFAN).

Interesting little side story: My 2014 Mazda 6 has an HD radio. For whatever reason, I get the BEST AM reception that I ever have gotten. I can listen to WFAN (660 kHz) from NYC well into Massachusetts, usually to Exit 10 or even 9. Also, I had to go to Syracuse right before Christmas and I listened to WFAN past Binghampton, almost to Cortland. Don’t know why or how, I doubt there is an HD-AM, maybe just a better antenna.

Anyway, bring on Trish the Dish!

matt patricia intrigues me as well. he’s smart for sure. not sure how that translates to being a football coach. can’t hurt though.

his background includes playing offensive line. he was also an ol coach for some time. again. not sure if that helps having experience on the other side as well.

• This reply was modified 7 years, 8 months ago by InvaderRam.

Rams to interview Mike Vrabel for head-coaching vacancy

Michael David Smith

Rams to interview Mike Vrabel for head-coaching vacancy

A surprising new name has been added to the Rams’ coaching wish list: Mike Vrabel.

Vrabel, the Texans’ linebackers coach, will interview with the Rams next week, Albert Breer of TheMMQB.com reports.

Vrabel is best known to football fans for his 14-year career as a linebacker for the Steelers, Patriots and Chiefs. After retiring as a player he spent three years on the coaching staff at Ohio State, and then spent the last three years on the Texans’ staff.

Some might question whether the 41-year-old Vrabel is ready to be a head coach, as he has never even been a coordinator. But the Rams are apparently interested in hearing what he has to say. That they’re willing to wait until next week to interview him suggests that they’re taking their time about finding a new head coach and won’t hire one any time soon.

Rams have more interviews lined up as coaching search continues

RICH HAMMOND

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/rams-740686-coach-interviews.html

The window has opened for the Rams to hire a new coach, but the view remains a bit clouded.

One week into their search, the Rams are known to have interviewed eight candidates, including a couple top candidates, but there’s no indication that a hiring is imminent. The Rams tentatively have interviews lined up in the coming days, including a significant one after this coming weekend.

Rams chief operating officer Kevin Demoff indicated last month that Jan. 10-12 represented the ideal time to hire a new coach, but Demoff also said he wouldn’t impose an artificial deadline on the decision.

Atlanta offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, considered a top candidate, won’t be able to speak with the Rams until after the Falcons’ playoff game Saturday against Seattle. Shanahan had been scheduled to meet with the Rams last week, but weather prevented Rams executives from making the trip.

The Rams also tentatively have interviews scheduled with Miami defensive coordinator Vance Joseph and (according to a report from Sports Illustrated) Houston linebackers coach Mike Vrabel.

The Rams also have interviewed New England coordinators Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia, Washington offensive coordinator Sean McVay, Buffalo offensive coordinator Anthony Lynn, Arizona offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin and Carolina assistant head coach Steve Wilks, plus their own interim coach, John Fassel. It’s possible that some of these candidates could receive second interviews.

The first domino in the offseason coaching game fell Monday, when Jacksonville retained interim coach Doug Marrone as its permanent coach. Marrone interviewed with the Rams over the weekend.

The Rams, Buffalo, Denver, San Diego and San Francisco still have openings, and from now on, it’s something of a game of “musical chairs.” The Rams would like to complete their interviews, but if more hires take place this week, the process could become accelerated.

PA Ram wrote:

I get the whole “wide-net” search but some of it is probably more for show than anything else. There are probably 3 guys they really are looking at and some of them can’t be hired right now so they want to look busy in the meantime.

I mean–Mike Vrable? Really? He was a smart player. Perhaps he’s a good coach. But that seems to be quite a leap to HC. Maybe he could try DC first?

Like I said, I think it’s just part of the show.

My guess is that McDanials is near the top of their list, along with Shanahan and they can’t hire either right now. Mcvay may be the dark horse.

Maybe, but it’s smart to do that anyway. Get to know guys. Find out what they think about the Rams situation. Pick their brains. Something is gained by doing that.

Furthermore, the Rams aren’t after just a HC. The HC needs assistants. If Vrabel, for example, doesn’t win the HC job, maybe the Rams suggest to whomever they hire as HC to consider Vrabel as DC.

And the more guys you interview, the more certain you can be of your decision in the end.

10 head coach candidates: Why they fit, don’t fit Rams

By Alden Gonzalez

http://www.espn.com/blog/los-angeles-rams/post/_/id/32667/ten-head-coach-candidates-why-they-fit-dont-fit-rams

OS ANGELES — The proverbial first domino fell on Monday, when Jacksonville announced that interim coach Doug Marrone would remain in the role full time.

That leaves five coaching vacancies, for Denver, San Francisco, Buffalo, San Diego and, most relevant here, the Los Angeles Rams.

The Rams’ interviewing party — a group that is led by COO Kevin Demoff and also includes Les Snead, who might or might not remain general manager after this process is complete — returned to Southern California on Monday and has some very important work ahead of it these next few days. Assistant coaches on playoff teams who continue on cannot be interviewed for the first time after this weekend, with second interviews only allowed the weekend before the Super Bowl. Once eliminated, of course, interviews can be scheduled at any time.

Last week, the Rams interviewed Steve Wilks, Harold Goodwin, Sean McVay, Josh McDaniels, Matt Patricia, Anthony Lynn and, before he came off the board, Marrone. This week, they’re expected to interview Teryl Austin, Mike Vrabel, Vance Joseph and Kyle Shanahan, whose original interview was held up by weather. Other names might pop up, as well. A convenient one-stop shop for content related to all coaching vacancies can be found here. Below is a categorical look at the 10 names linked to the Rams.

Teryl Austin

Age: 51

Current title: Lions defensive coordinator, three seasons

Prior roles: Ravens secondary coach (2011-13) … Florida defensive coordinator (2010) … Cardinals defensive backs coach (2007-09) … Seahawks defensive backs coach (2003-06)

Why he fits: Austin runs a very aggressive 4-3 scheme — though he can also adjust well — and has historically gotten the most out of his players. He can do well with a Rams group that features a solid defensive line and athletic linebackers, and he’d be very well-suited to improve a thin secondary. Austin has coached the secondary for Super Bowl teams in 2005 (Seahawks), 2008 (Cardinals) and 2012 (Ravens). He also has the magnetic personality that can thrive in a big market like Los Angeles, ESPN Lions reporter Michael Rothstein would tell you.

Why he doesn’t: Austin interviewed for head coaching vacancies with eight teams the past two years and many believe this is the year he finally gets a gig. The Rams might not be a fit, though, for one very obvious reason — their biggest need is someone who can fix the offense. And though Demoff has stressed that the organization would remain open-minded in its search, it’s hard to hire someone like Austin unless he has an offensive-minded coach he can bring with him. The Lions won’t let current offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter take the same job elsewhere. Maybe quarterbacks coach Brian Callahan?

Harold Goodwin

Age: 43

Current title: Cardinals offensive coordinator, four seasons

Prior roles: Colts offensive line coach (2012) … Steelers offensive line coach and quality control coordinator (2007-11) … Bears assistant offensive line coach (2004-06)

Why he fits: Goodwin came up coaching offensive lines, which is nice for a Rams team that drafted seven offensive linemen from 2014-15 and has yet to see results. While he was in Pittsburgh, the Steelers frequently had strong running games. In Arizona, he helped spark the resurgence of quarterback Carson Palmer. The Cardinals improved 20 spots, from 32nd to 12th, in total offense in Goodwin’s first year as offensive coordinator in 2013. In 2015, they had the best offense in the NFL.

Why he doesn’t: Goodwin doesn’t call plays. That task falls on Bruce Arians, one of the NFL’s sharpest offensive minds. Goodwin has certainly gained a lot from working under Arians all these years, but going from an offensive coordinator who doesn’t call plays to the head coach of a team that needs a lot of offensive help might be too big of a jump. Goodwin might need more seasoning.

Vance Joseph

Age: 44

Current title: Dolphins defensive coordinator, one season

Prior roles: Bengals defensive backs coach (2014-15) … Texans defensive backs coach (2011-13) … 49ers defensive backs coach (2006-10)

Why he fits: Joseph is the third successful defensive backs coach to emerge as a head coaching candidate for the Rams, who previously employed another former defensive backs coach — Jeff Fisher. Under Joseph’s watch from 2014-15, the Bengals’ secondary led the NFL with 41 interceptions and limited opposing quarterbacks to an NFL-low 77.4 passer rating. In three seasons in Houston, the Texans allowed the NFL’s lowest completion percentage (54.5). Joseph has a knack for developing young defensive backs. He’s also an honest, clear communicator.

Why he doesn’t: The Dolphins’ defense wasn’t very good in Joseph’s first year as an NFL coordinator. Miami gave up the fourth-most yards during the regular season, then surrendered 30 points in a wild-card loss to the Steelers.

Anthony Lynn

Age: 48

Current tile: Bills interim head coach, one season

Prior roles: Bills offensive coordinator and running backs coach (2015-16) … Jets assistant head coach (2014) … Jets running backs coach (2009-13) … Browns running backs coach (2007-08) … Cowboys running backs coach (2005-06) … Jaguars running backs coach (2003-04)

Why he fits: Two words: running game. Under Lynn’s watch, the Bills have boasted the NFL’s most effective rushing attack each of the past two years. Lynn helped Fred Taylor rush for a combined 2,796 yards from 2003 to ’04, then helped Jamal Lewis have back-to-back 1,000-rushing-yard seasons from 2007 to ’08. From 2009 to ’13, the Jets — with four different lead rushers — averaged 136 rushing yards per game, third-highest in the NFL during that time. Lynn is the perfect man to help a Rams running attack that declined drastically in Todd Gurley’s second season.

Why he doesn’t: Like Goodwin, Lynn doesn’t have much experience as a play-caller, doing it in only the final 13 games of 2016. He also never worked with quarterbacks until he became offensive coordinator this season, which would bring serious questions as to whether he could actually help 2016 No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff. That inexperience might not jibe for a Rams organization that needs a quick turnaround in an impatient market.

Josh McDaniels

Age: 40

Current title: Patriots offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, five seasons

Prior roles: Rams offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (2011) … Broncos head coach (2009-10) … Patriots offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach (2006-08) … Patriots quarterbacks coach (2004-05) … Patriots defensive assistant (2002-03)

Why he fits: McDaniels has spent 13 years learning under Bill Belichick and working with Tom Brady, and along the way he has developed into one of the game’s most innovative offensive minds. The Patriots finished within the top 10 in points in all nine of McDaniels’ seasons as offensive coordinator. That includes 2007, when McDaniels was at the controls of an offense that scored a then-record 75 touchdowns. And it includes 2016, when McDaniels masterfully adjusted while being without Brady for the first four games and without Rob Gronkowski for the final five.

Why he doesn’t: McDaniels didn’t handle his first head coaching gig well. He bickered with Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall, reportedly tuned out his assistant coaches, did not make sound personnel decisions and wound up in the middle of a videotaping scandal. McDaniels was only 33 when he took that job and said he has since grown. The Rams would really be counting on that if they gave him the job. McDaniels didn’t necessarily help them in 2011, a 2-14 finish with an offense led by Sam Bradford and Steven Jackson.

Sean McVay

Age: 30

Current title: Redskins offensive coordinator, three seasons

Prior roles: Redskins tight ends coach (2011-13) … Redskins assistant tight ends coach (2010) … wide receivers coach and quality control coordinator in United Football League (2009) … Buccaneers offensive assistant (2008)

Why he fits: Kirk Cousins was a fourth-round pick who sat behind Robert Griffin III for the majority of his first three seasons. McVay helped elevate him to a star. With McVay as offensive coordinator from 2015-16, Cousins ranked third in completion percentage, fourth in Total QBR and fifth in yards per attempt. During that time, the Redskins’ offense gained the sixth-most yards in the NFL. McVay has quickly become an aggressive play-caller who loves to throw the ball downfield. He also projects himself well and has quickly gained a reputation as a standout interviewer. ESPN Redskins reporter John Keim highlighted some of McVay’s traits here.

Why he doesn’t: Well, you know, he’s really, really young. McVay will be 31 by the end of this month. And though he has packed a lot of NFL inexperience in a very short time, McVay — grandson of former Giants coach and 49ers vice president John McVay — is still evolving as a play-caller and a leader.

Matt Patricia

Age: 42

Current title: Patriots defensive coordinator, five seasons

Prior roles: Patriots safeties coach (2011) … Patriots linebackers coach (2006-10) … Patriots offensive assistant (2004-05)

Why he fits: Patricia, a trained aeronautical engineer, is one of the NFL’s brightest minds and has had unquestioned success. Since he stepped in as defensive coordinator in 2012, the Patriots have given up the NFL’s fewest points. Patricia has been calling the defensive plays since 2010. And like McDaniels, he has benefited from an entire NFL career of working under Belichick. Those who know him consider Patricia a tireless worker to whom players easily respond.

Why he doesn’t: Like with any other defensive-minded coach, a limited offensive background will hurt Patricia on a Rams team that is motivated mainly by improving its lackluster offense. Patricia, however, did play center in college and called plays for the offensive line. If nothing else, interviewing Patricia is a very good way for the Rams to get feedback on their roster. Demoff sees this process as an ideal opportunity for that.

Kyle Shanahan

Age: 37

Current title: Falcons offensive coordinator, two seasons

Prior roles: Browns offensive coordinator (2014) … Redskins offensive coordinator (2010-13) … Texans offensive coordinator (2008-09) … Texans quarterbacks coach (2007) … Texans wide receivers coach (2006)

Why he fits: He isn’t the game’s most coveted offensive coordinator for nothing. In nine seasons in that role, Shanahan — son of Super Bowl-winning coach Mike Shanahan — has guided six top-10 offenses. He made Griffin the Offensive Rookie of the Year, helped turn Matt Schaub into a Pro Bowl quarterback and has made Matt Ryan an MVP front-runner this season. Under Shanahan, the Falcons scored an NFL-leading and franchise-record 540 points in 2016. His scheme — a wide-zone running game, which would require quick reads from Gurley, and lots of play-action — is appealing to the Rams’ personnel.

Why he doesn’t: It might take a while to grasp Shanahan’s offensive concepts, as evidenced by the Falcons’ disappointing showing in 2015. There are also the usual questions about assembling a staff and leading a group that come with your typical rookie coach.

Mike Vrabel

Age: 41

Current title: Texans linebackers coach, three seasons

Prior roles: Ohio State defensive line coach (2012-13) … Ohio State linebackers coach (2011)

Why he fits: Vrabel has far more playing experience than anybody on this list, having spent 14 years as a linebacker for the Steelers, Patriots and Chiefs. After his playing career ended, Vrabel rose quickly as a coach, spending three years coaching linebackers and defensive linemen at his alma mater and then spending three years coaching linebackers for the Texans, where he helped develop Jadeveon Clowney and Benardrick McKinney. Now he’s getting coaching interviews. Vrabel is considered an excellent teacher and motivator.

Why he doesn’t: He is seen in some circles as a potential head coach, but that is probably still years away. Vrabel has only ever been a position coach and has no experience as a coordinator. He needs that responsibility first, which is why it was surprising to see the Rams request an interview in the first place.

Steve Wilks

Age: 47

Current title: Panthers assistant head coach and defensive backs coach, two seasons

Prior roles: Panthers defensive backs coach (2012-14) … Chargers defensive backs coach (2009-11) … Bears defensive backs coach (2006-08)

Why he fits: Wilks has spent a lot of years working under Ron Rivera, most recently helping with scheduling and planning, so he is familiar with the logistics of a head coach. He has also done a lot in the secondary despite having very little in the way of draft picks and free agents, most notably leading a Super Bowl-caliber group that led the NFL in interceptions in 2015.

Why he doesn’t: Wilks, like Vrabel, still needs experience as a coordinator. He is reportedly next in line with the Panthers if current defensive coordinator Sean McDermott lands a head coaching job this offseason. That is the natural next step.