Recent Forum Topics › Forums › The Rams Huddle › articles on LaFleur leaving, & Kromer/Waldron promotions
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January 30, 2018 at 11:04 pm #80589
znModeratorWhat Matt LaFleur’s departure means for Sean McVay
Alden Gonzalez
LOS ANGELES — The decision to let Matt LaFleur leave was never a difficult one for Sean McVay.
It’s a lateral move in title, going from offensive coordinator of the Los Angeles Rams to offensive coordinator of the Tennessee Titans. But it will mean so much more than that to LaFleur, because he will call plays and because this, finally, will be his offense. McVay was and will continue to be the preeminent offensive voice for the Rams, and the head coach never thought twice about denying LaFleur an opportunity to do the same, even though the NFL grants him that right.
“The only reason I’m lucky enough to be in this role is because people I have been around gave me a chance to grow,” McVay wrote in a text message, “and I would never do that to such a great person and close friend like Matt is.”
Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay, left, allowed offensive coordinator Matt LaFleur to leave his staff three weeks after former quarterbacks coach Greg Olson left to join Jon Gruden with the Raiders. Kirby Lee/USA Today Sports
LaFleur’s departure, three weeks after former quarterbacks coach Greg Olson left to join Jon Gruden as the Oakland Raiders’ offensive coordinator, leaves a significant void in the Rams’ staff, especially when it comes to the maturation of Jared Goff. But it’s one McVay is confident he can fill in-house.One day after the Rams’ resurgent season ended with a first-round loss to the Atlanta Falcons, McVay talked about wanting to “build from within” with his coaching staff. And that is precisely what he’s doing. To replace Olson, Zac Taylor, who spent four years working with Ryan Tannehill of the Miami Dolphins, went from assistant wide receivers coach to quarterbacks coach. To replace LaFleur, offensive line coach Aaron Kromer also will become the running game coordinator, and tight ends coach Shane Waldron also will become the passing game coordinator.
Kromer, who helped the Buffalo Bills become the NFL’s top rushing team in 2015 and 2016, was basically already the running game coordinator last season. His role won’t really change. Waldron will be the one to essentially replace LaFleur with regards to setting up the weekly game plan. Taylor could be the one to take LaFleur’s spot in the booth on game day, but the Rams also have added former UCLA offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch, who will play a major role in the Rams’ game-day management.
Really, though, LaFleur’s void will be taken on by McVay.
Now that he doesn’t have to learn an entire organization or construct a new staff or single-handedly map out an offseason program as a first-year head coach, McVay, 32, plans to spend a lot more time with Goff and the rest of the quarterbacks leading up to the 2018 season. That was the plan before LaFleur was hired away, and it’s especially important now.
January 30, 2018 at 11:08 pm #80591znModeratorKromer, Waldron Receive Promotions on Offensive Staff
Myles Simmons
With Matt LaFleur departing the Rams to become the Titans’ offensive coordinator, Los Angeles’ offensive staff will undergo a few more changes.
Head coach Sean McVay promoted offensive line coach Aaron Kromer to run game coordinator and tight ends coach Shane Waldron to pass game coordinator in order to help fill the void. McVay said earlier this month that if coaches leave for better positions with other organizations, his preference is to promote from within. One example of that already happened, as McVay promoted Zac Taylor to quarterbacks coach to replace Greg Olson.
“As we move to 2018, we are confident in the leadership and guidance of Aaron Kromer and Shane Waldron as they begin their roles as run coordinator and pass coordinator,” McVay said in a statement on Tuesday.
This title isn’t new for Kromer, who held the same position for the Saints from 2008-2012. Kromer was instrumental in the Rams’ blocking schemes in 2017, which set up running back Todd Gurley to finish No. 2 with 1,305 yards rushing and No. 1 with 13 rushing touchdowns.
Prior to landing in Los Angeles last year, Kromer spent two years in Buffalo — both of which the Bills finished No. 1 in yards rushing. In 2016, the club had three players rush for at least 500 yards in running back LeSean McCoy (1,267), quarterback Tyrod Taylor (580), and running back Mike Gillislee (577).
Waldron’s first season in L.A. came after he spent a season with McVay in Washington as the team’s offensive quality control coach. That was his first job in the NFL since 2009, when he coached tight ends for the Patriots. In between, Waldron coached a variety of offensive positions in college, including a four-year stop at UMass.
“I do have the luxury of coaching the offensive line and coaching the receivers in my past, so I have a pretty good mix of the understanding of both aspects of the game,” Waldron said in an interview with therams.com upon being hired in 2017.
While the Rams’ offensive coaching staff will look a bit different in 2017 — the club also recently hired former UCLA offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch — the top of it remains the same. McVay will still call plays for the No. 1 scoring team in 2017, which should further the development of quarterback Jared Goff
January 30, 2018 at 11:10 pm #80592znModeratorMatt LaFleur Named Titans Offensive Coordinator
Myles Simmons
Another member of the Rams’ 2017 offensive coaching staff has departed for a new opportunity, as the Titans named Matt LaFleur their new offensive coordinator. With the move, head coach Sean McVay has promoted offensive line coach Aaron Kromer to run game coordinator and tight ends coach Shane Waldron to pass game coordinator.
“I’m excited for Matt LaFleur and his family as he transitions to the Titans as offensive coordinator,” McVay said in a statement. “We’re grateful for his contribution to the Rams and our NFC West Championship season last year. As we move to 2018, we are confident in the leadership and guidance of Aaron Kromer and Shane Waldron as they begin their roles as run coordinator and pass coordinator.”
While LaFleur was an important piece of the Rams’ game planning and installation, he did not call plays in his first year as a coordinator under McVay. With former Texans defensive coordinator Mike Vrabel newly hired as the Titans’ head coach, LaFleur will presumably call plays in Tennessee, which amounts to a promotion for the 38 year old.
This is the Rams’ second coaching departure for a promotion on offense this offseason. Greg Olson — Los Angles’ quarterbacks coach in 2017 — was named Oakland’s offensive coordinator earlier this month. L.A. promoted Zac Taylor from assistant wide receivers coach to quarterbacks coach to fill the void. Taylor was the Dolphins’ quarterbacks coach from 2013-2015.
“We want to be able to build from within here,” McVay said on the subject of assistant coaches earlier this month. “I think we’ve got a lot of good people that you want to try and do that. I think that’s what good organizations do when you just look around the league at kind of the landscape and how things have operated. So that’s going to be something that we’ll look at if we do end up losing some people.”
Kromer and Waldron both joined the Rams’ coaching staff for the 2017 season, and their promotions fit that mold. Kromer has spent over 15 years as an offensive line coaching the NFL, and previously held the run game coordinator title for the Saints from 2008-2012. Waldron is entering his fifth NFL season as a coach, having spent time with Washington and New England before joining L.A. last year.
Additionally, Los Angeles recently added to its offensive staff in hiring Jedd Fisch as senior offensive assistant. Fisch has extensive coaching experience in both college and the NFL, most recently serving as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at UCLA in 2017.
January 30, 2018 at 11:40 pm #80593znModeratorVincent Bonsignore@DailyNewsVinny
[LaFleur] Not the biggest surprise as it’s a big promotion fir Matt calling plays#Rams policy has been to say no to a lateral move and consent topromotions. In job title this was lateral. In duty it was promotion.
Joe Curley@vcsjoecurley
Interesting move for LaFleur. OC in Tennessee is a big job. It’s his offense now and there’s a lot of young weapons expected to take the next step. -
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