Rams part ways with five assistant coaches
Nick Wagoner
http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/25686/rams-make-changes-to-coaching-staff
EARTH CITY, Mo. — On Monday, St. Louis Rams head coach Jeff Fisher hinted strongly that changes to his coaching staff were coming. On Wednesday, Fisher made it official.
With a number of assistant coaches facing expiring contracts, the Rams and Fisher announced that wide receivers coach Ray Sherman, offensive assistant Jeff Garcia, running backs coach Ben Sirmans, assistant special teams coach Paul F. Boudreau and assistant strength and conditioning coach Adam Bailey will not return for the 2016 season.
“We appreciate all of the hard work and dedication each of our coaches have given to the organization,” Fisher said in a statement. “We wish them well in their future endeavors.”
Perhaps the most noticeable trend among the assistants who won’t be back is the subtraction of three members from the offensive coaching staff. That shouldn’t be a surprise, though, after the Rams finished last in the league in offensive yards.
The lack of production at wide receiver was particularly glaring, with Sherman at the helm and Garcia helping out.
Sherman’s receiver corps was a disappointment for most of his tenure with the team, but especially in 2015. Despite investing multiple high draft picks at the position, the Rams’ receivers were the least productive group in the NFL.
As a group, Rams receivers posted 137 catches for 1,635 yards (last in the NFL) and eight touchdowns. To put that into context, the Falcons’ Julio Jones finished with 136 catches for 1,871 yards and eight touchdowns.
Sherman came to the Rams with Fisher in 2012. Garcia, the former NFL quarterback, was just hired last offseason.
Of the list of coaches not returning, Sirmans comes as perhaps the biggest surprise. The Rams finished seventh in the league in rushing yards, with rookie running back Todd Gurley finishing third in the NFL in that category and scoring 10 touchdowns. Like Sherman, Sirmans joined the Rams in 2012.
Boudreau, who is the son of offensive line coach Paul T. Boudreau, had also been with the team since 2012, assisting John Fassel with special teams. The elder Boudreau remains with the club. Bailey assisted strength coach Rock Gullickson since coming on as a volunteer in 2010.
In addition to those spots, the Rams also have an opening at offensive coordinator. It’s a job that could go to Rob Boras, who handled those duties for the final four weeks. Fisher spoke highly of Boras earlier this week, but the Rams have also expressed an interest in talking to Browns offensive coordinator John DeFilippo about the job. That conversation could happen as soon as early next week.
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Agamemnon
