Rams' coaching candidates?

Sean Payton reportedly has ‘sincere interest’ in Rams, Ron Rivera in rumor mill

Will Brinson

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/sean-payton-reportedly-has-sincere-interest-in-rams-ron-rivera-in-rumor-mill/

The Los Angeles Rams got an early start on their coaching search when they fired Jeff Fisher following Week 14’s humiliating home loss to the Falcons. There are some big names being bandied about as possible candidates — including Jon Gruden, who might just be a perfect fit in L.A. despite his protests to the contrary — but the Rams, as CBS Sports NFL Insider Jason La Canfora reported Saturday, are also looking at some more under-the-radar names.

Two names from way out in left field that were floated on Saturday by NFL.com: Sean Payton of the Saints and … Ron Rivera of the Panthers?
The two NFC South coaches were mentioned independently of one another. Payton has been a name that has previously been associated with the Rams, primarily because the Saints aren’t expected to ask for much in a trade exchange.
Payton, per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, “is monitoring with sincere interest” what the Rams do with their coaching position. The possibility of Payton to the Rams was described as “not imminent or likely but ‘possible.'”
The Rivera thing is really out there. Just last June, the Panthers coach signed a new extension with the club and got a huge raise after taking Carolina to the Super Bowl. Rivera is comfortable in Carolina and well-liked within the club and the community.
Here’s the logic from NFL.com: the Rams are “in need of discipline in a city with a large Hispanic population” and he would qualify as a “splash hire.”
The biggest problem here? The Panthers aren’t going to give up Rivera for nothing. Oh wait, no that’s the second-biggest problem. The biggest problem, as pointed out in the original report is it’s “not certain Rivera would want to leave Carolina.”
There are many hurdles here, honestly.

Los Angeles already lost its first-round pick next year to the Tennessee Titans after trading up to land Jared Goff. That’s going to be a top-10 pick barring the Rams winning out.
Rivera might get asked about this in the next 24 hours — it’s wouldn’t be surprising if he answered a question about the rumor with a high level of disdain.
Everything is in play during the silly season that is coaching searches and rumors, but it’s highly unlikely the Rams are poaching Rivera from the Panthers this offseason. Even Payton is a stretch considering the requirements to make it happen.

Here’s why Kyle Shanahan should be high on Rams’ coaching search list

By VINCENT BONSIGNORE

http://www.ocregister.com/articles/shanahan-739702-rams-offensive.htm

Kirk Cousins didn’t get much playing time as a rookie quarterback with Washington in 2012.

As a lowly fourth-round pick playing for a team that just invested three first-round draft picks to move in position to draft Robert Griffin III second overall, he was destined to be a sideline mainstay.

Especially with RG3 on his way to a Rookie of the Year season while pushing Washington to the playoffs,

As professionally frustrating as that season might have been, it wasn’t a total waste for Cousins, who eventually supplanted RG3 and now has Washington on the brink of the playoffs.

In fact, the insight he gained observing then Washington offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan provided a class study in game-planning and play-calling. The lessons from which Cousins still marvels at to this day.

Albeit from afar now that Shanahan has moved on to the Atlanta Falcons.

Which brings us to the Rams and their coaching search, which kicks into high gear next week when they finally get to sit down with current NFL assistant coaches for interviews.

Shanahan sits among the top of potential candidates for the Rams, and for good reason.

In need of vision, imagination, a proven track record of developing, fine tuning and pushing multiple quarterbacks and teams to high-level offensive plateaus, Shanahan checks off almost all the boxes the Rams should be mindful of as they prepare to make one of the most important decisions in franchise history.

Just listen to what Cousins had to say about his former coach last year ahead of a Washington-Atlanta showdown.

“When you look at creativity and the ability to not be predictable, I was on the Redskins with Kyle, knew the system and didn’t know what was coming,” Cousins said. “I don’t mean to say he was pulling stuff out of left field. The ability to be thinking of the next play and being a step ahead, I think there’s a level of having the innate ability to do it that requires a quick mind. Kyle has that.”

It’s something Cousins immediately realized.

“I remember our very first game against the Saints, when Robert Griffin and I were rookies,” he explained. “I remember calling my dad after the game and saying, ‘I cannot believe how well-called that game was.’ They kept the Saints on their toes the whole game. They had no idea what was coming next. All of it was positive plays that put (Griffin) and the offense in a good situation to be successful. So, that was kind of my first taste of how good of a play-caller Kyle really was.”

If you’re the Rams, this should leave your ears ringing.

Even though it only scratches the surface of why the 37-year-old Shanahan makes so much sense for them.

As we’ve all seen this year, the Rams are in desperate need of an offensive overhaul as they try to grow and prosper around rookie quarterback Jared Goff.

From scheme to talent to play calling, to position development , nothing short of a complete renovation is required.

Short of prying a proven head coach away from his present job, the Rams will look to current coordinators for their next head coach. Almost undoubtedly one with an offensive track record.

Shanahan and Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels are the two most popular names, but while McDaniels’ resume is limited to working with Tom Brady and a complete nosedive in his two years as head coach of the Denver Broncos, Shanahan brings a wide-ranging resume that includes successful coordinator stops with Houston, Washington and now Atlanta.

In fact, RGIII, Texans quarterback Matt Schaub, and the Falcons’ Matt Ryan have all had their best seasons working under Shanahan, who also oversaw strong running games at all three stops.

You can argue McDaniels is simply the product of working with Patriots coach Bill Belichick and Brady.

But with Shanahan, you’re talking about someone whose scheme, system and expertise have consistently resulted in top-10 offenses. It’s an attack based on a quick-strike, rhythm passing game that can get aggressive downfield in a hurry by spreading the ball around with boot-leg action quarterback roll-outs and a wide-zone run game grandfathered to him by zone-blocking guru Alex Gibbs, the offensive line coach under Shanahan’s father, Mike, during their time with the Denver Broncos.

The result being a balanced attack everywhere Shanahan has laid down roots.

It’s a resume that’s rightfully grabbed the attention of the Rams, who desperately need someone to bring out in Goff and young running back Todd Gurley everything they have to offer.

But also re-tool and develop an offensive line and overhaul a wide receiver group that presently strikes fear in no one.

That isn’t to say Shanahan will work immediate miracles if he’s hired.

But with a body of work like that, he’s exactly what the Rams should be focused on.

And if it means his father joining him in some capacity, preferably in a position that impacts personnel, all the better.

After all, with the Rams in need of a talent infusion along the offensive line and at wide receiver, you could do worse than Mike Shanahan calling those shots. And with his son making the transition from assistant to head coach, he wouldn’t be a bad confidante to have nearby.

The Rams figure to touch base with a number of candidates over the next few weeks.

But from this vantage point, Kyle Shanahan is well qualified.

Eternal Ramnation wrote:

Ridiculous to put him in a list with Linehan and McDaniels fucking ridiculous.

Mod issue: you’re getting a little bit “over the line”-ish there. Doesn’t all have to be tea n honey but there is a line.

Fair enough?

Harold Goodwin expected to get head coaching interviews

Josh Alper

Harold Goodwin expected to get head coaching interviews

GLENDALE, AZ There’s no sign that Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians will be moving on once the regular season comes to a close, but one of his top assistants is expected to talk to teams looking for a head coach of their own.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Cardinals offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin is expected to be on the interview list for the Rams, Bills and Jaguars once he’s eligible to start talking to other clubs. Goodwin was on the NFL’s Career Development Advisory Panel’s list of recommended candidates for a top job.

Goodwin, who has been in his current job since 2013, interviewed with the Buccaneers last year before they hired Dirk Koetter. He has not been the play caller on offense in Arizona as Arians handles those duties, but handled the job in three of the team’s preseason games this year.

Goodwin is African-American, so interviewing him would satisfy the requirements of the Rooney Rule for all three teams and put them in position to make a hire whenever they settle on their choice.

Rams set sights on Sean Payton; GM Mickey Loomis open to trade, source says

Larry Holder

http://www.nola.com/saints/index.ssf/2017/01/rams_set_sights_on_sean_payton.html

ATLANTA — The gears have been put into motion for a possible end of Sean Payton’s time with the New Orleans Saints.

The Los Angeles Rams are expected to ask permission this week to speak with Payton about their head coach opening, according to a source familiar with the situation. General manager Mickey Loomis would be open to trading Payton, the source said.

Sean Payton on future with New Orleans Saints: ‘Next question’
Sean Payton on future with New Orleans Saints: ‘Next question’
Payton has coached the Saints for the past 11 seasons
Payton and Loomis met for about an hour in the Georgia Dome after the Saints-Falcons game Sunday to discuss Payton’s future, according to the source.

The source added it’s still too early in the process to know the compensation the Saints would ask the Rams for in return for Payton.

Reports of Payton’s possible interest in L.A. surfaced less than a month ago after the Rams fired Jeff Fisher. Payton explored options last offseason to leave the Saints, as well, with Indianapolis and San Francisco as possible destinations.

Sean Payton’s comments after loss to Falcons
Payton, who has been coach of the Saints since 2006, wrapped up his third straight 7-9 season after the team’s 38-32 loss in Atlanta on Sunday.

When asked if he planned on being the Saints coach in 2017 during his postgame press conference, Payton replied, “Next question.”

The Saints’ sub-.500 record of late coupled with Payton’s pricy salary is one of the reasons the Saints are open to trading the coach, according to the source.

Payton received a five-year contract extension through 2020 worth $45 million last January after his flirtations with other teams.

Report: Rams want to talk to both Patriots coordinators

Posted by Darin Gantt on January 2, 2017, 7:21 AM EST

Report: Rams want to talk to both Patriots coordinators

The Rams fired Jeff Fisher to give themselves a head start on the hiring process (and also preventing him from being the losingest head coach in NFL history).

So it figures they’ll have a long list of guys to talk to as they try to fix things.

According to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, among their likely targets are Patriots coordinators Josh McDaniels and Matt Patricia and Washington offensive coordinator Sean McVay.

They’ve also been linked to Bills interim head coach Anthony Lynn, and their own interim coach John Fassel is interviewing today.

Of course, the specter of Sean Payton’s also looming over the whole process. Rapoport says there has been no contact yet with the Saints, that could be a matter of scheduling and semantics, with reports they’re prepared to ask permission to interview the Saints coach and that the Saints might listen this time.

off the net from HighPlainsDrifter

on ESPN

List of current coordinators and assistants Rams have requested to interview: Anthony Lynn, Matt Patricia, Josh McDaniels, Doug Marrone, Kyle Shannahan, Sean McVay. Also expected to interview Harold Goodwin of Arizona.