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January 26, 2024 at 1:48 pm #149046znModerator
Former Chargers head coach Brandon Staley has 'drawn interest' from Rams about being a potential Raheem Morris replacement per @AdamSchefter.
He is scheduled to meet with the Packers and Dolphins.
— Blaine Grisak đ (@bgrisakTST) January 26, 2024
January 26, 2024 at 1:57 pm #149047znModeratorThe Ramsâ defensive coordinator vacancy: 12 potential internal, external candidates
By Jourdan Rodrigue
Thursdayâs news â defensive coordinator Raheem Morris is expected to become the Atlanta Falconsâ new head coach â drew mixed emotions from the Los Angeles Rams.
Coaches, including head coach Sean McVay, who hired Morris (one of his best friends) in 2021, players and executives are thrilled for Morrisâ opportunity. At the same time, many I spoke with also expressed sadness to lose Morris, who helped the Rams win a Super Bowl and whose leadership in the building often put him in a co-head-coaching role of sorts alongside McVay.
The logistics come next. McVay will need to hire Morrisâ replacement, and that coach will have a significant say on another vacancy on the defensive side â defensive line coach Eric Henderson left for USC earlier this month.
Los Angeles will have to keep an eye on its offense, too. Quarterbacks coach Zac Robinson is one candidate to join Morris as his offensive coordinator in Atlanta among other candidates for that job, a league source said. Internal possibilities to replace Robinson, who has been interviewing for various offensive coordinator jobs across the NFL over the last two weeks, could include pass game coordinator Jake Peetz, tight ends coach Nick Caley (if he doesnât get an offensive coordinator job and McVay wants to move him from his previous position) or offensive assistant K.J. Black. External candidates could include Atlantaâs Dave Ragone, if he doesnât stay on Morrisâ staff and instead becomes a âfree agent.â McVay and Ragone know each other well from their time together in Washington.
Here are 12 possible internal and external candidates to replace Morris:
Internal
⢠Defensive backs coach/pass game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant
Pleasant coached the Ramsâ secondary from 2017 to 2020, then again in 2023. His teaching efforts with a largely young and undermanned group this season were often lauded by McVay and other coaches. Pleasant could also be a candidate to join Morrisâ Falcons staff.
⢠Linebackers coach Chris Shula
Shula has been a McVay assistant for as long as McVay has been a head coach (2017). He has moved between coaching inside and outside linebackers, with a brief stint in 2022 as one of the Ramsâ defensive backs coaches.
⢠Assistant head coach Jimmy Lake
Lake, a Morris hire to the Ramsâ staff last year, could join his staff. His collegiate and NFL experience as a defensive coach and his role working on both sides of the ball in 2023 also make him a candidate for an internal promotion to defensive coordinator.
External
⢠Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero
The Panthers reportedly blocked Evero from interviewing laterally for another defensive coordinator position in this cycle, indicating they wanted to keep him as they opened up the hiring process for their own head coach. That would imply both ownership and new general manager Dan Morgan wanted to pair Evero with an offense-minded head coach (Dave Canales). Still, itâs logical the Rams would at least try to request an interview with Evero, a defensive coach for them from 2017 to 2021, and he would be a very strong candidate for the position. Evero has also had head-coaching interviews in this cycle.
Another former Rams coach, Jonathan Cooley, is coaching the secondary under Evero in Carolina.
⢠Brandon Staley
It is logical McVay would at the very least give Staley a call and talk through ideas and options. Staley was the Ramsâ defensive coordinator in 2020, when the unit led the league in limiting explosive plays and scoring. Staley was hired that spring as the Los Angeles Chargers head coach, where his defensive groups did not see similar success. He was fired during the 2023 season.
⢠Baltimore Ravens assistant head coach/defensive line coach Anthony Weaver
If lauded Ravens defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald gets a head-coaching job, he could take Weaver with him as his defensive coordinator. Weaverâs background as a player and coach makes him a good fit for a still-growing defense with big shoes to fill on the defensive line, where his experience would be relevant.
Schematically, the Ravens defense deploys a lot of modern coverage concepts, post-snap rotations and simulated pressure looks. It is easy to see McVayâs pull to that, though a shift from the current scheme McVay pushed to install back in 2020.
⢠Wink Martindale
Martindale would be a logical coach to consider and call though a surprising hire for McVay, who has largely avoided blitz-heavy defensive schemes. He spoke highly of the former Giants and Ravens defensive coordinator this season before facing him in Week 17.
⢠Dallas Cowboys secondary coach Al Harris
Harrisâ defensive backs play with a smart, aggressive style and are second in the NFL with 69 interceptions since he took over the group in 2020.
⢠Denver Broncos defensive backs coach Christian Parker
Parker was one of the few holdovers retained by Evero when he was the defensive coordinator of the Broncos, and then again when current defensive coordinator Vance Joseph took over. His youth (heâs just 32) makes him a little bit of a wild card, but McVay has not been averse to hiring young coaches in his coordinator positions.
⢠Baltimore Ravens linebackers coach Zach Orr
Orr is another young coach (heâs just 31), but heâd be coming from an elite defensive ecosystem and is also a former player.
⢠Buffalo Bills linebackers coach Bobby Babich
Babich has been a defensive assistant in Buffalo since 2017, coaching safeties and linebackers. He has reportedly received an interview request for the defensive coordinator vacancy with the New York Giants.
⢠Cincinnati Bengals seconday/safeties coach Robert Livingston
Livingston, a nine-year defensive coach for the Bengals and a former scout, has spent the last five years training under respected defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo (who has an admirer in McVay).
Former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel should be added to this list, too, although heâs not in a bullet point because itâs unclear whether he would take a defensive coordinator job after he was a head coach (similarly why Bill Belichick isnât included in a bullet point, though McVay deeply admires the former longtime New England coach).
January 26, 2024 at 2:57 pm #149051wvParticipant“….Former Tennessee Titans coach Mike Vrabel should be added to this list, too, although heâs not in a bullet point because itâs unclear whether he would take a defensive coordinator job after he was a head coach (similarly why Bill Belichick isnât included in a bullet point, though McVay deeply admires the former longtime New England coach).”
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Yes, and Chuck Norris, Flipper, Anton Chigurh, and the God of the Old Testament were also not included in a bullet point.
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January 26, 2024 at 3:21 pm #149052znModeratorYes, and Chuck Norris, Flipper, Anton Chigurh, and the God of the Old Testament were also not included in a bullet point.
Dr. Doom too.
January 26, 2024 at 3:53 pm #149055znModeratorJanuary 26, 2024 at 4:47 pm #149056wvParticipantSo, how many black head-coaches does the NFL have now? Tomlin. Pierce in Vegas.  Bowles in Tampa. Morris in Atlanta.   4, now.  Is that it?
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January 27, 2024 at 3:32 am #149063znModeratorBlaine Grisak @bgrisakTSTDoes Sean McVay need to move on from the Fangio coaching tree with new defensive coordinator hire?.Rams have another name added to their DC list. Per @calvinwatkins and @toddarcher, Rams have requested an interview with Cowboys DL coach Aden Durde. Not a name that was on many people’s radar..Since joining the Rams in 2017, feels like there hasn’t been a single offseason where Sean McVay’s staff wasn’t purged. In 7 years, he’s on his 4th Offensive Coordinator and soon to be 4th Defensive Coordinator.January 27, 2024 at 10:22 am #149067InvaderRamModeratorRams have requested an interview with Cowboys DL coach Aden Durde. Not a name that was on many peopleâs radar.
interesting. i trust they’ll find the right guy. i’d prefer continuity. but again. complete faith that mcvay will find the best guy.
January 27, 2024 at 6:02 pm #149076ZooeyModeratorâ°
Aaron Donald has his âfingers crossedâ this coach gets the defensive coordinator job
It looks as though the Rams veteran defensive tackle wants a familiar face to replace Raheem Morris as DCBy JasonDalessandro on January 25, 2024 11:42 pm
Photo by Ryan Kang/Getty Images
The Los Angeles Rams will need to find a new defensive coordinator after Raheem Morris was hired as the new head coach for the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday. While there are plenty of options, whether in-house or on the open market, one of the Rams most important players has seemed to make it clear who he hopes gets the position.LAâs veteran superstar Aaron Donald posted to his instagram stories – first with a picture of Morris and champagne glasses cheering – followed by a picture of his previous defensive line coach Eric Henderson with âfingers crossedâ emoji, implying that he would like to see his former position coach back as Morrisâ successor.
Henderson left the Rams coaching staff a little over a week ago when he was promoted to USC co-defensive coordinator, however that was before the Rams defensive coordinator job became available. The former Rams coach joined Sean McVayâs staff in 2019, and in addition to shaping the defensive line, he also took over as the run game coordinator in 2021.
It remains to be seen if Henderson would have even been considered for the position if he hadnât left, or for that matter, if he would now even consider coming back so soon after committing to USC.
From the Rams perspective though, when the best player on the team has an endorsement for someone, it may be beneficial to listen up. This could be even more important when taking into account that Donald is heading into a contract year, and may be looking for a reason to sign another extension with Los Angeles over retirement. While Super Bowl trophies are always the main goal, making Donald happy with the new defensive coordinator choice could go a long way in contract negotiations as well.
To Hendersonâs credit, he is still a relatively young coach at only 41, and was a very successful coach in his time with LA. If he were to be considered for the position of DC, it would be completely warranted, even without Donald pushing for it.
Henderson leaving for USC felt like a big loss on the coaching staff, and Morris will most-likely be take a few more coaches with him to Atlanta too, so bringing Henderson back as the defensive coordinator could be just the right move to help keep some resemblance of continuity for the Rams staff, while still ushering in a new era.
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January 28, 2024 at 12:52 am #149086InvaderRamModeratorravens db coach dennard wilson interviewing with rams.
January 28, 2024 at 6:29 pm #149103znModeratorItâs time to find our defensive coordinator. Most, if not all of the Ramsâ candidates are done for the year.
A new identity may very much be on its way, and soon đđ
đ https://t.co/NuTHA1WzQE pic.twitter.com/A1QjZRaIXn
— Rams Brothers (@RamsBrothers) January 28, 2024
January 29, 2024 at 4:50 pm #149120znModeratorHoldenCantor@HoldenCantor
Rams DC interviews:
Brandon Staley
Dennard Wilson
Aden Durde
Ron Rivera
Aubrey Pleasant
Chris Shula…
Jourdan Rodrigue@JourdanRodrigueEjiro Evero would be one of the top candidates for the Rams DC job, if somehow available. Joe reports here that so far Carolina has blocked him from lateral DC interviews with the Jaguars, Dolphins and Giants as he is, at this time, still under contractâŚsomething to monitorâŚJanuary 31, 2024 at 1:06 am #149139znModeratorJanuary 31, 2024 at 1:24 pm #149144znModeratorFrom the Insiders on @NFLNetwork: Brandon Staleyâs prospects are heating up. pic.twitter.com/TIXhAoB6V1
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 31, 2024
January 31, 2024 at 10:30 pm #149151znModeratorIan Rapoport@RapSheetAri Meirov@MySportsUpdateAnother loss for Baltimore: The #Titans are expected to hire #Ravens DBs coach Dennard Wilson as their new DC, per @Schultz_Report. Wilson was a potential option to replace Mike Macdonald, but he opts to take a job on Brian Callahan’s staff in Tennessee.February 1, 2024 at 3:24 pm #149154ZooeyModeratorWell, Staley doesn’t have to move his family if he gets the job with the Rams. All things =, in the case of 2 job offers, the Rams would have the inside track, I would think.
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