Zooey wrote:

I thought this was interesting. My first SB that I remember watching was SBIII. Jets over Colts. I guess, in retrospect, that wasn’t a bad place to start.

I got started in NFL interest later than most. My first super bowl was 13, in 78, Steelers/Cowboys. The game that included the famous Jackie Smith endzone drop. I was pulling for the Steelers (though to this day I feel bad for Smith).

from https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/39199715/how-interim-coach-giff-smith-won-chargers-locker-room

Following one of the most embarrassing losses in team history, a 63-21 drubbing by the Las Vegas Raiders on “Thursday Night Football,” the Chargers fired coach Brandon Staley and general manager Tom Telesco. Smith, then the Chargers’ outside linebackers coach and longest-tenured coach on staff, was tapped to lead the team for the final three games of the season.

…

In two weeks, Smith’s approach has brought renewed energy to a Chargers team that appeared to be coasting into the offseason.

Multiple team sources described a culture where players felt alienated by Staley, who one team source said created a culture that felt like a “fraternity.”Smith has shifted the energy of this team and won players over, largely because of his commitment to holding every player accountable.

“He’ll obviously hold you accountable to what you got to do, but at the same time, he’s going to let you know that he also believes in you,” safety Alohi Gilman said. “Building confidence is, I think, as a coach is so underrated. I think that’s what his superpower is — that he’s able to build confidence in guys regardless of the circumstances, and that elevates players.”

…

“The key thing is he’s just real and he’s genuine,” Gilman said. “People who have that genuine connection, that’s leadership — that’s real — that people can actually connect to. And in a team setting, that’s how you build a culture. That’s how you win over a locker room of grown men. You need that. You need someone to also to hold you accountable, at the same time be like, ‘Hey bro, I got your back.'”

Rams promote Chris Shula to defensive coordinator

Jourdan Rodrigue and Mark Puleo

https://theathletic.com/5245646/2024/02/01/rams-defensive-coordinator-chris-shula/?source=emp_shared_article

The Los Angeles Rams looked in-house for their new defensive coordinator and promoted linebackers coach and pass rush coordinator Chris Shula to the role, according to a league source. The spot was left vacant after Raheem Morris took the head coaching gig with the Atlanta Falcons.

Shula, the grandson of legendary coach Don Shula, has been on Sean McVay’s staff since 2017. He started as an assistant linebackers coach with the Rams before rising to outside linebackers coach then linebackers coach then pass game coordinator and defensive backs coach. He got his start in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers in 2015.

Shula, who played linebacker, was teammates with McVay at Miami of Ohio.

The promotion will preserve some continuity for McVay’s staff, which has lost quarterbacks coach Zac Robinson, assistant head coach Jimmy Lake, defensive line coach Eric Henderson and assistant special teams coordinator Jeremy Springer, along with Morris, this offseason.

In 2023, the Rams’ defense buckled up down the stretch, allowing fewer than 20 points in six of their last nine regular-season games.

A changeup for McVay

McVay has not promoted internally for any of his coordinator positions until Shula, who has worked under Wade Phillips, Brandon Staley and Morris (Staley was also in strong consideration for the job, sources said).

It’s a jump for Shula, but it seemed clear McVay was trying to prepare his longtime assistant for the role with moves between defensive backs and linebackers jobs and a shot at calling the defense for a preseason game each year.

Until Shula speaks with media, we won’t know what his defensive philosophy specifically as a coordinator is — but hiring in-house like this does give McVay a lot of control over the system and Shula has experience in each of the last two variations of the Rams’ current scheme, initially installed in 2020.

The Rams are replacing Raheem Morris with Chris Shula to be their defensive coordinator. Shula, the grandson of legendary coach Don Shula, has spent the last seven seasons as a Rams assistant.

How are you feeling, #RamsHouse? pic.twitter.com/iReP1x5YHM

— ESPN Los Angeles (@ESPNLosAngeles) February 1, 2024

Chris Shula has earned this opportunity. 7 years patiently waiting for his shot to be Rams DC, he was apparently incredibly impressive in his formal interview. An in-house promotion that will be celebrated by all in the building.

— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) February 1, 2024

wv wrote:

Breer says Spags clogged all of Lamar’s running lanes with a kindof fake blitz-ish-ness.  They dared Lamar to beat them in the air.  And he couldnt do it.

They were run blitzing and daring Baltimore to pass. The thing about a run blitz of course is that if you pass instead then it’s a pass blitz.

I said something somewhere about the Spags defensive system. It’s taken from the system Reid’s DC ran with the Eagles way back when. Among other things, it builds in really smart blitz packages.

I originally read up on all this when the Rams hired Spags. But we never really saw the Spags defense with the Rams because by the time he had built what he wanted in 2011, a massive injury epidemic wiped that defense out. He was forced to start corners they signed off the street during the season. I once asked Demoff in a chat session if the injuries were so extensive in 2011 that they just started to think it was funny every time someone new got injured. He basically said yes, in its own dark way it got so preposterous it was actually kind of funny. In the history of Rams massive injury epidemics it ranks  2nd to 2022.

So I researched the Spags defense for nothing. It never went anywhere with the Rams.

Here I am, then, 14 years later, able to make some comments on the Spags defense in a KC/SF super bowl.

IMO? That defense will be what wins the game and allows Mahomes to outscore SF.

Sources: Boston College coach Jeff Hafley is expected to become the new defensive coordinator of the Green Bay Packers. Hafley has brought BC to bowl eligibility in three of his four years. pic.twitter.com/TrcArWmiyb

— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 31, 2024

Byron Young looks to be one of the leagues ascending Edge Rushers!

In year 1 he tallied 61 tackles and 8 sacks. Numbers as good as any rookie pass rusher in franchise history. Young showed elite closing speed and a nonstop motor!

I would bet 10+ sack totals in year 2 for #0 pic.twitter.com/WuobAhaQtF

— RAMS ON FILM (@RamsOnFilm) January 31, 2024