It came as a shock to some when the Los Angeles Rams hired Sean McVay, just 30 years old, as their new head coach two weeks ago. Less of a surprise was the hiring of Wade Phillips as defensive coordinator in what turned out to be a package deal.
Team’s fortunes can change just that quickly and a new head coach and key coordinator hires can propel your team to the Super Bowl. Any Atlanta Falcons fans out there missing Mike Smith? I don’t think so.
There are two holdovers from the Jeff Fisher era expected to stay on McVay’s staff, with the first being special teams coach John Fassel, one of the best in the business. Fassel, of course, was the interim head coach after the team shitcanned Fisher, but no one held that against him. McVay is also keeping running backs coach Skip Peete, who joined the Rams last season. Every other Fisher coach has been ejected from the building including his shitty son Brandon.
Joining Phillips’ defensive staff will be former Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Joe Barry. Barry will be the team’s assistant head coach and linebacker’s coach. Former Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Greg Olson will be the quarterbacks coach.
Rams agree to terms with Joe Barry to be assistant head coach https://t.co/fAlyzpMk77
— L.A. Times Sports (@latimessports) January 15, 2017
McVay has already stated he’ll be calling the plays, so the Rams’ offensive coordinator position will be one of advice, strategy and preparation during the week. There have been a couple of interesting names tossed about, though none that light the world on fire like Phillips at defensive coordinator.
Former Buffalo Bills assistant Aaron Kromer is a possibility as is former Baltimore Ravens offensive coordinator Marc Trestman. Kromer is famous for threatening to kill a guy over a beach chair a few years ago. Trestman is famous for being fired twice in two years by two different teams. Needless to say, neither guy makes me excited as OC, though Kromer as the offensive line coach (which is also on the table) is a much better fit.
Redskins offensive line coach Bill Callahan has also been mentioned in connection with the job, but the problem there is, according to his agent, he doesn’t want to be OC anywhere.
#Rams may be interested in Marc Trestman as offensive coordinator. But track record shows he isn't the best choice. https://t.co/w0XJMEK4Oc
— Rams Wire (@TheRamsWire) January 22, 2017
The more likely prospect is Wade Phillips’ son Wes. Wes is currently the Redskins’ tight ends coach and one of McVay’s best friends. Wes has been described as a “big picture thinker about football” by former Redskins tight end Logan Paulsen.
New head coach Anthony Lynn has made only one new hire official since joining the team a couple of weeks ago. Gus Bradley, the former head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars and officially the worst head coach of the modern NFL era, will take over as defensive coordinator. And before you jump off a building Chargers fans (all three of you), this may not be a bad thing.
Former Jaguars HC Gus Bradley has agreed to become DC for then Los Angeles Chargers, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 21, 2017
Bradley actually built the current Seattle Seahawks defense as their DC from 2009-2012. He survived the firing of head coach Jim Mora Jr. and, along with Pete Carroll, improved the Seahawks defense from No. 24 in the league to the No. 1 unit in 2012. He’ll be starting with a lot more talent with the Chargers.
Lynn is keeping most of Mike McCoy’s staff intact, including offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt.
Buffalo Bills
New head coach Sean McDermott’s biggest move so far has been the addition of Rick Dennison as offensive coordinator.
Dennison was the Denver Broncos’ offensive coordinator for the last two seasons and has a big fat Super Bowl ring to show off to the rest of the Bills’ staff. Considering Dennison’s Broncos beat McDermott’s Panthers in the Super Bowl, the new Buffalo head coach knows first hand what he’s getting in an OC. Dennison will also be able to make the most out of the Bills sketchy quarterback situation, whatever that turns out to be, and probably get LeSean McCoy to rush for 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Shout out to Rick Dennison. He had 26 seasons w/ Broncos as player (9yrs) and coach (17). Elway has 23 yrs as player (16) & GM (7) #9sports
— Mike Klis (@MikeKlis) January 14, 2017
After rumors that McDermott was bringing in Al Holcomb as defensive coordinator, the team instead went with former Minnesota Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier. Frazier was the secondary coach for the Baltimore Ravens last year and was the DC in Tampa Bay from 2014-15.
For some reason the Bills have decided to offer charity to a couple of Jeff Fisher cast-offs. Mike Waufle, the Rams former defensive line coach, will take over that same job with the Bills. Former Rams offensive coordinator Rob Boras will coach tight ends.
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