In part one of my treatise on how the Los Angeles Rams could quickly right the ship with a few key moves, beginning with the escorting of Jeffery Michael Fisher, along with his entire coaching staff, from team facilities at gunpoint. I gave a few suggestions for the next head coach, out of a veteran and famous pool, all currently available for employment.
You can read it here.
But what if the Rams want to go younger? I don’t think owner Stan Kroenke would pass over a guy like Shanahan or Gruden for a younger guy, but if he decided to do it, there are options.
Josh McDaniels, Offensive Coordinator, New England Patriots
He’s easily the top young guy out there. The next head coach will be tasked with developing Jared Goff into an NFL passer and McDaniels has proven in this second stint in New England that he’s more than up for the task. Not only does he have Tom Brady playing at the highest level of his career, he got NFL caliber performances out of Jimmy Garappolo and called a perfect game for rookie Jacoby Brissett.
https://twitter.com/smartfootball/status/790548854299095041
McDaniels spent a year as the Rams’ offensive coordinator so he already has ties to the team. His tenure in Denver as its head coach flamed out, but he’s had a few years to figure out want went wrong and how to fix it. Seattle was Pete Carroll’s third NFL job and that seems to have worked out OK.
Kyle Shanahan, Offensive Coordinator, Atlanta Falcons
I already think Kroenke needs to be in conversations with Kyle’s father, Mike. But that doesn’t mean Kyle shouldn’t get a solid look. He’s the architect of the best offense in the NFL this season in Atlanta. He has Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan playing at an MVP level and has successfully used every weapon in Atlanta’s arsenal to the best of its abilities, especially Julio Jones.
You've got to figure that Owners/GMs are watching what Kyle Shanahan is doing in ATL with Matt Ryan & Co., and envision him as a Head Coach.
— Jeremy Stevenson (@MyColtsAccount) October 30, 2016
While the Rams don’t have Jones, they do have Todd Gurley. And while his numbers are down this year you can blame that on poor offensive line play and especially poor offensive line (and offensive overall) coaching. With Shanahan, that won’t be a problem.
Todd Haley, Offensive Coordinator, Pittsburgh Steelers
Haley looked like a disastrous hire in Pittsburgh early on, but the team stuck with him, implemented his offense and now consistently puts up basketball numbers when all their key players are healthy. Haley’s strengths as a playcaller are match-ups, especially in the passing game. With Haley calling plays, Gurley will become an all-purpose weapon and a match-up nightmare.
The #Steelers are the most fun team to watch, and it's not close. My pal Todd Haley is going to be a head coach again very soon.
— nick wright (@getnickwright) October 9, 2016
Where maybe a guy like McDaniels has the edge at QB development, Haley is a master at getting the most out of his wide receiver squad. He’s turned mid-round picks into consistent Pro Bowlers and dangerous weapons, something the Rams desperately need. Plus he’s close friends with Kurt Warner and the more Warner and Goff hang out, the better.
After that, there’s really no one else worth looking at. All the other coordinators either come with weird flaws or are defensive guys and the Rams absolutely do not need to guy with a defensive head coach. They need to hire an elite coordinator, sure. But the future of this franchise is in the hands of Jared Goff and Todd Gurley. They need to have someone in the building that knows how to use them.
The one change I don’t think Kroenke should make, and no one has brought it up, is at General Manager. I think Les Snead has done a good job of talent evaluation and contract negotiation. The Rams aren’t sitting on any salary cap problems and the one free agent screw up, cornerback Coty Sensabaugh, was all Fisher’s doing. Snead helps the young rookie players set up their financial future with money management firms, making getting drafted by the Rams actually good for a rookie’s future, whether he stays with the team or not.
Unlike Fisher, who will never coach in the NFL again, Snead would find no trouble landing another job. Unless there’s some Superstar Theo Epstein GM out there in the wind to replace him with, Snead is the best guy for the Rams moving forward. Fisher needs to go. Snead can stay.
