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It finally happened. The Los Angeles Rams canned head coach Jeff Fisher. So now what? There is a long list of candidates, and the Rams shouldn’t limit themselves to an “offensive-minded coach.” Without further ado, here are a list of 10 candidates (in no particular order) with the best option named at the end:
Josh McDaniels (Offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots)
One of the more popular candidates is Josh McDaniels, and for a good reason since his resume speaks for itself. McDaniels is a part of the Bill Belichick legacy since becoming the offensive coordinator in 2006-2008, including guiding them to Super Bowl XLII. His overwhelming success landed him the head coaching job with the Denver Broncos, but he was fired in the middle of his second season.
Before spending five more seasons with the New England Patriots, he was hired to be the Rams offensive coordinator in 2011, and his short stint wasn’t too successful. Of course, this was before the Fisher era, when things were much worse for the Rams. It’s truly hard to measure McDaniel’s success, because he hasn’t succeeded anywhere outside of New England. He also wasn’t the one responsible for developing Tom Brady. Therefore, it is difficult to say how he would transition into being the Rams’ head coach.
Kyle Shanahan (Offensive coordinator of the Atlanta Falcons)
Son of the notable Mike Shanahan, Kyle Shanahan has coaching in his genes. Shanahan is on top of everyone’s wish list considering the success he has had with Atlanta Falcons. But what has he accomplished previously? He was named offensive coordinator of the Houston Texans in 2008, and did have some success converting journeyman quarterback Matt Schaub into an All-Pro in 2009. He then left Houston to join his father’s coaching staff with the Washington Redskins. In four seasons with the Redskins, the offense often struggled with the exception of one season with Robert Griffin III.
So what would the Rams be receiving in Shanahan? It’s difficult to say since he has never been a head coach before. Could he develop the Rams’ lackluster offense? Possibly, but coordinators don’t always transition well into head coaches. In other words, Shanahan is by no means a “safe pick.”
Tom Coughlin (Free agent)
Most teams are intrigued anytime there’s a two-time Super Bowl winning coach like Tom Coughlin available. No doubt those rings are impressive, but he had plenty of mediocre seasons too, including the final three seasons with the New York Giants. One thing Fisher did have with the Rams is their respect, and a respectable coach like Coughlin could prove to be an easier transition. While Coughlin is considered more of a “defensive-minded coach,” he did have several seasons of offensive success with the Giants, and even some with the Jacksonville Jaguars, especially with the ground game. He might be older, but he could surely teach this young Rams team a thing or two.
Greg Schiano (Defensive coordinator of Ohio State University)
Fun fact: Greg Schiano would have likely been the Rams head coach if Fisher declined the offer in 2012. Instead, the former Rutgers head coach brought his services to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he was fired in 2013 after going 11-21 in two seasons. Schiano is a mystery because he hasn’t had success in the pro level, and some college coaches just don’t function well in the NFL. It’s also hard to measure his success with the Buckeyes since they are constantly bringing in elite recruit classes, and Ohio State was already a top-tier team before arriving. One thing to consider is that Kevin Demoff did see something in Schiano, so don’t be surprised if the Rams revisit that option.
David Shaw (Head coach of Stanford University)
I know people come to this list expecting to see Jim Harbaugh, but it’s his protege at Stanford David Shaw that deserves the look. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love nothing more than to see to see Harbaugh come to Los Angeles, but it’s not realistic since he has a great thing going in Michigan. Shaw, on the other hand, could seek to step out of Harbaugh’s shadow with this potential move. Shaw was part of the Harbaugh legacy as an offensive coordinator and has successfully led the program ever since. Stanford is consistently churning out first and second day NFL Draft prospects. Shaw only has experience in the NFL as an assistant though, and that could be a challenge moving forward with the Rams.
Jim Bob Cooter (Offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions)
A risky hire would be Jim Bob Cooter, because he is only a year older than William Hayes. He doesn’t have a ton of coaching experience, in fact, he only has about a year’s worth of experience as an offensive coordinator. It’s amazing how quickly he turned around the Detroit Lions offense, and this is without the service of Calvin Johnson. Personally, I’d be more interested in him as an offensive coordinator, but he will be a head coach at some point. He may be worth the risk.
Bill Musgrave (Offensive coordinator of the Oakland Raiders)
Another candidate’s stock that has risen due to recent success is Bill Musgrave. Musgrave is certainly an intriguing thought considering all that he accomplished with the Raiders offense in just two seasons. Other than that, he was the offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings from 2011-2013, and did guide running back Adrian Peterson to a 2,000-yard season. While not a perfect option, Musgrave could be an effective influence to this young Rams squad.
Jon Gruden (Free agent)
While it wouldn’t be a huge shock if Jon Gruden joins the Rams, the likelihood of it happening isn’t great. Gruden does have a Super Bowl ring under his belt, but he also hasn’t coached since 2008. He hasn’t been known to have explosive offenses, however, he did have some success with the Raiders and the Buccaneers. It can be disputed that not all of his success is solely his, benefiting from previous coaches such as Tony Dungy. Still, there is no denying his leadership and his attention to detail.
Harold Goodwin (Offensive coordinator of the Arizona Cardinals)
Harold Goodwin provides something that most candidates don’t, and that’s his expertise with the offensive line. The Rams have had major struggles with the offensive line, so to bring someone like Goodwin may benefit the entire offense. Rookie Jared Goff would certainly appreciate the idea. He has had plenty of success with the Cardinals offense and even made due with veteran Carson Palmer. Also, studying under Bruce Arians may prove to be useful in his imminent promotion. Still, his experience is limited, and Goodwin may not be ready yet.
Todd Haley (Offensive Coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers)
Todd Haley has seen limited success in his coaching career, but plenty of unsuccessful runs too. One instance is his failed head coaching stint with the Kansas City Chiefs. He later joined the Steelers as the offensive coordinator in 2012, and has turned the Pittsburgh offense into one of the league’s best. The Rams could use a coach that can teach this young receiving squad how to properly catch a football.
Best Option
There are other options to consider such as: Norv Turner, Jim Schwartz, Scott Linehan (gulp) among others, but in my opinion, the best overall option is Shaw. Of everything he has accomplished, I am confident in his ability to turn this team around. Shaw has demonstrated with the Cardinals that he has knack for developing offenses. He commands discipline, which the Rams desperately need being one of the most penalized teams in the NFL. If Shaw can get the offense to master the basic fundamentals, such as catching and blocking, the Rams can be a very different team in 2017. Perhaps providing Goff with a PAC-12 influence may help him down the line as well. Though mostly known for his role with offenses, Stanford’s defense are no pushovers either. Matched with Gregg Williams at defensive coordinator, I’d be really confident in the Rams as a whole under Shaw’s leadership.
Source: Pro-sports-reference.com
You can follow Johnny Gomez on Twitter @Johnny5not6. Be sure to follow Rams Talk on Twitter @TalkRams.
2016, Bill Belichick, Bill Musgrave, Bruce Arians, david shaw, featured, greg schiano, Harold Goodwin, Jeff Fisher, jim bob cooter, Jim Harbaugh, Jim Schwartz, Jon Gruden, Josh McDaniels, Kevin Demoff, Kyle Shanahan, la rams, Los Angeles Rams, Mike Shanahan, NFL, Norv Turner, rams, Scott Linehan, todd haley, tom coughlin
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It finally happened. The Los Angeles Rams canned head coach Jeff Fisher. So now what? There is a long list of candidates, and the Rams shouldn’t limit themselves to an “offensive-minded coach.” Without further ado, here are a list of 10 candidates (in no particular order) with the best option named at the end:
Josh McDaniels (Offensive coordinator of the New England Patriots)
One of the more popular candidates is Josh McDaniels, and for a good reason since his resume speaks for itself. McDaniels is a part of the Bill Belichick legacy since becoming the offensive coordinator in 2006-2008, including guiding them to Super Bowl XLII. His overwhelming success landed him the head coaching job with the Denver Broncos, but he was fired in the middle of his second season.
Before spending five more seasons with the New England Patriots, he was hired to be the Rams offensive coordinator in 2011, and his short stint wasn’t too successful. Of course, this was before the Fisher era, when things were much worse for the Rams. It’s truly hard to measure McDaniel’s success, because he hasn’t succeeded anywhere outside of New England. He also wasn’t the one responsible for developing Tom Brady. Therefore, it is difficult to say how he would transition into being the Rams’ head coach.
Kyle Shanahan (Offensive coordinator of the Atlanta Falcons)
Son of the notable Mike Shanahan, Kyle Shanahan has coaching in his genes. Shanahan is on top of everyone’s wish list considering the success he has had with Atlanta Falcons. But what has he accomplished previously? He was named offensive coordinator of the Houston Texans in 2008, and did have some success converting journeyman quarterback Matt Schaub into an All-Pro in 2009. He then left Houston to join his father’s coaching staff with the Washington Redskins. In four seasons with the Redskins, the offense often struggled with the exception of one season with Robert Griffin III.
So what would the Rams be receiving in Shanahan? It’s difficult to say since he has never been a head coach before. Could he develop the Rams’ lackluster offense? Possibly, but coordinators don’t always transition well into head coaches. In other words, Shanahan is by no means a “safe pick.”
Tom Coughlin (Free agent)
Most teams are intrigued anytime there’s a two-time Super Bowl winning coach like Tom Coughlin available. No doubt those rings are impressive, but he had plenty of mediocre seasons too, including the final three seasons with the New York Giants. One thing Fisher did have with the Rams is their respect, and a respectable coach like Coughlin could prove to be an easier transition. While Coughlin is considered more of a “defensive-minded coach,” he did have several seasons of offensive success with the Giants, and even some with the Jacksonville Jaguars, especially with the ground game. He might be older, but he could surely teach this young Rams team a thing or two.
Greg Schiano (Defensive coordinator of Ohio State University)
Fun fact: Greg Schiano would have likely been the Rams head coach if Fisher declined the offer in 2012. Instead, the former Rutgers head coach brought his services to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he was fired in 2013 after going 11-21 in two seasons. Schiano is a mystery because he hasn’t had success in the pro level, and some college coaches just don’t function well in the NFL. It’s also hard to measure his success with the Buckeyes since they are constantly bringing in elite recruit classes, and Ohio State was already a top-tier team before arriving. One thing to consider is that Kevin Demoff did see something in Schiano, so don’t be surprised if the Rams revisit that option.
David Shaw (Head coach of Stanford University)
I know people come to this list expecting to see Jim Harbaugh, but it’s his protege at Stanford David Shaw that deserves the look. Don’t get me wrong, I’d love nothing more than to see to see Harbaugh come to Los Angeles, but it’s not realistic since he has a great thing going in Michigan. Shaw, on the other hand, could seek to step out of Harbaugh’s shadow with this potential move. Shaw was part of the Harbaugh legacy as an offensive coordinator and has successfully led the program ever since. Stanford is consistently churning out first and second day NFL Draft prospects. Shaw only has experience in the NFL as an assistant though, and that could be a challenge moving forward with the Rams.
Jim Bob Cooter (Offensive coordinator of the Detroit Lions)
A risky hire would be Jim Bob Cooter, because he is only a year older than William Hayes. He doesn’t have a ton of coaching experience, in fact, he only has about a year’s worth of experience as an offensive coordinator. It’s amazing how quickly he turned around the Detroit Lions offense, and this is without the service of Calvin Johnson. Personally, I’d be more interested in him as an offensive coordinator, but he will be a head coach at some point. He may be worth the risk.
Bill Musgrave (Offensive coordinator of the Oakland Raiders)
Another candidate’s stock that has risen due to recent success is Bill Musgrave. Musgrave is certainly an intriguing thought considering all that he accomplished with the Raiders offense in just two seasons. Other than that, he was the offensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings from 2011-2013, and did guide running back Adrian Peterson to a 2,000-yard season. While not a perfect option, Musgrave could be an effective influence to this young Rams squad.
Jon Gruden (Free agent)
While it wouldn’t be a huge shock if Jon Gruden joins the Rams, the likelihood of it happening isn’t great. Gruden does have a Super Bowl ring under his belt, but he also hasn’t coached since 2008. He hasn’t been known to have explosive offenses, however, he did have some success with the Raiders and the Buccaneers. It can be disputed that not all of his success is solely his, benefiting from previous coaches such as Tony Dungy. Still, there is no denying his leadership and his attention to detail.
Harold Goodwin (Offensive coordinator of the Arizona Cardinals)
Harold Goodwin provides something that most candidates don’t, and that’s his expertise with the offensive line. The Rams have had major struggles with the offensive line, so to bring someone like Goodwin may benefit the entire offense. Rookie Jared Goff would certainly appreciate the idea. He has had plenty of success with the Cardinals offense and even made due with veteran Carson Palmer. Also, studying under Bruce Arians may prove to be useful in his imminent promotion. Still, his experience is limited, and Goodwin may not be ready yet.
Todd Haley (Offensive Coordinator of the Pittsburgh Steelers)
Todd Haley has seen limited success in his coaching career, but plenty of unsuccessful runs too. One instance is his failed head coaching stint with the Kansas City Chiefs. He later joined the Steelers as the offensive coordinator in 2012, and has turned the Pittsburgh offense into one of the league’s best. The Rams could use a coach that can teach this young receiving squad how to properly catch a football.
Best Option
There are other options to consider such as: Norv Turner, Jim Schwartz, Scott Linehan (gulp) among others, but in my opinion, the best overall option is Shaw. Of everything he has accomplished, I am confident in his ability to turn this team around. Shaw has demonstrated with the Cardinals that he has knack for developing offenses. He commands discipline, which the Rams desperately need being one of the most penalized teams in the NFL. If Shaw can get the offense to master the basic fundamentals, such as catching and blocking, the Rams can be a very different team in 2017. Perhaps providing Goff with a PAC-12 influence may help him down the line as well. Though mostly known for his role with offenses, Stanford’s defense are no pushovers either. Matched with Gregg Williams at defensive coordinator, I’d be really confident in the Rams as a whole under Shaw’s leadership.
Source: Pro-sports-reference.com
You can follow Johnny Gomez on Twitter @Johnny5not6. Be sure to follow Rams Talk on Twitter @TalkRams.
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