The St. Louis Rams are hiring former NFL quarterback Chris Weinke to become their new quarterbacks coach. This hire comes in wake of the Rams promoting their former quarterbacks coach Frank Cignetti to offensive coordinator. Tight ends coach Rob Boras was also promoted to assistant head coach.
Head coach Jeff Fisher interviewed former NFL quarterback Jeff Garcia, but decided to go with the former Carolina Panthers quarterback. Weinke has some experience at mentoring quarterbacks, which was his focus for four years at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. The academy teaches quarterbacks from various age ranges, but Weinke has worked with current NFL quarterbacks such as the Seahawks’ Russell Wilson, the Vikings’ Teddy Bridgewater and the Panthers’ Cam Newton.
Weinke is mostly known for leading the Florida State Seminoles to a National Championship back when he was a junior in 1999. He was eventually drafted by the Panthers in the fourth round (106th overall) in the 2001 NFL Draft. He spent four seasons with the Panthers and his final season with the San Francisco 49ers in 2007.
The quarterback situation in St. Louis is at a boiling point. Sam Bradford is recovering from his second ACL tear in two seasons and has an expensive contract. Shaun Hill and Austin Davis both are entering free agency and the Rams are currently in no position to select the prized two quarterbacks in the 2015 NFL Draft, Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston. Weinke will definitely have his hands full as the offense continues to progress.
Source: ESPN.com, Pro-sports-reference.com
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