Rams Notes: New QB Coach, New Lineman

The NFL season might be over, but the St. Louis Rams are still making moves. According to sources, the Rams have added to both the coaching staff and the offensive line in the last few days. The Rams have reportedly added Frank Cignetti as their new QB coach and Jovan Olafioye, an offensive lineman from the Canadian Football League.

First, let’s start with Cignetti. He was a bit of a surprise hire, but one I like and one that I think will work out well. He has plenty of experience on the offensive side of the ball, as he was an offensive coordinator at the college level. He also coached with current Packers head man Mike McCarthy, which might be the biggest selling point here. McCarthy is one of the better QB teachers in the game, and Cignetti is from that coaching tree. His experience as a coordinator should help as well, as he understands how to work with the other members of the staff and how important it is for everyone to be on the same page. This might not be the sexiest hire, but I think it will pay off greatly for this organization.

Now, on to Olafioye. Normally I don’t get too excited about guys from the CFL, but I think there’s reason for optimism here. He is a big body(6-foot-6, 325 pounds) and he is still young at age 24. He was a beast up north, making the All-Star team this past season and finishing second in the league’s outstanding lineman award voting. He had tryouts with eight NFL teams, so there was plenty of interest around the league. He plays a physical game and imposes his will, so this could really be a diamond-in-the-rough scenario. He should provide some talented depth to a group that badly needs it, and he could fit in at either tackle or guard. I’m not saying he’s going to come right in and set the league on fire, but he has plentry of room to develop and he has the size to play at the NFL level.