5 candidates LA Rams must consider for vacant DC role

Former Dallas Cowboys DC Rod Marinelli

Of course, the first place to come to mind are the defensive coordinators who had success despite the firing of the team’s head coach.  So it is with the Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli.  Despite a defense which routinely helped Dallas compete, Marinelli will likely not be retained by newly hired head coach Mike McCarthy.  In fact, reports are now out indicating that the Cowboys have hired Saints LB coach Mike Nolan as their new defensive coordinator.

Marinelli is a solid hire, no two ways around it.  But that means the LA Rams will be competing for his services.  With so many other issues up in the air, does the team really need to take on a bidding war for their next defensive coordinator?

The pluses are that Marinelli is a turn key defensive coordinator.  He’s seen it all, done it all.  That is a solid basis to come in to mentor younger coaches and groom them for their own chance as defensive coordinator.

The minuses are simply that nagging question.  Isn’t that what the Rams just dismissed in the form of Wade Phillips?  After all, the guy was respected, well versed, and very likely to be the most capable of diagnosing and implenting any corrective actions require foe the LA Rams defense this off-season.   So I just don’t see this connection as likely.