LA Rams assistant offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch hired by Patriots

The LA Rams suffered another defection from their coaching staff, as assistant offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch hired by New England Patriots

The LA Rams are up two coaches so far this off-season. But with today’s defection, the team has parted ways with four coaches. The latest rumored defection involves assistant offensive coordinator Jedd Fisch hiring on with Bill Belicheck and the New England Patriots.

The Rams have been somewhat under the radar so far in terms of filling coaching staff. Prior to the end of the 2019 season, there were plenty of NFL Rumors regarding the team’s intentions to part ways with then defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.  Shortly thereafter, the team announced the release of running back coach Skip Peete.  Shortly thereafter, the Dallas Cowboys announced hiring a special teams coordinator John Fassel, who had done well in a similar capacity for the Rams.

Losing Fisch is another depletion of the Rams coaching staff.  While he had only been with the team for two seasons, Fisch had an impressive resume of working with quarterbacks and receivers at the college and pro level. He helped develop Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles, UCLA’s quarterback Josh Rosen. Over the span of his 14 years coaching, Fisch has worked for and with  collegiate and NFL head coaches alike, including Steve Spurrier, Dom Capers, Brian Billick, Mike Shanahan, Pete Carroll, Gus Bradley and Jim Harbaugh.

Fisch had signed on with the Rams in 2018, originally as senior offensive assistant. Through 2019, he filled out the offensive coordinator responsibilities which head coach Sean McVay did not have time to address.

Help Wanted: Rams coaching staff

Now the Rams are out another coaching postiion, this time it’s the  assistant offensive coordinator.  Those responsibilities would no doubt be changing this season with the hiring of offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell.  Perhaps that brought about the decision for Fisch to move on.  In any case, more Rams players will now be working with a new coach in 2020.

While the Rams had also hired Brandon Staley as their new defensive coordinator, the team has yet to hire a new special teams coordinator, running back coach, and now assistant offensive coordinator.   The Rams may also be interested in adding additional coaching staff to address shortcomings which surfaced during the 2019 NFL season.

Information about the Rams efforts to interview, hire, or even consider new hires has been running under the radar for the most part so far. While that does not mean the team has not been actively searching, the lack of progress to date has limited fan optimism so far.

Rams must upgrade staff

The offense needs to pour more into developing the young, and inexpensive, offensive linemen.  Quarterback Jared Goff regressed, so the team may consider adding quarterback coaching staff to resolve that. Overall player development may need additional staffing.

And the LA Rams would most certainly benefit from an infusion of salary cap management when the team draws up new contracts for well-deserving players.  Upon all of this, the team must ensure that the two new primary coordinators have staff in all the key areas to ensure the transition to their game philosophy happens smoothly

The LA Rams have plenty of work to do with the front office and coaching staff this off-season.  Until the team settles the coaching staff and front office, roster changes will likely rest on the back burner.  If the past is any indication, the Rams will work suddenly and quickly to fill staff and roster positions.

While the team still has time to fill all the open coaching positions, the longer the delay translates into the fewer candidates are open to coming aboard. Right now, the risks of delaying filling positions in the front office and coaching staff can also delay important personnel decisions facing the team this off-season. While we’re all for measuring twice, cutting once when it comes to hiring the best fit for coaches, there is also the “fish or cut bait” adage.

If the goal is to start the 2020 NFL season in better shape than where the team ended in 2019, the team has made no progress.  In fact, the team may be in worse shape with the loss of so many coaches.

There is still time, but time is running out.