5 reasons why LA Rams struggle to fill open coaching positions

Reason 5 – The Rams haven’t an idea what the plan is for 2020 and beyond.

The most pessimistic reason for no coaching hires is the likelihood that the Rams have no idea what they are looking for.  In short, you don’t know what you have until you lose it.  And you also don’t know what you need until you have it.  Have the Rams found themselves trapped in football philosophy, with no real ideal how to convert chalkboard X’s and O’s into game day success?

Of course the Rams head coach Sean McVay has a general idea of what he wants for the team.  And since coming on board, he’s ruled the offense to a fairly granular detail.  While all that is true, he’s had a fairly sheltered role on the Rams so far.  Until this season, the defense was run almost autonomously by veteran defensive coordinator Wade Phillips.

Similarly, veteran Special Teams coordinator John Fassel had a very keen eye to hidden gems both late in the draft and among the ranks of undrafted free agents. Those players excelled on special teams – ultimately earning playing time on either the defense or offense.

While head coach Sean McVay certainly wants to expand his oversight of the team this year, he may be further from the ability to do so than originally thought.  Until now, he’s had a “paint by numbers” role in leading the team. This season, veteran coaches are no more, and he’s left with a completely blank canvas.  Perhaps the most difficult part of his greater role is trying to picture the image of what he wants to create.

Until that picture forms, hiring coaches who see the same image may need to wait.  This is McVay’s maiden voyage controlling the team from top to bottom. He no doubt wants to take things slowly until he is confident which direction this team needs to take.