Are LA Rams new coordinators: 3 wise men or 3 blind mice?

Rams declined over time

While the Rams seemed to have made significant changes this off-season, it was more about a wake-up call for head coach Sean McVay than the sudden consensus of any Rams coach who could get off would get off this offseason. The Rams’ special teams play had declined significantly over the past two seasons.  The Rams’ defense, despite boasting All-Pro Aaron Donald, hasn’t reached the NFL’s top ten for several years.

As long as the offense scored so many points, no changes, innovations, or fixes happened.  The team rolled along, banking on the belief that the team’s offense would always outscore the opponent.  In 2019, that didn’t happen.  Healthy players suddenly fell repeatedly to injuries. The team ended the season with just one of the five starting offensive linemen still playing. The team’s defense shed cornerbacks Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib, lost safety John Johnson to a season-ending injury, and the pass defense actually improved.

John Fassel’s special teams had stopped being special for two seasons. The Rams defense never really was all that special.  In 2019, the Rams were shaken by a cold splash of reality.  Rather than fear the inevitable decline, head coach Sean McVay sprang back to life.

The coaching changes may have occurred in one sweep, but these were cumulative changes that the team likely should have considered addressing after the Super Bowl loss. Seven coaching positions: running backs coach, Director of Strength and Conditioning, assistant special teams coach, defensive coordinator, offensive coordinator, special teams coordinator, assistant offensive coach/quarterbacks coach vacancies all happened in 2020. With new staff, the team hopes to turn the corner.