LA Rams News: Chargers’ Staley poaches LB Coach Barry

Barry did his thing

Meanwhile, Barry ‘did his thing’ with the talent that he had on the roster. He mentored the skyrocketing success of ILB Cory Littleton, who parlayed arriving as an undrafted free agent to the LA Rams into a megadeal signing with the Las Vegas Raiders. ILB Troy Reeder, who has taken a similar career track, showed signs of solid improvement in 2020, as he was forced into a starting role after both projected starters, ILB Travin Howard and ILB Micah Kiser, fell to injury.

Barry brought a wealth of solid coaching experience to the Rams staff. In fact, he was the former linebackers coach of the Chargers for three seasons. He then became Washington’s defensive coordinator. In fact, his career has involved chapters at the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Detroit Lions, the USC Trojans, Washington, and the LA Rams.

Barry was more than an inside linebackers guy. He covered it all, and there is no better example of how well he did his job than the performances of players, both young and veteran, off the edge. Yes, some of the success in the Rams defensive system was the ‘Aaron Donald effect‘.  But there is most certainly a component of their success due to Barry’s mentorship and coaching as well.  Barry was always at the ready to talk to his players, explaining the difference between what they did and what the play required them to do.

While it’s true that some Rams fans do not view Barry as a strength to the Rams coaching staff, there are reasons to miss him. He allowed the Rams to coach-up undervalued rookie talent and NFL veteran free agents alike. Not only did they perform better under Barry on the Rams defense, but the team benefitted with awarded compensatory picks when they signed large contracts to play elsewhere. And then, Barry grabbed the next group of undrafted rookies and undervalued veterans and began the process all over again.