5 LA Rams coaches who may not be back in 2022

Defender of the faith

It’s almost impossible to spend any time on social media without reading some new outraged fan calling for the immediate firing of Defensive Coordinator Raheem Morris. Yes the LA Rams are 11-4. But fans insist that the LA Rams defense is horrible, that despite offensive flaws that have gifted 14 points to the opposing teams in those losses, that it is the defense’s fault that the Rams lost the game.

Yes, the Rams pass defense has allowed 15 touchdowns but picked off 16 interceptions. Yes, the LA Rams have been thrown against the fourth-most-often times (560 pass attempts) in the NFL, but have the seventh-worst passer rating in the NFL.  Yes, the LA Rams have allowed 17 rushing touchdowns, but have held opponents to just 96.9 yards per game (sixth-ranked rush defense) and just 3.8 yards per rush (third-ranked rush defense).

Fans may ignore that type of performance, but NFL general managers, eager to find a new and inspiring head coach to turn their team around, have not. This has been a defense that suffered wholesale attrition from the NFL’s Top-Ranked defense in 2020, and yet committed valuable draft currency to stockpiling offensive receivers who have contributed next to nothing for the team this year.

Bridging the time-span while waiting for his next head coaching gig?

While he has only been with the LA Rams one year and had not gotten a very warm reception by LA Rams fans, defensive coordinator Raheem Morris’ name continues to come up as a potential head coach for the 2022 NFL season. If he leaves after one year, not only will the LA Rams be shopping for their fourth defensive coordinator in four seasons, but the Rams will not be compensated.

The search for a new head coach among NFL teams typically tries to prioritize three basic characteristics:  Was that coach part of an improving or successful football campaign? Is that coach respected and appreciated by his players? Can or has that coach handled head coaching duties in the past?

However you may feel about Raheem Morris, he most certainly does check all of the boxes for the criteria necessary to be interviewed for a head coaching position in 2022. And the reality is that he was very successful initially after taking over the Atlanta Falcons as the interim head coach. When we first published the article about the possibility of Morris taking over as the new head coach for another NFL team in the offseason, the comments on both social media were absolutely brutal.

Of course, it’s easy to vanquish a coach if you have no regard over how to replace him? Right now, the LA Rams defense is playing the best football of the season. Too few realize the value of continuity it seems. Just keep in mind to be careful what you wish for, as you just may get it. And the fact is that the defense without Raheem Morris in 2022 will still be challenged each day to perform well.