Being completely out-schemed by 49ers was an unflattering look for Rams coaches

Before the season began, Los Angeles Rams fans faced the likelihood of losing multiple coaches to future head-coaching positions. Both defensive coordinator Chris Shula and OC Nate Scheelhaase had opportunities to interview elsewhere this offseason. A strong start to this season would have secured their names as candidates for 2027.

From Shula and Scheelhaase to quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone to assistant head coach Kliff Kingsbury, LA's staff seemed ripe for more departures at season's end.

Well, after that Week 1 disaster, fans can rest easy. No team is coming for these coaches unless they find a way to fix things, and quickly. And by pretty quickly, I mean Week 2 against the New York Giants.

Rams coaching staff must regroup quickly for Week 2 turnaround

Fans can agree that the Rams were, among other things, badly outcoached in Week 1. The 49ers appeared more energetic, hungrier, and quicker off the snap. The Rams had few answers, and even when they found plays that worked, they failed to adjust accordingly.

Fans noticed. You can bet that other teams did as well.

While the opener was horrendous for the Horns, it doesn't have to dictate the tempo of the entire season. Teams enter Week 1 without the benefit of footage to analyze their opponents. The Rams were utterly unprepared for San Francisco's schemes and strategies.

Aside from being out-gameplanned by the Niners, perhaps the Rams fell victim as well to having too many new players relatively inexperienced in a new system, playing alongside new teammates.

Of course, it's impossible to ignore the potential impact of jet lag after a 17-hour flight that the team deboarded around 28 hours before the game. LA seemed to sleepwalk through the contest. Many Rams stars had career lows in Australia; Myles Garrett admitted as much.

Players do not organize travel plans. They don't alter game plans. They merely execute to the best of their ability. No one on the team would use it as an excuse, but maybe Rams coaches and strategic advisors missed the ball on this one.

In the heat of battle, coaches were clearly ill-prepared to alter course. The Rams trailed by only three points at halftime. They lost by 20. Whatever adjustments the 49ers coaching staff engineered at halftime made all the difference in the world.

It's too bad Rams coaches were unable to do the same, and certainly not a positive first impression to make on any team already pre-scouting a future head-coach replacement.

As always, thanks for reading.

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