Rams’ under-the-radar coaching move may prove to be their biggest win yet

The Los Angeles Rams are not the type of team to get caught sleeping. Matthew Stafford's age has been a back-burner concern for the team for several years. As a result, the team has invested more energy and resources into the quarterback room. The first step was drafting two-time NCAA champion Stetson Bennett IV, the only QB selected since the hiring of head coach Sean McVay.

But that was just the beginning. The team signed veteran Jimmy Garoppolo to serve as an accomplished backup. But perhaps even more importantly, the team hired Coach Jerry Schulpinski as a senior offensive assistant. Just to refresh your memory, he was the New England Patriots assistant QB coach who prepared backup QBs Jimmy Garoppolo and Jacoby Brissett in 2016.

But wait, there's more. The team hired several coaches in 2024 with intriguing careers that were noteworthy:

1. John Streicher | Game Management Coordinator
2. Dave Ragone | QB Coach
3. Nate Scheelhaase | Offensive Assistant, Pass Game Specialist
4. Jerry Schuplinski | Senior Offensive Assistant

The team seemed to have a focus on hiring coaches whose careers specialized in coaching up quarterbacks.

Dave Ragone is the QB Coach that the Rams didn't realize they needed

One of the under-the-radar coaching hires was the addition of QB Coach Dave Ragone. Ragone was brought aboard after serving as the Atlanta Falcons Offensive Coordinator. Ragone is ideally suited for developing young quarterbacks because he holds them accountable.

It is Ragone who inherited the job of motivating an emotionally exhausted Bennett after a disappointing season in 2023. Rather than dumb down the role or simplify the expectations of the position into a glorified celebration of simply participating, Ragone fueled the competitive fires that continued to burn in his backup QB.

The results have been sensational. Bennett is outperforming all other quarterbacks this preseason and has secured his spot on the Rams roster in the eyes of McVay. While you can give the credit to the player himself, this is a case where the right coach can make all the difference in the world. And Coach Ragone has played a weak hand into a jackpot winner.

However else you may view the team, the quarterback room is far more competitive despite Stafford's uncertainty today than at the start of the 2023 season. The Rams boast two competitive backup quarterbacks and may soon be selecting a rookie quarterback for the future.

As always, thanks for reading.

You may enjoy other Rams reading as well