Coach Chris Shula is the perfect next DC for the LA Rams, and here's why

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Reason III: He's put in the time

The LA Rams may be an accomplished team that has enjoyed unprecedented success since hiring Sean McVay to lead the team as its head coach, but it has not been a team that has not faced challenges. Perhaps the most difficult season for the team occured in 2022, when the Rams suffered an unprecedented number of injuries, causing the team to struggle to a 5-12 season.

In the grand scheme of things, it's easy to manage success. The very fact that the team is winning motivates everyone to show up and look forward to the next victory. But when the tide goes out, and the only motivation for players is the daily grind, winning can be very difficult to attain.

The Rams bad luck did not end with the 2022 NFL season. Rather, it carried over through the first nine games of the 2023 NFL season as well. That streak of putting in hard work with little to show for it can be an insurmountable wall for many players and coaches. Thankfully, that is not the case for Coach Chris Shula.

It's great to infuse new perspectives into an NFL team's coaching staff. But perhaps it is even more important to promote from within. Sacrifices of long hours at the office and reaching out beyond the job description to address a new need should be rewarded as well. And that reward comes in the form of a promotion.

Chris Shula has earned this opportunity. 7 years patiently waiting for his shot to be Rams DC, he was apparently incredibly impressive in his formal interview. An in-house promotion that will be celebrated by all in the building.
— Peter Schrager (@PSchrags) February 1, 2024

Now don't interpret this as justifying promoting someone just because they show up for work regularly over the span of several years. That is not the case here. It's due to the fact Chris Shula has managed to keep the players motivated, his units productive, and the team competitive despite a below average investment in the groups he was responsible for.

I cannot stress how crucial that can be for any NFL team. It's easy to lead the highest paid unit in the NFL to be productive. So when the group is young, paid less, or simply overlooked, shouldn't they be considered as strong evidence of the quality of the coach if and when they outperform expectations?

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