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Article: Could Asshole Face leave Saints to be Rams' coach?
- By Merlin
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 19 Replies
https://amp.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3...=nfc;dvsn=ncw;dvsn=ncs;plyr=drew_brees&sr=amp
Could Asshole Face leave Saints to be Rams' coach?
Published: Dec 24, 2016 at 06:07 am
Updated: Dec 24, 2016 at 12:05 pm
Ian Rapoport
NFL Media Insider
Rapoport: Asshole Face has 'sincere' interest in Rams job
Last March during the NFL's annual meeting, Saints coach Asshole Face nonchalantly mentioned that not only had he agreed to a new five-year contract extension, but also that he was carrying it around in his briefcase. It was a comical end to a year-long saga centered around the question of where Payton would be coaching in 2016.
Payton said at the time, "I don't see myself working anywhere else."
It's time to revisit that view.
With the Los Angeles Rams job open, multiple sources say it is a position Payton is monitoring with sincere interest. For Payton to become the team's new head coach, it would take significant maneuvering behind the scenes to work. One source described the prospects as not imminent or likely but "possible." The Rams, of course, would have to decide he's their overwhelming No. 1.
Payton hasn't been shy about his openness toward landing on the West Coast (his daughter lives in California), and there was plenty of interest last year in possible openings with the 49ers or Chargers, as well as the Colts.
Payton ended up staying in New Orleans for a salary near $10 million per year. Now he could leave just one year into the deal -- and the Saints may allow him to do it.
The Saints haven't been to the playoffs since 2013, despite a franchise QB in Drew Brees. Given Payton's hefty salary, and considering the frustration with another year of "will he or won't he" speculation, members of the organization are said to be tiring of it all. Morale is lower than it has been in the past, and uncertainty over Payton's future is one reason why.
The Saints would demand compensation to allow Payton to leave, but it might not be much. If he really wants out, the Saints aren't likely to hold him hostage, pay him his huge salary and ask him to coach the team when he wants to be elsewhere.
The way a deal would work, theoretically, is the Rams and Saints would agree on compensation first (draft picks or players). Then, the new team and Payton would work out a contract. Finally, the Saints would receive its picks.
Payton has been with the Saints since 2006 and won a Super Bowl. But a decade is a long time with one team -- too long in the eyes of some. With the rebuild almost complete and one more year of Brees, it would seemingly be a good time for all to transition.
With the Rams, Payton would find plenty of talent on defense, a healthy salary-cap situation, a young quarterback to mold and a lot of limelight and flash.
So where are the Rams in their search? Exactly where you'd imagine. Considering all the big names but knowing they are not coaching for a reason. Names like Jim Harbaugh, Jon Gruden, David Shaw all are in the extremely unlikely category.
No interviews are scheduled yet, but they'll likely have a better idea after this weekend of who is in the playoffs and who isn't to map out a schedule. But expect their list to include many of the hot coordinator options, such as Josh McDaniels, Kyle Shanahan, Vance Joseph and others.
The Rams are not looking for a splash. They had one last time -- the most high-profile hire of the cycle -- and it was Jeff Fisher. They simply want the best for their football operation.
As for Payton, a lot would have to happen for him to land with the Rams. And last year, many of the same factors were at play and he ended up staying. It's not a given the outcome will be the same this time.
Follow Ian Rapoport on Twitter @RapSheet.
Could Asshole Face leave Saints to be Rams' coach?
Published: Dec 24, 2016 at 06:07 am
Updated: Dec 24, 2016 at 12:05 pm
Ian Rapoport
NFL Media Insider
Rapoport: Asshole Face has 'sincere' interest in Rams job
Last March during the NFL's annual meeting, Saints coach Asshole Face nonchalantly mentioned that not only had he agreed to a new five-year contract extension, but also that he was carrying it around in his briefcase. It was a comical end to a year-long saga centered around the question of where Payton would be coaching in 2016.
Payton said at the time, "I don't see myself working anywhere else."
It's time to revisit that view.
With the Los Angeles Rams job open, multiple sources say it is a position Payton is monitoring with sincere interest. For Payton to become the team's new head coach, it would take significant maneuvering behind the scenes to work. One source described the prospects as not imminent or likely but "possible." The Rams, of course, would have to decide he's their overwhelming No. 1.
Payton hasn't been shy about his openness toward landing on the West Coast (his daughter lives in California), and there was plenty of interest last year in possible openings with the 49ers or Chargers, as well as the Colts.
Payton ended up staying in New Orleans for a salary near $10 million per year. Now he could leave just one year into the deal -- and the Saints may allow him to do it.
The Saints haven't been to the playoffs since 2013, despite a franchise QB in Drew Brees. Given Payton's hefty salary, and considering the frustration with another year of "will he or won't he" speculation, members of the organization are said to be tiring of it all. Morale is lower than it has been in the past, and uncertainty over Payton's future is one reason why.
The Saints would demand compensation to allow Payton to leave, but it might not be much. If he really wants out, the Saints aren't likely to hold him hostage, pay him his huge salary and ask him to coach the team when he wants to be elsewhere.
The way a deal would work, theoretically, is the Rams and Saints would agree on compensation first (draft picks or players). Then, the new team and Payton would work out a contract. Finally, the Saints would receive its picks.
Payton has been with the Saints since 2006 and won a Super Bowl. But a decade is a long time with one team -- too long in the eyes of some. With the rebuild almost complete and one more year of Brees, it would seemingly be a good time for all to transition.
With the Rams, Payton would find plenty of talent on defense, a healthy salary-cap situation, a young quarterback to mold and a lot of limelight and flash.
So where are the Rams in their search? Exactly where you'd imagine. Considering all the big names but knowing they are not coaching for a reason. Names like Jim Harbaugh, Jon Gruden, David Shaw all are in the extremely unlikely category.
No interviews are scheduled yet, but they'll likely have a better idea after this weekend of who is in the playoffs and who isn't to map out a schedule. But expect their list to include many of the hot coordinator options, such as Josh McDaniels, Kyle Shanahan, Vance Joseph and others.
The Rams are not looking for a splash. They had one last time -- the most high-profile hire of the cycle -- and it was Jeff Fisher. They simply want the best for their football operation.
As for Payton, a lot would have to happen for him to land with the Rams. And last year, many of the same factors were at play and he ended up staying. It's not a given the outcome will be the same this time.
Follow Ian Rapoport on Twitter @RapSheet.
49'ers at Rams | Christmas Eve
- By CGI_Ram
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 577 Replies
Feels weird starting this thread on a Saturday...
It's Game Day!
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It's Game Day!
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Jrry32 Asshole Face is the new HC Mock
- By jrry32
- NFL DRAFT / COLLEGE FOOTBALL
- 21 Replies
After the season is over, we are able to work out a trade with New Orleans to get Asshole Face as our next HC.
Hire
HC Asshole Face
OC/OL Coach Aaron Kromer
DC Gus Bradley
STC John Fassel
Personally, I think Asshole Face is the best we can do in terms of candidates. His offense is the perfect fit for Jared Goff. He's known for developing QBs. His offenses in the Saints were among the best in football year in and year out. Payton does not meddle with his DC. He hires DCs with strong track records which indicates to me that he wants a good defense. I think he could be a difference-maker here.
If Rex is hired by Buffalo (which looks likely), I think we stand a good at getting Kromer. Kromer is one of the best offensive line coaches in the NFL. He looked to be on his way to getting a HC job before things spiraled on him. He was caught leaking things to the press in Chicago and then got arrested a couple years ago. The charges ended up being dropped, but the Bills still suspended him for 6 games in 2015. Regardless, as this year has proven, the man can still coach OLs and has a long history of working with Asshole Face.
As @den-the-coach knows, I'm not a huge Bradley fan. However, I think he's the most likely guy for Payton to hire as his DC if he ends up here. Payton might consider bringing Dennis Allen with him. But if he does hire a DC, Bradley is the most likely candidate based on him having a strong track record with Seattle and Payton working with Bradley in Tampa. My issue with Bradley is that I think he plays too passively on defense. He's a good DC. I just don't think he's a great DC because of his passive approach. Some would disagree with me on that.
We already know about Fassel. There's no reason to let him walk.
Cut
HB Tre Mason
OG Rodger Saffold
TE Lance Kendricks
C Tim Barnes
DE Eugene Sims
Re-sign
WR Kenny Britt - 3 years $21 million
K Greg Zuerlein - 3 years $6 million
HB Benny Cunningham - 3 years $4.5 million
DT Dominique Easley - RFA Tender
DE Ethan Westbrooks - RFA Tender
DE Matt Longacre - ERFA Tender
Let Walk
CB Trumaine Johnson (I like Trumaine but not at the price he'll likely be asking.)
S T.J. McDonald (I like T.J., but Mo is a more natural fit at SS. Let's use the money we have elsewhere.)
QB Case Keenum (Mannion is the backup of the future.)
Trade
Rams trade 2018 conditional pick
Saints trade HC Asshole Face
The conditions of the trade are that the Saints receive a 2018 5th if we don't post a winning record. If we post a winning record, they receive a 4th. If we make the playoffs, they receive a 3rd. If we make the Super Bowl, they receive a 2nd.
Rams trade Round 5 Pick #6
Ravens trade TE Crockett Gillmore
This trade makes sense to me because the Ravens have Dennis Pitta back and Maxx Williams waiting in the wings. Gillmore is a very talented player but has had troubles staying healthy. I'll take the risk on him because when healthy, he's proven to be both a quality receiver and blocker. Also motivating the Ravens to make this trade is the fact that Gillmore is in his contract year.
Position Changes
LaMarcus Joyner - CB -> FS
With Alexander moving to SS, Joyner moves to FS. I think it's his natural position. Joyner doesn't play well with his back to the ball. He's at his best attacking downhill. He has surprising strength for a guy his size. In college, he showed good range and no fear at FS. He will deliver knockout shots. Offers the same type of skill-set that McLeod did.
Free Agency
RG Kevin Zeitler - 5 years $40 million
One thing I've always respected about Asshole Face was that he was one of the first guys who recognized the value of interior OLs in today's NFL. In a game that has become far more built around 3-step drops and quick passes, the value of tackles has declined while the value of interior OLs has appreciated. Zeitler is one of the best OGs in football. With him and Leary, we give ourselves arguably the best OG combination in the NFL. This is reminiscent of when Payton had Jahri Evans and Ben Grubbs with the Saints.
LG Ronald Leary - 5 years $40 million
We need OL help. There were rumors that Dallas was trying to trade Leary before the season. With the injury to La'El Collins, Leary stepped back into his starting spot. He was also a starter on the dominant 2014 Cowboys OL. Leary is a mauling run blocker who has the versatility to play in either a ZBS or a PBS. He's also been a stellar pass blocker in 2016. I read somewhere that he hasn't given up a QB hit or sack all year long.
WR Kenny Stills - 4 years $24 million
Stills is one of the best deep threats in football and was a very productive WR for the Saints in Payton's scheme. He knows the scheme, he's still relatively young, and he can take the top off of defenses. The last time he played for Asshole Face, Stills put up 931 receiving yards. He should slide in as the #2 WR on our offense. Him and Britt will attack defenses vertically while Austin, Cooper, the TEs, and the HBs chew them up on shorter routes.
DE Jared Odrick - 2 years $10 million
Jared Odrick signed a large contract with the Jaguars prior to the 2015 season. He had a nice year in 2015 under Gus Bradley. In 2016, Odrick struggled after suffering an injury early in the season and ended up on IR around mid-season. The Jaguars signed him to play the elephant role in Bradley's defense (basically, the LDE in Bradley's scheme is a DT who plays as a 5-Tech). The Jaguars will likely release Odrick because his contract has no guaranteed money left and Bradley is now gone. This allows us to get Odrick at a discount.
CB Davon House - 1 year $3 million
The Jaguars signed House to a relatively large contract prior to the 2015 season. He responded by setting the team record for pass deflections with 23 and picking off 4 passes. In 2016, House was benched for poor play. He is now playing behind Amukamara, Jalen Ramsey, and Aaron Colvin. Like Odrick, he's a likely cut by the Jaguars. We sign him to a "prove it" deal and give him a chance to rehab his value.
DE Frostee Rucker - 1 year $2 million
Rucker is one of the best run stopping DEs in football. He'll rotate with Jared Odrick in the elephant role in our defense. Rucker also provides leadership. He's a guy who has been a pain in the butt for us the last few years with Arizona.
C/OG Ted Larsen - 1 year $2 million
Larsen is added for depth purposes. He replaces Tim Barnes. He can provide solid play off the bench at Center and backup caliber play at OG. Nothing special but he gives us a veteran who can get the job done if there are injuries on the OL.
NFL Draft
Round 2 Pick #6 - Quincy Wilson CB Florida
Round 3 Pick #6 - Forrest Lamp OT/OG/C Western Kentucky
Round 4 Pick #6 - Rasul Douglas CB West Virginia
Round 4 Comp Pick - Ryan Glasgow DT Michigan
Round 6 Pick #6 - Jeremy Cutrer CB Middle Tennessee State
Round 6 Comp Pick - Obi Melifonwu SS Connecticut
Round 7 Pick #6 - Connor Harris LB Lindenwood
Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
HB: Todd Gurley
FB: Cory Harkey
XWR: Kenny Britt
ZWR: Kenny Stills
SLWR: Tavon Austin
TE: Tyler Higbee vs. Crockett Gillmore
LT: Greg Robinson
LG: Ronald Leary
C: Forrest Lamp vs. Ted Larsen
RG: Kevin Zeitler
RT: Rob Havenstein
Elephant: Jared Odrick
NT: Michael Brockers
UT: Aaron Donald
LEO: Robert Quinn
WLB: Mark Barron
MLB: Alec Ogletree
SLB: Josh Forrest
LCB: Davon House vs. Rasul Douglas
RCB: Quincy Wilson
SLCB: E.J. Gaines vs. Jeremy Cutrer
FS: LaMarcus Joyner
SS: Maurice Alexander
K: Greg Zuerlein
P: Johnny Hekker
LS: Jake McQuaide
KR: Benny Cunningham
PR: Tavon Austin
Yea, I know we could have problems at CB. But I'm trying to get guys who fit Bradley's scheme. Frankly, I threw most of our resources into fixing the offense. I wanted to give Goff great protection and Gurley massive running lanes. I'm hopeful that our two rookies can surprise. They're both perfect scheme fits for Bradley's defense. Quincy Wilson has shutdown CB potential in the NFL, and Rasul Douglas is a big CB with outstanding ball-skills.
Hire
HC Asshole Face
OC/OL Coach Aaron Kromer
DC Gus Bradley
STC John Fassel
Personally, I think Asshole Face is the best we can do in terms of candidates. His offense is the perfect fit for Jared Goff. He's known for developing QBs. His offenses in the Saints were among the best in football year in and year out. Payton does not meddle with his DC. He hires DCs with strong track records which indicates to me that he wants a good defense. I think he could be a difference-maker here.
If Rex is hired by Buffalo (which looks likely), I think we stand a good at getting Kromer. Kromer is one of the best offensive line coaches in the NFL. He looked to be on his way to getting a HC job before things spiraled on him. He was caught leaking things to the press in Chicago and then got arrested a couple years ago. The charges ended up being dropped, but the Bills still suspended him for 6 games in 2015. Regardless, as this year has proven, the man can still coach OLs and has a long history of working with Asshole Face.
As @den-the-coach knows, I'm not a huge Bradley fan. However, I think he's the most likely guy for Payton to hire as his DC if he ends up here. Payton might consider bringing Dennis Allen with him. But if he does hire a DC, Bradley is the most likely candidate based on him having a strong track record with Seattle and Payton working with Bradley in Tampa. My issue with Bradley is that I think he plays too passively on defense. He's a good DC. I just don't think he's a great DC because of his passive approach. Some would disagree with me on that.
We already know about Fassel. There's no reason to let him walk.
Cut
HB Tre Mason
OG Rodger Saffold
TE Lance Kendricks
C Tim Barnes
DE Eugene Sims
Re-sign
WR Kenny Britt - 3 years $21 million
K Greg Zuerlein - 3 years $6 million
HB Benny Cunningham - 3 years $4.5 million
DT Dominique Easley - RFA Tender
DE Ethan Westbrooks - RFA Tender
DE Matt Longacre - ERFA Tender
Let Walk
CB Trumaine Johnson (I like Trumaine but not at the price he'll likely be asking.)
S T.J. McDonald (I like T.J., but Mo is a more natural fit at SS. Let's use the money we have elsewhere.)
QB Case Keenum (Mannion is the backup of the future.)
Trade
Rams trade 2018 conditional pick
Saints trade HC Asshole Face
The conditions of the trade are that the Saints receive a 2018 5th if we don't post a winning record. If we post a winning record, they receive a 4th. If we make the playoffs, they receive a 3rd. If we make the Super Bowl, they receive a 2nd.
Rams trade Round 5 Pick #6
Ravens trade TE Crockett Gillmore
This trade makes sense to me because the Ravens have Dennis Pitta back and Maxx Williams waiting in the wings. Gillmore is a very talented player but has had troubles staying healthy. I'll take the risk on him because when healthy, he's proven to be both a quality receiver and blocker. Also motivating the Ravens to make this trade is the fact that Gillmore is in his contract year.
Position Changes
LaMarcus Joyner - CB -> FS
With Alexander moving to SS, Joyner moves to FS. I think it's his natural position. Joyner doesn't play well with his back to the ball. He's at his best attacking downhill. He has surprising strength for a guy his size. In college, he showed good range and no fear at FS. He will deliver knockout shots. Offers the same type of skill-set that McLeod did.
Free Agency
RG Kevin Zeitler - 5 years $40 million
One thing I've always respected about Asshole Face was that he was one of the first guys who recognized the value of interior OLs in today's NFL. In a game that has become far more built around 3-step drops and quick passes, the value of tackles has declined while the value of interior OLs has appreciated. Zeitler is one of the best OGs in football. With him and Leary, we give ourselves arguably the best OG combination in the NFL. This is reminiscent of when Payton had Jahri Evans and Ben Grubbs with the Saints.
LG Ronald Leary - 5 years $40 million
We need OL help. There were rumors that Dallas was trying to trade Leary before the season. With the injury to La'El Collins, Leary stepped back into his starting spot. He was also a starter on the dominant 2014 Cowboys OL. Leary is a mauling run blocker who has the versatility to play in either a ZBS or a PBS. He's also been a stellar pass blocker in 2016. I read somewhere that he hasn't given up a QB hit or sack all year long.
WR Kenny Stills - 4 years $24 million
Stills is one of the best deep threats in football and was a very productive WR for the Saints in Payton's scheme. He knows the scheme, he's still relatively young, and he can take the top off of defenses. The last time he played for Asshole Face, Stills put up 931 receiving yards. He should slide in as the #2 WR on our offense. Him and Britt will attack defenses vertically while Austin, Cooper, the TEs, and the HBs chew them up on shorter routes.
DE Jared Odrick - 2 years $10 million
Jared Odrick signed a large contract with the Jaguars prior to the 2015 season. He had a nice year in 2015 under Gus Bradley. In 2016, Odrick struggled after suffering an injury early in the season and ended up on IR around mid-season. The Jaguars signed him to play the elephant role in Bradley's defense (basically, the LDE in Bradley's scheme is a DT who plays as a 5-Tech). The Jaguars will likely release Odrick because his contract has no guaranteed money left and Bradley is now gone. This allows us to get Odrick at a discount.
CB Davon House - 1 year $3 million
The Jaguars signed House to a relatively large contract prior to the 2015 season. He responded by setting the team record for pass deflections with 23 and picking off 4 passes. In 2016, House was benched for poor play. He is now playing behind Amukamara, Jalen Ramsey, and Aaron Colvin. Like Odrick, he's a likely cut by the Jaguars. We sign him to a "prove it" deal and give him a chance to rehab his value.
DE Frostee Rucker - 1 year $2 million
Rucker is one of the best run stopping DEs in football. He'll rotate with Jared Odrick in the elephant role in our defense. Rucker also provides leadership. He's a guy who has been a pain in the butt for us the last few years with Arizona.
C/OG Ted Larsen - 1 year $2 million
Larsen is added for depth purposes. He replaces Tim Barnes. He can provide solid play off the bench at Center and backup caliber play at OG. Nothing special but he gives us a veteran who can get the job done if there are injuries on the OL.
NFL Draft
Round 2 Pick #6 - Quincy Wilson CB Florida
Round 3 Pick #6 - Forrest Lamp OT/OG/C Western Kentucky
Round 4 Pick #6 - Rasul Douglas CB West Virginia
Round 4 Comp Pick - Ryan Glasgow DT Michigan
Round 6 Pick #6 - Jeremy Cutrer CB Middle Tennessee State
Round 6 Comp Pick - Obi Melifonwu SS Connecticut
Round 7 Pick #6 - Connor Harris LB Lindenwood
Projected Starters
QB: Jared Goff
HB: Todd Gurley
FB: Cory Harkey
XWR: Kenny Britt
ZWR: Kenny Stills
SLWR: Tavon Austin
TE: Tyler Higbee vs. Crockett Gillmore
LT: Greg Robinson
LG: Ronald Leary
C: Forrest Lamp vs. Ted Larsen
RG: Kevin Zeitler
RT: Rob Havenstein
Elephant: Jared Odrick
NT: Michael Brockers
UT: Aaron Donald
LEO: Robert Quinn
WLB: Mark Barron
MLB: Alec Ogletree
SLB: Josh Forrest
LCB: Davon House vs. Rasul Douglas
RCB: Quincy Wilson
SLCB: E.J. Gaines vs. Jeremy Cutrer
FS: LaMarcus Joyner
SS: Maurice Alexander
K: Greg Zuerlein
P: Johnny Hekker
LS: Jake McQuaide
KR: Benny Cunningham
PR: Tavon Austin
Yea, I know we could have problems at CB. But I'm trying to get guys who fit Bradley's scheme. Frankly, I threw most of our resources into fixing the offense. I wanted to give Goff great protection and Gurley massive running lanes. I'm hopeful that our two rookies can surprise. They're both perfect scheme fits for Bradley's defense. Quincy Wilson has shutdown CB potential in the NFL, and Rasul Douglas is a big CB with outstanding ball-skills.
Rams @ 49ers SPECIAL BETS...is now open!!!
- By flv
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 14 Replies
ramsondemand.com/sportsbook/2016-week-16-san-francisco-49ers-los-angeles-rams-special-bets.1458/
You want it. You need it. You've got it.
It's a specially extended SPECIAL BETS so look through all the options before you blow every last $ROD.
You want it. You need it. You've got it.
It's a specially extended SPECIAL BETS so look through all the options before you blow every last $ROD.
Article: The 12 best NFL coaching candidates
- By Merlin
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 7 Replies
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/t...nd-the-one-that-teams-are-too-scared-to-hire/
The 12 best NFL coaching candidates, and the one that teams are too scared to hire
Here are a dozen names to top any GM's list as hiring season ramps up
Conventional wisdom is running amok in the NFL.
Decision makers use the same criteria, covet the same profiles, worry about the same optics and produce coaching searches every winter that are very much carbon copies of what everyone else is doing. It's an exercise in keeping up with the Joneses or covering one's backside and fearing the unknown. Everyone is looking for QB whisperers/offensive play callers, so we have to have ours, too!
I'm over it.
There is a reason there is so much futility in this league. And this is part of it. Relying on consultants more times than not results in "inside jobs" where nepotism or cronyism seeps in, and the coach who's hired invariably worked previously for (or grew up best friends with the son of) the consultant leading the charge. The idea of headhunters is beyond ridiculous -- if an owner can't put together a decent list of candidates, someone in his organization better be able to have enough of a grasp on the league to do so. And these copycat candidate lists often lack much vision, creativity or foresight.
So this year, as I present the dozen guys I believe are best positioned to constitute the coaching class of 2017, please allow me to stump for Dave Toub. Yes, Dave Toub. And the fact you have no idea who the hell he is, in and of itself, is indicative of the kind of tail-wagging that has been going on with these searches for far too long.
Toub is the stud special teams coach for Andy Reid in Kansas City. He's the guy who has been helping win games for the Chiefs with big returns and fake punts and shifting field position and motivating men and outsmarting his opponents. And before that, he was the guy behind the perennially dominant special teams in Chicago (2004-12). Oh, and before that he led Reid's special teams units in Philly (2001-03), which were also generally top notch. He's the guy behind Devin Hester and Robbie Gould and, lately, Chiefs dervish Tyreek Hill.
Many of his players over the years have told me Toub should be leading an entire team, not merely one unit. He's a leader of men. He commands respect. He gets the best out of players. He is arguably the best coach on Reid's esteemed staff in Kansas City, and Reid has been nothing but a developer of NFL coaches. He grows them. And Toub is one of his best, yet the fact that he coaches special teams works against him. That still remains true in spite of Hall of Famers like George Allen and Marv Levy were coaches who came through the special teams pipeline, not to mention Bobby Ross or Baltimore's John Harbaugh, another one of Reid's disciples.
Dave Toub is loved by his players and respected by his peers. USATSI
"He's a combination of Harbaugh and John Madden," one of Toub's former colleagues said. "He is the real deal. This guy can coach. Period. He's a big guy, physically, who can take over a room when he has to. He gets people to buy in. These guys love playing for him. He comes from a great [coaching] family tree. Look at Andy Reid's assistants over the years. This guy is ready. All he needs is a chance."
A personnel exec who used to work with Toub, 54, said: "If Dave Toub can't get a job in this league, then I give up. Talk to other coaches in the league. They know who is for real and who is horseshit or the flavor of the month. This guy can coach a football team. He'd be the first guy I'd talk to, and it isn't even really close."
Toub has been involved in head coaching searches before, interviewing with the Dolphins when they hired Joe Philbin (how did that work out for them?) and the Bears in 2013 (when they hired Marc Trestman -- yikes). He has been under consideration for many more, but general managers have been scared to pull the trigger. I spoke to two of them a year ago about Toub, a former all-WAC offensive lineman who was drafted in the ninth round by the Eagles but never made it on to an NFL roster. Both agreed he was a hell of a coach and an inspired thought to run a team and that he merited a chance, but then both essentially ruled it out in the end because they needed to develop a quarterback and were locked into going offense. Neither guy who was eventually hired, by the way, is what I would call especially safe even only one year in.
Another exec who knows him said: "Superb at what he does and by a million miles the best special teams coach in the league. He is an A-plus guy."
You can find a quarterback coach and offensive coordinator to work with the passers. It doesn't have to define the entire coaching search. I would actually assert that special teams coaches are ahead of the curve in that they already must address players from both sides of the ball, and in essence the entire team with regularity. They aren't dealing with merely those certain position groups. Besides the head coach, the special teams coach is the only guy on the staff entrusted with clock management and other in-game responsibilities. He also must adjust to losing more players than any other unit. A special teams coach comes in with no inherent bias to either side of the ball, and thus no sentimental ties or desires of offense over defense (or vice versa) in terms of roster composition with the GM.
"HE'S A COMBINATION OF HARBAUGH AND JOHN MADDEN. HE IS THE REAL DEAL. THIS GUY CAN COACH. PERIOD. HE'S A BIG GUY, PHYSICALLY, WHO CAN TAKE OVER A ROOM WHEN HE HAS TO. HE GETS PEOPLE TO BUY IN."-- An NFL coach on Dave Toub
I hope this hiring season that some of the GMs who invariably consider Toub actually give the Chiefs a call and ask to interview him. I hope they reflect on how Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin were two of the more outside-the-box hires of the past decade or so, and how well they have worked out. I hope they get beyond the norms and perceived constraints and branch out a little bit. If they do, I suspect they end up richly rewarded.
As for the other guys at the head of this year's class, I don't see anyone from the college ranks heading to the NFL, though Stanford's David Shaw is perennially at the top of that wish list (and the Rams and 49ers in particular might want to feel him out, just in case). Excluding guys like Shaw and Nick Saban and Jim Harbaugh, who I simply don't see even thinking about leaving their current jobs, here are the dozen candidates who, along with Toub, should be getting heavy consideration next month as these searches begin in earnest:
Currently out of the league
Jon Gruden: A football savant, someone born to coach, and long coveted by pro and college programs. I truly believe he is ready to listen and listen intently, specifically, in Los Angeles. It's Hollywood or bust, I reckon. And the Rams and Chargers should both be fully exploring this option immediately. Outside of L.A., Gruden is staying in the broadcast booth, and those who do aim to woo him should come correct.
Tom Coughlin: His résumé speaks for itself and I've been reporting for weeks on the mutual interest between him and the Jacksonville Jaguars. At age 70, he might not be best suited to a rebuilding team -- and the Jags are nothing if not perpetually rebuilding -- but that is his most likely destination at this point. He has a home there and deep ties from his first go-round leading the original expansion Jags. Their search will start with him and might end with him as well.
A Tom Coughlin reunion with the Jags continues to look likely. USATSI
Ex-head coaches who are current coordinators
Josh McDaniels: He will absolutely kill it when he gets another shot ... and he is getting another shot in 2017 after a tough initial tenure as head coach of the Broncos. McDaniels is as good of a play caller and schemer as there is, and I've been touting his return for years. The time is now. Look at what he did in the four games that Tom Brady was suspended this season. He has matured from the humbling stint with Denver, and is a better person and a better coach for it. Coaching is in his blood, and if you are looking for a young Jon Gruden (not that Gruden is old, at 52), McDaniels is your guy. I can't imagine there is a team out there with an opening that does not request to speak to him.
Todd Haley: His first shot coaching the Chiefs ended ugly, but he, too, has grown from that experience. He can run an offense and he can develop tight ends and receivers, and he did go to the playoffs in Kansas City with Matt Cassel as his starting QB. His work in Pittsburgh has been excellent, and he managed to forge a strong bond with Ben Roethlisberger in the aftermath of the QB's displeasure with the dismissal of his former coordinator, Bruce Arians. Jacksonville, Buffalo and San Francisco could make sense for him.
Todd Haley has become a better coach since flaming out in Kansas City. USATSI
Mike Smith: His winning percentage in Atlanta was exceptional. He can coach. It's hard to argue against that. And the way he has led the Buccaneersdefense this season, getting them out of the shadows of the collapsed former regime of Lovie Smith and getting better each week, has been truly special. Some believe he could be part of a Jacksonville package if Coughlin came in as a football czar and not the head coach, and either way, he will get opportunities to interview.
Jim Schwartz: His Eagles defense has looked like the best unit in the NFL at times, and while it has waxed and waned and slumped occasionally, Schwartz is a smart football mind. Like McDaniels, he is a Bill Belichick disciple who understands how to put a smart program in place and he is the rare man to take the Detroit Lions to the postseason.
Current coordinators without head coaching experience
Kyle Shanahan: He gets the best out of his personnel, he is a gifted offensive mind and he obviously comes from great coaching stock. He can shapeshift the identity of his offense from week to week, like McDaniels. Like some others on this list, this has been his calling for a long, long time. He has become more open and engaging with players and the media and the evolution of his relationship with Falcons QB Matt Ryan is indicative of that. The 49ers will look long and hard at him if Chip Kelly is gone, among others.
Teryl Austin: He has been an "It" coordinator for several years now and he has benefited from going through the interview process in years past. His Lions defense has had precious few standout players, yet it has managed to exceed expectations and keep teams out of the end zone. He has had an exodus of talent in recent years but has remained a stalwart. He needs to team himself with a top offensive coordinator candidate. Buffalo will look long and hard at him once Rex Ryan is let go.
Vance Joseph: He's young and he's gifted. He has transformed Miami's defense on the fly this season and has gotten Ndamukong Suh, who has chewed up and spit out far more experienced coaches, to buy in. He has also benched other key veterans and then brought them back with good results. He has adjusted his scheme to fit personnel along the way -- playing more zone, not trying to get too cute -- and some of the very scouts who were down on him early in the season are pushing hardest for him now. He walked into a difficult situation and is thriving and people are noticing.
Sean McVay: He is a few years from being as hotly coveted as guys like McDaniels and Shanahan are now, but he is very much in that same mold. He's going to be the youngest coach in the NFL at some point, it's just a matter of when. He has done great things with Kirk Cousins and players swear by him. They trust him intrinsically. He has everything you would want in a complete package and teams will ask to interview him next month. He's still a little raw, perhaps, but I would rather grab him now than risk never being able to hire him.
Russ Grimm: He's the only position coach on this list, but the job he has done with the Titans offensive line is ridiculous. Few can mold boys into men like he can. He was groomed to be a head coach under my buddy Bill Cowher and he came damn close to being head coach in Pittsburgh, and in Chicago, at various times. He has been a coordinator and understands more than merely the run game, though his work with the Titans shows just how dominant his blocking schemes and ground approach can be. His hiatus from football after his firing in Arizona has him reinvigorated.
Others receiving votes
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The 12 best NFL coaching candidates, and the one that teams are too scared to hire
Here are a dozen names to top any GM's list as hiring season ramps up
Conventional wisdom is running amok in the NFL.
Decision makers use the same criteria, covet the same profiles, worry about the same optics and produce coaching searches every winter that are very much carbon copies of what everyone else is doing. It's an exercise in keeping up with the Joneses or covering one's backside and fearing the unknown. Everyone is looking for QB whisperers/offensive play callers, so we have to have ours, too!
I'm over it.
There is a reason there is so much futility in this league. And this is part of it. Relying on consultants more times than not results in "inside jobs" where nepotism or cronyism seeps in, and the coach who's hired invariably worked previously for (or grew up best friends with the son of) the consultant leading the charge. The idea of headhunters is beyond ridiculous -- if an owner can't put together a decent list of candidates, someone in his organization better be able to have enough of a grasp on the league to do so. And these copycat candidate lists often lack much vision, creativity or foresight.
So this year, as I present the dozen guys I believe are best positioned to constitute the coaching class of 2017, please allow me to stump for Dave Toub. Yes, Dave Toub. And the fact you have no idea who the hell he is, in and of itself, is indicative of the kind of tail-wagging that has been going on with these searches for far too long.
Toub is the stud special teams coach for Andy Reid in Kansas City. He's the guy who has been helping win games for the Chiefs with big returns and fake punts and shifting field position and motivating men and outsmarting his opponents. And before that, he was the guy behind the perennially dominant special teams in Chicago (2004-12). Oh, and before that he led Reid's special teams units in Philly (2001-03), which were also generally top notch. He's the guy behind Devin Hester and Robbie Gould and, lately, Chiefs dervish Tyreek Hill.
Many of his players over the years have told me Toub should be leading an entire team, not merely one unit. He's a leader of men. He commands respect. He gets the best out of players. He is arguably the best coach on Reid's esteemed staff in Kansas City, and Reid has been nothing but a developer of NFL coaches. He grows them. And Toub is one of his best, yet the fact that he coaches special teams works against him. That still remains true in spite of Hall of Famers like George Allen and Marv Levy were coaches who came through the special teams pipeline, not to mention Bobby Ross or Baltimore's John Harbaugh, another one of Reid's disciples.
Dave Toub is loved by his players and respected by his peers. USATSI
"He's a combination of Harbaugh and John Madden," one of Toub's former colleagues said. "He is the real deal. This guy can coach. Period. He's a big guy, physically, who can take over a room when he has to. He gets people to buy in. These guys love playing for him. He comes from a great [coaching] family tree. Look at Andy Reid's assistants over the years. This guy is ready. All he needs is a chance."
A personnel exec who used to work with Toub, 54, said: "If Dave Toub can't get a job in this league, then I give up. Talk to other coaches in the league. They know who is for real and who is horseshit or the flavor of the month. This guy can coach a football team. He'd be the first guy I'd talk to, and it isn't even really close."
Toub has been involved in head coaching searches before, interviewing with the Dolphins when they hired Joe Philbin (how did that work out for them?) and the Bears in 2013 (when they hired Marc Trestman -- yikes). He has been under consideration for many more, but general managers have been scared to pull the trigger. I spoke to two of them a year ago about Toub, a former all-WAC offensive lineman who was drafted in the ninth round by the Eagles but never made it on to an NFL roster. Both agreed he was a hell of a coach and an inspired thought to run a team and that he merited a chance, but then both essentially ruled it out in the end because they needed to develop a quarterback and were locked into going offense. Neither guy who was eventually hired, by the way, is what I would call especially safe even only one year in.
Another exec who knows him said: "Superb at what he does and by a million miles the best special teams coach in the league. He is an A-plus guy."
You can find a quarterback coach and offensive coordinator to work with the passers. It doesn't have to define the entire coaching search. I would actually assert that special teams coaches are ahead of the curve in that they already must address players from both sides of the ball, and in essence the entire team with regularity. They aren't dealing with merely those certain position groups. Besides the head coach, the special teams coach is the only guy on the staff entrusted with clock management and other in-game responsibilities. He also must adjust to losing more players than any other unit. A special teams coach comes in with no inherent bias to either side of the ball, and thus no sentimental ties or desires of offense over defense (or vice versa) in terms of roster composition with the GM.
"HE'S A COMBINATION OF HARBAUGH AND JOHN MADDEN. HE IS THE REAL DEAL. THIS GUY CAN COACH. PERIOD. HE'S A BIG GUY, PHYSICALLY, WHO CAN TAKE OVER A ROOM WHEN HE HAS TO. HE GETS PEOPLE TO BUY IN."-- An NFL coach on Dave Toub
I hope this hiring season that some of the GMs who invariably consider Toub actually give the Chiefs a call and ask to interview him. I hope they reflect on how Harbaugh and Mike Tomlin were two of the more outside-the-box hires of the past decade or so, and how well they have worked out. I hope they get beyond the norms and perceived constraints and branch out a little bit. If they do, I suspect they end up richly rewarded.
As for the other guys at the head of this year's class, I don't see anyone from the college ranks heading to the NFL, though Stanford's David Shaw is perennially at the top of that wish list (and the Rams and 49ers in particular might want to feel him out, just in case). Excluding guys like Shaw and Nick Saban and Jim Harbaugh, who I simply don't see even thinking about leaving their current jobs, here are the dozen candidates who, along with Toub, should be getting heavy consideration next month as these searches begin in earnest:
Currently out of the league
Jon Gruden: A football savant, someone born to coach, and long coveted by pro and college programs. I truly believe he is ready to listen and listen intently, specifically, in Los Angeles. It's Hollywood or bust, I reckon. And the Rams and Chargers should both be fully exploring this option immediately. Outside of L.A., Gruden is staying in the broadcast booth, and those who do aim to woo him should come correct.
Tom Coughlin: His résumé speaks for itself and I've been reporting for weeks on the mutual interest between him and the Jacksonville Jaguars. At age 70, he might not be best suited to a rebuilding team -- and the Jags are nothing if not perpetually rebuilding -- but that is his most likely destination at this point. He has a home there and deep ties from his first go-round leading the original expansion Jags. Their search will start with him and might end with him as well.
A Tom Coughlin reunion with the Jags continues to look likely. USATSI
Ex-head coaches who are current coordinators
Josh McDaniels: He will absolutely kill it when he gets another shot ... and he is getting another shot in 2017 after a tough initial tenure as head coach of the Broncos. McDaniels is as good of a play caller and schemer as there is, and I've been touting his return for years. The time is now. Look at what he did in the four games that Tom Brady was suspended this season. He has matured from the humbling stint with Denver, and is a better person and a better coach for it. Coaching is in his blood, and if you are looking for a young Jon Gruden (not that Gruden is old, at 52), McDaniels is your guy. I can't imagine there is a team out there with an opening that does not request to speak to him.
Todd Haley: His first shot coaching the Chiefs ended ugly, but he, too, has grown from that experience. He can run an offense and he can develop tight ends and receivers, and he did go to the playoffs in Kansas City with Matt Cassel as his starting QB. His work in Pittsburgh has been excellent, and he managed to forge a strong bond with Ben Roethlisberger in the aftermath of the QB's displeasure with the dismissal of his former coordinator, Bruce Arians. Jacksonville, Buffalo and San Francisco could make sense for him.
Todd Haley has become a better coach since flaming out in Kansas City. USATSI
Mike Smith: His winning percentage in Atlanta was exceptional. He can coach. It's hard to argue against that. And the way he has led the Buccaneersdefense this season, getting them out of the shadows of the collapsed former regime of Lovie Smith and getting better each week, has been truly special. Some believe he could be part of a Jacksonville package if Coughlin came in as a football czar and not the head coach, and either way, he will get opportunities to interview.
Jim Schwartz: His Eagles defense has looked like the best unit in the NFL at times, and while it has waxed and waned and slumped occasionally, Schwartz is a smart football mind. Like McDaniels, he is a Bill Belichick disciple who understands how to put a smart program in place and he is the rare man to take the Detroit Lions to the postseason.
Current coordinators without head coaching experience
Kyle Shanahan: He gets the best out of his personnel, he is a gifted offensive mind and he obviously comes from great coaching stock. He can shapeshift the identity of his offense from week to week, like McDaniels. Like some others on this list, this has been his calling for a long, long time. He has become more open and engaging with players and the media and the evolution of his relationship with Falcons QB Matt Ryan is indicative of that. The 49ers will look long and hard at him if Chip Kelly is gone, among others.
Teryl Austin: He has been an "It" coordinator for several years now and he has benefited from going through the interview process in years past. His Lions defense has had precious few standout players, yet it has managed to exceed expectations and keep teams out of the end zone. He has had an exodus of talent in recent years but has remained a stalwart. He needs to team himself with a top offensive coordinator candidate. Buffalo will look long and hard at him once Rex Ryan is let go.
Vance Joseph: He's young and he's gifted. He has transformed Miami's defense on the fly this season and has gotten Ndamukong Suh, who has chewed up and spit out far more experienced coaches, to buy in. He has also benched other key veterans and then brought them back with good results. He has adjusted his scheme to fit personnel along the way -- playing more zone, not trying to get too cute -- and some of the very scouts who were down on him early in the season are pushing hardest for him now. He walked into a difficult situation and is thriving and people are noticing.
Sean McVay: He is a few years from being as hotly coveted as guys like McDaniels and Shanahan are now, but he is very much in that same mold. He's going to be the youngest coach in the NFL at some point, it's just a matter of when. He has done great things with Kirk Cousins and players swear by him. They trust him intrinsically. He has everything you would want in a complete package and teams will ask to interview him next month. He's still a little raw, perhaps, but I would rather grab him now than risk never being able to hire him.
Russ Grimm: He's the only position coach on this list, but the job he has done with the Titans offensive line is ridiculous. Few can mold boys into men like he can. He was groomed to be a head coach under my buddy Bill Cowher and he came damn close to being head coach in Pittsburgh, and in Chicago, at various times. He has been a coordinator and understands more than merely the run game, though his work with the Titans shows just how dominant his blocking schemes and ground approach can be. His hiatus from football after his firing in Arizona has him reinvigorated.
Others receiving votes
- Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott rallied his unit back to form in the second half of season and has been a top candidate for a few years now.
- Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia still has a wild and wooly look that isn't the CEO image most owners want. He's also the likely heir apparent to Belichick in New England if he sticks around there long enough.
- Lions offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter could be held back by his name, believe it or not, in this crazy corporate league as I talk to more execs about him.
- Texans linebackers coach Mike Vrabel has been as good a position coach -- next to Grimm -- as there is and has the Belichick roots.
- Steelers offensive line coach Mike Munchak will eventually get college offers and he had a decent stint previously as head coach of Titans.
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Rams vs 49ers-Historical Points!
- By DaveFan'51
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 1 Replies
I thought it would be Fun to look back in History at the Rams 3 Biggest Win's over the 9ers in their History, as part of a game prep!
But first a couple of key points!!:fuelfire:
* the Rams over-All Record against them is: 64-66-3 in the Regular Season and 0-1 in Post Season.
* The 49ers Like to Bragg about Beating the Rams 17 straight times, BUT they never Talk about the Rams going 10-0 against them from 1970-1975, and then going 9 of 10 from 1976 to 1980!!:yay::yess:
* Back in 1958 This was the Rams Logo
And this was the 49ers Logo
The Rams Biggest Win;
1958- 56-7 Rams
Billy Wade passed for 4 TD's and Rushed for 1 TD!!:wow:
Rams Second Biggest Win;
1964 - 42-14 Rams
Roman Gabriel Passed for 4 TD's
and ..
Both Boby Smith and Aaron Martin had Interceptions returned for TD's 0f 97 and 71 Yards respectively!!
WR - Bucky Pope had 4 receptions for 141 Yards and 3 TD's!!
Rams Third Biggest Win
1966 - 34-3 Rams
Gabriel again BUT he only had 1 TD Pass!
Jack Snow caught the only TD pass . ... The Real Damage was done by
Dick Bass who rushed for 3 TD's!!
" If this hasn't gotten you Pumped-Up for some Good Rams Football, Here's some more Old Photos!!" Just to bring back some fun memories!!
Jack and the Boy's loved to have Fun!!
Whooping the 49ers is always FUN!! .. Ask Fred!!
But first a couple of key points!!:fuelfire:
* the Rams over-All Record against them is: 64-66-3 in the Regular Season and 0-1 in Post Season.
* The 49ers Like to Bragg about Beating the Rams 17 straight times, BUT they never Talk about the Rams going 10-0 against them from 1970-1975, and then going 9 of 10 from 1976 to 1980!!:yay::yess:
* Back in 1958 This was the Rams Logo
And this was the 49ers Logo
The Rams Biggest Win;
1958- 56-7 Rams
Billy Wade passed for 4 TD's and Rushed for 1 TD!!:wow:
Rams Second Biggest Win;
1964 - 42-14 Rams
and ..
WR - Bucky Pope had 4 receptions for 141 Yards and 3 TD's!!
Rams Third Biggest Win
1966 - 34-3 Rams
Gabriel again BUT he only had 1 TD Pass!
Jack Snow caught the only TD pass . ... The Real Damage was done by
Dick Bass who rushed for 3 TD's!!
" If this hasn't gotten you Pumped-Up for some Good Rams Football, Here's some more Old Photos!!" Just to bring back some fun memories!!
Whooping the 49ers is always FUN!! .. Ask Fred!!
Selling tickets vs 49ers
- By FaulkSF
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 0 Replies
Selling 4 season tickets for Saturday's game at 1:25pm 49ers at Rams for $75 each or best offer. Seats retail for $110 and are located at Section 14, Row 22, Seats 110-113.
I can take PayPal or Chase Quickpay and will email you with paper tickets (PDF). Don't miss TGII run for 100 and Goff throw for 250 and 2 TDs this weekend.
Private message me if you're interested. Unfortunately, we cannot travel from Sacramento this weekend and our friends/family we normally sell tickets to are sick. If u need a reference or anything, I've met LACHAMP46 and have texted a couple others here.
Thanks and GO Rams!!
I can take PayPal or Chase Quickpay and will email you with paper tickets (PDF). Don't miss TGII run for 100 and Goff throw for 250 and 2 TDs this weekend.
Private message me if you're interested. Unfortunately, we cannot travel from Sacramento this weekend and our friends/family we normally sell tickets to are sick. If u need a reference or anything, I've met LACHAMP46 and have texted a couple others here.
Thanks and GO Rams!!
Article: Rams interim coach John Fassel teaches players about 49ers rivalry
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 2 Replies
49ers quarterback John Brodie looks to hand off during a game against the Rams at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in November 1971. The 49ers will face the Rams at the Coliseum on Saturday for the first time since 1979. James Flores/Getty Images
John Fassel teaches players about 49ers rivalry
Alden Gonzalez
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- The head coach is gone, the season is winding down and the record is poor, so John Fassel is searching for motivation.
For Saturday's game, he resorted to history.
Fassel, the special-teams coordinator who was named interim coach in the wake of Jeff Fisher's firing, brought up the storied rivalry between the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers with his players during a recent team meeting, days before the 49ers visit his Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for the first time since 1979. Fassel enlisted the help of some special-teams players and dug up an assortment of factoids. He brought up the fact that the teams have played 134 times, and that the 49ers have won three more games. And he went into how heated the rivalry used to be when they shared a state.
“I studied," Fassel said. "I made sure I had my facts right, so if I’m standing there in front of the whole team -- the coaches, the players, the trainers -- that I’m throwing out factual information."
Fassel was impressed by all the different places the 49ers hosted this rivalry from, including Kezar Stadium, Candlestick Park and, most recently, Levi's Stadium. He believed it was important for the players to know how often these two teams have faced each other, pointing out the fact that 30 of those games were played at the Coliseum.
The Rams and 49ers both arrived in California in 1946, with the Rams becoming the first NFL franchise on the West Coast and the 49ers going from the All-America Football Conference to the NFL by 1950. The Rams and Niners have played in the same division ever since, meeting twice a season for 66 years. From 1970 to 1989, the two teams finished first and second 11 times. Their only playoff appearance was in the NFC Championship Game in 1989, a 30-3 victory by the 49ers that pushed them to their fourth Super Bowl.
During the next five years, the Rams went a combined 23-57, leading them directly into their 21-year relocation to St. Louis.
“I wanted them to respect the history of the rivalry and know the position they’re in, coming back here to L.A.," Fassel said. "That’s been discussed.”
Steve Young, Joe Montana, Ronnie Lott, Jerry Rice, Eric Dickerson, Merlin Olsen, Deacon Jones and Jackie Slater all played in the rivalry when the Rams and 49ers shared California. Hall of Famers such as Bill Walsh and George Allen coached in it. At one point in the 1970s, the Rams won 10 straight games. At one point in the 1990s, the 49ers won 17 in a row.
But Fassel is more concerned with recent history.
The Rams faced the 49ers on the road to open their season and were embarrassed, losing by a 28-0 score in front of a Monday Night Football audience. The Rams won their next three games, then lost nine of 10. The 49ers, winding down their first year under Chip Kelly, have not won a single game since.
"We got our butt kicked in the first game," Fassel said. "We got it kicked pretty bad."
The Rams don't have much to play for now, but they would at least like some retribution against the hapless team that beat them so thoroughly 15 weeks ago. They'll sport their popular blue-and-yellow throwback jerseys from the Coliseum on Saturday for a Christmas Eve game that begins with a 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff. And they'll have a foundation of knowledge for their ensuing matchup.
"This would help not only our morale, but the morale of the true Rams fans that will be showing up to the Coliseum," Fassel said. "Hopefully everybody believes us that we understand -- even though the season hasn’t gone how we wanted it, no doubt about it -- that this game is important and it is impactful to us and a lot of people. We’re looking forward to it.”
[www.espn.com]
Guess who Kyle Shanahan's Agent is..................
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 41 Replies
What we are hearing right now is that the early leader in the clubhouse for the Rams job is Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.
Shallow as it may seem, Shanahan is young, good-looking and energetic, which will be job requirements in Los Angeles.
More importantly, he has impeccable coaching bloodlines from his Super Bowl winning dad. At the age of 37, he already is one of the most experienced offensive coordinators in the league, having run the show in Houston, Washington, Cleveland and now Atlanta. He also has a reputation as the kind of quarterback whisperer that Goff badly needs.
Shanahan happens to be represented by Marvin Demoff, whose son Kevin is in his fifth season as Executive V.P. Football Operations and COO of the Rams, so negotiations can be conducted at the dinner table over the holidays with no fear of tampering violations going public.
We’re not accusing, we’re just saying.
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This article originally ran on profootballweekly.com.
Christmas Eve throwback uniforms
- By Prime Time
- RAMS / NFL TALK
- 15 Replies
Arash Markazi/ESPN Senior Writer
The Los Angeles Rams will be wearing these throwback uniforms on Christmas Eve against the San Francisco 49ers.
The Los Angeles Rams will be wearing these throwback uniforms on Christmas Eve against the San Francisco 49ers.