Get to know the new additions to the Rams coaching staff

[ROD-BOT]

Get to know the new additions to the Rams coaching staff

Rams head coach Sean McVay announced his finalized 2021 coaching staff on Tuesday. Here's what you should know about each of the new additions.

www.therams.com

Get to know the new additions to the Rams coaching staff

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – The Los Angeles Rams' coaching staff for the 2021 season is now officially set.

Here's what you need to know about each of the new additions:

Kevin Carberry – Offensive Line Coach (pictured above)

Carberry joins the Rams after spending the last three seasons as Stanford University's run game coordinator and offensive line coach. He replaces Aaron Kromer, who was the Rams' offensive line coach in 2017, then offensive line coach/run game coordinator from 2018-2020.

In 2020, Carberry helped Stanford improve in rushing touchdowns scored (15 in 2020 vs. eight in 2019), on third down (48 percent in 2020 vs. 39 percent in 2019) and in redzone offense (touchdowns on 78 percent of attempts in 2020 vs. 47 percent in 2019) last season despite playing only six games compared to 12 in 2019.

Stanford's offensive line produced three All-Pac-12 selections during Carberry's tenure – Walker Little (First Team) and Nate Herbig (Second Team) in 2018, then Drew Dalman, who received Second Team recognition in 2019 and First Team recognition in 2020.

Experience:

2018-2020: Stanford – Run game coordinator/offensive line coach

2016-17: Washington Redskins – Assistant offensive line

2014-15: Dallas Cowboys – Offensive assistant

2012-13: Stephen F. Austin – Defensive ends

2009-11: Kansas – Graduate assistant

2007-08: St. Ignatius College Prep – Defensive coordinator/special teams coordinator

Nick Jones – Offensive Assistant

Jones arrives in Los Angeles after spending the 2020 season as a diversity coaching fellow for the Atlanta Falcons.

Prior to joining the Falcons, Jones was Colorado State's co-special teams coordinator and tight ends coach (2019). He also coached tight ends at the Air Force Academy (2018) and Coastal Carolina (2012-17), as well as offensive tackles at Coastal Carolina.

Experience:

As a coach:

2020: Atlanta Falcons – Diversity Coaching Fellow

2019: Colorado State – Co-Special Teams Coordinator/Tight Ends

2018: Air Force Academy – Tight Ends

2012-17: Coastal Carolina – Tight Ends/Offensive Tackles

2010-11: Georgia – Offensive Graduate Assistant

As a player:

2007-09: Seattle Seahawks

Chris O'Hara

O'Hara joins the Rams as an offensive assistant after serving in the same role for the Jaguars last season.

Prior to working for the Jaguars in 2020, O'Hara was an offensive quality control coach for Washington for three seasons (2017-2019). He got his start in the NFL as an offensive coaching associate in Jacksonville (2014-16).

Experience:

2020: Jacksonville Jaguars – Offensive Assistant

2017-19: Washington Redskins – Offensive Quality Control Coach

2014-16: Jacksonville Jaguars – Offensive Coaching Associate

2013: University of Miami (Fla.) – Graduate Assistant

2011-12: University of Miami (Fla.) – Student Assistant

2009-10: Temple University – Student Assistant

Marcus Dixon – Assistant Defensive Line

Dixon joins the Rams after four seasons coaching at his alma mater, Hampton University, where he most recently served as defensive ends coach, recruiting coordinator and director of player development (2019-20). Prior to those roles, he was the defensive line coach served as director of player development (2018) and defensive tackles coach (2017) for Hampton.

Prior to his coaching career, he signed with the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent out of Hampton in 2008. He then played three seasons with the Jets from 2010-12 and later spent time with the Chiefs (2013) and Titans (2014).

Experience:

As a coach:

2019-20: Hampton University – Defensive Ends/Recruiting Coordinator/Director of Player Development

2018: Hampton University – Defensive Line Coach/Director of Player Development

2017: Hampton University – Defensive Tackles

As a player:

2014: Tennessee Titans

2013: Kansas City Chiefs

2010-12: New York Jets

2008-09: Dallas Cowboys

Dwayne Stukes – Assistant Special Teams

Stukes arrives in Los Angeles after spending the last two seasons as a defensive assistant for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Prior to joining the Jaguars' staff, Stukes was an assistant special teams coach for the Giants (2016-17) and Bears (2013-14).

Stukes began his coaching career as an assistant defensive backs coach for the Berlin Thunder of NFL Europe in 2006 before joining the Buccaneers coaching staff later that same year. His arrival in Tampa Bay began a six-year tenure during which he worked his way up from coaching assistant in 2006 to special teams coordinator in 2011.

Experience:

As a coach:

2019-20: Jacksonville Jaguars – Defensive Assistant

2016-17: New York Giants – Assistant Special Teams Coach

2013-14: Chicago Bears – Assistant Special Teams Coach

2012: Dallas Cowboys – Minority Coaching Internship

2011: Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Special Teams Coordinator

2009-10: Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Assistant Defensive Backs Coach

2008: Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Special Teams Quality Control Coach

2006-07: Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Coaching Assistant

2006: Berlin Thunder (NFL Europe) – Assistant Defensive Backs Coach

As a player:

2004: Colorado Crush (Arena Football League)

2001-02: Berlin Thunder (NFL Europe)

Also spent parts of four NFL seasons (2000-03) with the Atlanta Falcons, Pittsburgh Steelers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers

 

[Corbin]

Lol wtf is a ‘ Diversity Coaching Fellow’?

Sounds like the dumbest title I’ve heard in a while

 

[Riverumbbq]

Hmmm, ... Stanford's offensive line produced three All-Pac-12 selections during Carberry's tenure – OT Walker Little

Walker Little might just be available where we pick in the 2'nd round, even better if he slips into the 3'rd with a possible trade down.

 

[Classic Rams]

Lol wtf is a ‘ Diversity Coaching Fellow’?

Sounds like the dumbest title I’ve heard in a while

Looks odd shortened, but it's actually Diversity Coaching Fellowship, given to minorities to gain coaching experience in training camps etc.

 

[Corbin]

Looks odd shortened, but it's actually Diversity Coaching Fellowship, given to minorities to gain coaching experience in training camps etc.

Still a weird title but sounds better with the ship! Lol

 

[Mackeyser]

Lol wtf is a ‘ Diversity Coaching Fellow’?

Sounds like the dumbest title I’ve heard in a while

Dumb title, smart move by the league. Also, as mentioned before, the 'ship' got truncated.

We already know that coaching is an old boy's club and much of that has to do with logistics, comfort and being on the same page and doesn't have so much to do with exclusion as there isn't really a combine for coaches... never has been.

Allowing teams to add college coaches as diversity hires introduces more minority coaches to that "I know you and am comfortable with you" group set.

McVay has a number of folks on staff now that he met before and thus was comfortable adding. So as opposed to changing how coaches do things, they're just acknowledging that coaches have tons on their plates and making it easier to expand the coaching ranks.

It's good stuff.

 

[Corbin]

Dumb title, smart move by the league. Also, as mentioned before, the 'ship' got truncated.

We already know that coaching is an old boy's club and much of that has to do with logistics, comfort and being on the same page and doesn't have so much to do with exclusion as there isn't really a combine for coaches... never has been.

Allowing teams to add college coaches as diversity hires introduces more minority coaches to that "I know you and am comfortable with you" group set.

McVay has a number of folks on staff now that he met before and thus was comfortable adding. So as opposed to changing how coaches do things, they're just acknowledging that coaches have tons on their plates and making it easier to expand the coaching ranks.

It's good stuff.

@Mackeyser how many times have I told you to not include big or words I have to look up? I'll add that to my vocabulary, working on being a battle rapper.

I thought they just added coaching asst.'s with nothing specific they focus on if they just wanted to add them to the staff?


p.s. what do you think about adding a quota for diversity as far as rappers go? I think I have my future set for me..... do you want to buy a CD?

 

[Mackeyser]

If that’s an example of your bars... no.

But gl tho LOL

 

[CGI_Ram]

Sean McVay expands on new titles and roles for returning coaches

Rams head coach Sean McVay's finalized 2021 coaching staff includes promotions for several returnees.

www.therams.com

Sean McVay expands on new titles and roles for returning coaches

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – Rams head coach Sean McVay held a video conference with local media Thursday to discuss his finalized 2021 coaching staff which includes the new titles for multiple returning members.

Here's what he had to say about each of those coaches with added responsibilities for the 2021 season:

Offense

Assistant head coach/running backs coach Thomas Brown

Brown served as running backs coach in his first season with the Rams, and now adds assistant head coach to this title entering his second season on their staff. Linebackers coach Joe Barry, who was hired by the Packers as their next defensive coordinator, previously held that role.

Brown was instrumental in running back Cam Akers' development over the course of his rookie season. Despite missing three games due to injury, Akers finished as the team's leading rusher with 625 yards, highlighted by 171 rushing yards against the Patriots in Week 14 – most by a Rams rookie running back in a single game since Jerome Bettis in 1993.

"He's got such a refreshing security about himself, ability to command the room, communicate," McVay said. "I think what I've always appreciated about our interactions in the last year that we've spent together, (is that) he's always going to tell me what I need to hear, not what I want to hear. And sometimes that's hard to find as a head coach. He's very decisive, but then he's also open minded. And he's got just such a great grasp of this game and a great ability to relate to people to bring out the best in his group, when you see what he did with the running back group in particular last year. So he's going to do a great job assuming more responsibilities there, as a great leader of this football team."

Tight ends coach/pass game coordinator Wes Phillips

Phillips adds pass game coordinator to his duties after spending his first two seasons on the Rams staff as tight ends coach. The role of pass game coordinator was previously held over the last three seasons by Shane Waldron, who was hired by the Seahawks as their next offensive coordinator in late January.

In 2019, Phillips helped Tyler Higbee set single-season franchise records for both receptions (69) and receiving yards (734) by a tight end. In 2020, Higbee caught five touchdowns – second on the team behind wide receiver Robert Woods' six.

"I think it's just a reflection of the caliber of coach that he is, the command that he has on all 11 offensively and the different ways that we want to be able to attack people," McVay said. "And I think he and Kevin O'Connell will really work well together, figuring out the best ways to attack people specifically through the air."

Offensive assistant Zak Kromer

The son of former Rams offensive line coach and run game coordinator Aaron Kromer, Zak will serve as an offensive assistant in 2021 after spending his first four seasons on staff primarily working with the offensive line as an offensive quality control coach (2017-2020).

In 2019, with the help of Zak's adjustments throughout the season due to injury along the offensive front, the offensive line did not allow a sack in a franchise-best six games, while also allowing the fewest sacks in the league (22). In 2020, the Rams offensive line tied with the Titans for sixth-fewest sacks allowed in the league (25).

"I'm looking forward to continuing to work with Zak Kromer, who's really developed into a really nice coach," McVay said.

Defense

Defensive line coach/run game coordinator Eric Henderson

Henderson originally joined the Rams staff in 2019 as defensive line coach and helped the group accomplish a lot over the last two years, including finishing with the fourth-most sacks in the league (50) in 2019 and second-most (53) in 2020.

Additionally, fresh off his fourth-straight season with double-digit sacks – the last two working under Henderson – Rams defensive lineman and three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald said last month Henderson has "learned a lot from" and wants to continue to learn and build with.

Following that pass-rushing success, he'll be adding run game coordinator duties to his responsibilities in 2021, helping devise the best ways for Los Angeles' defensive front to attack opponents' rushing offenses.

"That run game coordinator (role), he will really head up a lot of the front mechanics, the different things in terms of how we want to defend people in some of those run downs, (it) is going to be a real big deal," McVay said. "And it's a real credit to what he's done."

Linebackers coach Chris Shula

This a second promotion for Shula, who has been on the Rams staff since 2017 – McVay's first season as head coach. Shula previously spent the last two seasons coaching L.A.'s outside linebackers; prior to that, he was an assistant linebackers coach in 2017 and 2018.

Last season, Shula helped outside linebacker Leonard Floyd record a career-high 10.5 sacks and 50 total tackles.

In 2019, Shula helped outside linebacker Dante Fowler Jr. produce a career season that featured a career-best 11.5 sacks to go along with career highs in tackles (58), forced fumbles (two), passes defensed (six), tackles for loss (16) and quarterback hits (16). That same year, he assisted Clay Matthews in tallying his highest sack total (8) since the 2014 season.

"Chris Shula is going to oversee all of the linebackers, but what's really unique about it is it also provides an opportunity for Thad Bogardus to take a step in the right direction,being able to have chances to oversee some of the outside linebackers on the field, in those meetings if Chris is with the inside group," McVay said.

Assistant linebackers coach Thad Bogardus

This is also a second promotion for Bogardus, who originally joined the Rams staff in 2017. Bogardus spent the last two seasons as an assistant defensive line coach after serving as a defensive quality control coach in 2017 and 2018.

As McVay mentioned earlier, Bogardus' new role will afford him the opportunity to learn the ins and outs of another level of the defense and work with the outside linebackers at times.

Secondary coach/pass game coordinator Ejiro Evero

Another original 2017 staff member, Evero takes on an elevated role in 2021 as secondary coach/pass game coordinator after serving as safeties coach over the last four seasons.

In his previous role, Evero was instrumental in the development of John Johnson III, Taylor Rapp and Jordan Fuller, all of whom earned starting roles in their first seasons. Johnson recorded 119 tackles, 11 passes defensed and a team-leading four interceptions in 2018, his second season as a starter. Rapp finish third on the team in tackles as a rookie in 2019, also adding two interceptions (one returned for a touchdown). Fuller tied for second on the team in interceptions in 2020 with three and finished as the Rams' fifth-leading tackler (60 total).

"He'll really work in unison with Chris Shula on the coordination of the back seven and how we want to defend people, really in all parts of the pass game," McVay said. "He's looking at that back-seven, but that's not exclusive. I think you want always have all three levels tied in. It's a credit to what he's done, his development as a coach."

Assistant secondary coach Jonathan Cooley

Cooley joined the Rams coaching staff last season as a defensive quality control coach, after serving as the University of Akron's defensive backs coach in 2019. He was Kent State's secondary coach in 2018, and also served as the University of Tennesse at Chattanooga's defensive backs coach in 2017.

"Another young, sharp up-and-coming coach has a great command of the game working as the assistant secondary coach, where he was kind of a quality control, defensive assistant last year," McVay said.