Here’s an outside-the-box John Fassel question...

[Rams43]

Bear with me for just a minute...

We all know that Fassel is a helluva ST coordinator. Maybe the best in the league.

Players love him and play their hearts out for him.
He’s a model of consistency year after year.
His primary asset players are maybe the best in the league at their respective positions in Hekker, GZ, and McQuaide.
Does Fassel make them that good?
Or does he see their potential that much better than others do?
He’s a fanatic at attention to detail and demands excellence from his players.
He studies film with a microscopic attention to detail in the least little flaws of opposing units, then takes advantage of them on game day.
He is universally respected both inside and outside the Ram organization.
He’s got a little gamble in him, too. Willing to go for fake punts, etc. Love that killer instinct in a coach.

Let all that sink in for just a moment...

Now, let me ask you this outside-the-box question.

Is it possible that such a coach might be capable of even bigger and better things on the team’s coaching tree? I mean, Vermiel was once a Ram ST coach, you know.

I’m wondering if the ingredients for a spectacular position coach, maybe an eventual coordinator, hell, maybe an ultimate HC might be sitting right there under our noses. Don’t anybody say that he might supplant McVay, btw. I meant as a HC elsewhere.

Fassel has “it” as a leader commanding respect. He’s certainly organized and effective. His results speak for themselves, don’t they? Why wouldn’t his skills as a ST coordinator transfer over to the O or the D part of the game?

Or, am I missing something?

Food for thought.

 

[Corbin]

Bear with me for just a minute...

We all know that Fassel is a helluva ST coordinator. Maybe the best in the league.

Players love him and play their hearts out for him.
He’s a model of consistency year after year.
His primary asset players are maybe the best in the league at their respective positions in Hekker, GZ, and McQuaide.
Does Fassel make them that good?
Or does he see their potential that much better than others do?
He’s a fanatic at attention to detail and demands excellence from his players.
He studies film with a microscopic attention to detail in the least little flaws of opposing units, then takes advantage of them on game day.
He is universally respected both inside and outside the Ram organization.
He’s got a little gamble in him, too. Willing to go for fake punts, etc. Love that killer instinct in a coach.

Let all that sink in for just a moment...

Now, let me ask you this outside-the-box question.

Is it possible that such a coach might be capable of even bigger and better things on the team’s coaching tree? I mean, Vermiel was once a Ram ST coach, you know.

I’m wondering if the ingredients for a spectacular position coach, maybe an eventual coordinator, hell, maybe an ultimate HC might be sitting right there under our noses. Don’t anybody say that he might supplant McVay, btw. I meant as a HC elsewhere.

Fassel has “it” as a leader commanding respect. He’s certainly organized and effective. His results speak for themselves, don’t they? Why wouldn’t his skills as a ST coordinator transfer over to the O or the D part of the game?

Or, am I missing something?

Food for thought.

That is crazy 43, been thinking these exact thoughts since Romo a few weeks ago brought up he might get a few interviews this off season. He might have brought up Vermeil ( or maybe I did in my head) lol

But I agree wholeheartedly, I think these players all have super talent but a great leader makes you even better as an individual and as a team player.

 

[Todd59]

I've thought this for awhile now, and think it's just a matter of time before he at least gets a few interviews for HC positions. I think people sometimes put too much emphasis on whether or not a coach is an "offensive guy" or "defensive guy". I think they best coaches let their coordinators coach their side of the ball. A head coaches job is to manage his coaches and players. He isn't the one "coaching" them.

Let's not forget that both John Harbaugh and Bill Belichick had early coaching experience as Special Teams coaches.

I love Bones, and I'd hate to see him leave. But I think someone is going to give him a shot some day.

 

[Billy Baroo]

Love him in his role and would sign him long-term but I don’t get a HC feeling from him. Kinda dorky.

 

[Merlin]

Would not surprise me if he got some interviews. From there who knows.

Guys who will get looked at hard on our staff this offseason, in order IMO:

1. Kromer. Teams and new staffs will want him for OC. Rams will need to say NO.
2. Barry. He'll get a HC interview or two, as he has some DC under his belt and is Asst HC.
3. Johnson. He's been a DL coach with very good results, might get DC interest. Rams need to say NO.
4. Fassel. Very well regarded around league. Should get some HC interviews.

 

[99Balloons]

Fassel is a good ST coach and that is his specialty. But I don't think he's HC ready yet or ever.

Last year when he took over after Fisher was fired, Fassel looked overwhelmed and lost. He may or may not be HC material. Who knows.

Some coaches may be great OC, ST or DC. But when they are given the reigns as HC, we all find out they were not good as HC after all. See Mike Martz, Steve Spagnuolo or even Jeff Fisher.

 

[dieterbrock]

He seemed quite overwhelmed in his interim gig with the Rams last year.
But I dont think his brilliance is because of Hekker or Zeurline, they are irrlevant to me. Where his coaching is best in the league IMO is that their punt/KO coverage is always air tight, cant remember the last big one they gave up, and his returners generally are good. Pharoh is awesome, but Benny Cunningham was too, and who saw that happening.

HC? I dont see it, but ST coach Dave Toub in KC is likely going to be a candidate

 

[Dxmissile]

I definitely think he’s head coach material and being able to see how McVay calls the offense and GW and Phillips calls defense certainly helps. His track record is very special because guys love playing special teams for him and you can point to so many udfa that gets playing time because of special teams

 

[cvramsfan]

I don't know why but I get the feeling that he does not want to be a HC. I think if the RAMS make him the highest paid ST coach in the NFL he stays right where he is.

 

[Billy Baroo]

I definitely think he’s head coach material and being able to see how McVay calls the offense and GW and Phillips calls defense certainly helps. His track record is very special because guys love playing special teams for him and you can point to so many udfa that gets playing time because of special teams

you can say this about any team though.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Hopefully the post Fisher experience has turned him off to any desire for a HC role. If it's money, pay the man, it doesn't come out of the CAP and I doubt McVay is being paid what Fisher was receiving anyway. Kroenke can easily afford the highest paid management staff, and if he's winning, doubt that he cares much about what Bones is pulling in. jmo.

 

[Mojo Ram]

I think i read or heard somewhere Fassell stated that he has no desire to be a HC. Although he was thrust into the interim position in a not so favorable situation, i agree with @dieterbrock who said that Bones looked overwhelmed and in over his head last year. This is a truly special teams unit we've had here for the last 6 years. Our coverage unit is probably the most underrated aspect of success that rarely gets talked about.

Fisher knocked it out of the park with that hire. Credit also goes to Snead for consistently drafting/bringing in the talent at the bottom of the roster who are immediately asked to compete on ST.

 

[WarnerToBruce]

...

Is it possible that such a coach might be capable of even bigger and better things on the team’s coaching tree? I mean, Vermiel was once a Ram ST coach, you know.

I have a pet peeve related to the Peter Principle.

I personally feel Fassel is as good as they come as a ST coach, which I also feel is a CRITICAL component of great teams. I also feel he wouldn't make the best HC from what I gleaned during his interim role...

Now, does that mean he's STUCK in ST coach role? Is it fair that he has to go "up" to a HC gig to make a decent living? Does he even WANT to be a HC? Maybe he loves ST?

Soooo, why not just pay the man twice the amount of the best-paid ST coach? Everyone wins.

 

[Merlin]

Now, does that mean he's STUCK in ST coach role? Is it fair that he has to go "up" to a HC gig to make a decent living? Does he even WANT to be a HC? Maybe he loves ST?

Think I read that he's been McVay's clock manager too during games. So that is the type of experience that will help him as he goes forward and helps to prepare him for an eventual HC look.

Special teams coach ranks can produce some very good HCs. I think he might well get a chance to be one at some point in the future. Probably not this offseason but I would not rule out a guy who is so skilled at what he does.

 

[Rams43]

I wouldn’t hold his interim HC record against him, fellas.

Those last 3 games were a controlled crash landing. No mere mortal could have thrived under those conditions.

And I don’t see him going directly to HC, either. Depending on his aptitudes, he might get a shot as a position coach, then O or D coordinator. If those all go well, then who knows?

 

[PhillyRam]

John Harbaugh was an great STs coach with the Eagles under Reid... so sure that can happen.

He had the same qualities... was called an excellent teacher & communicator.

Eventually he requested to be moved to a position coach where I think he coached the secondary or LBs... for only a year or two and then got his break.

 

[jrry32]

He seemed quite overwhelmed in his interim gig with the Rams last year.
But I dont think his brilliance is because of Hekker or Zeurline, they are irrlevant to me. Where his coaching is best in the league IMO is that their punt/KO coverage is always air tight, cant remember the last big one they gave up, and his returners generally are good. Pharoh is awesome, but Benny Cunningham was too, and who saw that happening.

HC? I dont see it, but ST coach Dave Toub in KC is likely going to be a candidate

His scheming is brilliant. It's why our coverage and return blocking are both so strong. He's also outstanding at identifying talent. I wish I could have a chance to sit down with the guy and learn from him. There are too few good ST coaches out there.

 

[Mackeyser]

Bear with me for just a minute...

We all know that Fassel is a helluva ST coordinator. Maybe the best in the league.

Players love him and play their hearts out for him.
He’s a model of consistency year after year.
His primary asset players are maybe the best in the league at their respective positions in Hekker, GZ, and McQuaide.
Does Fassel make them that good?
Or does he see their potential that much better than others do?
He’s a fanatic at attention to detail and demands excellence from his players.
He studies film with a microscopic attention to detail in the least little flaws of opposing units, then takes advantage of them on game day.
He is universally respected both inside and outside the Ram organization.
He’s got a little gamble in him, too. Willing to go for fake punts, etc. Love that killer instinct in a coach.

Let all that sink in for just a moment...

Now, let me ask you this outside-the-box question.

Is it possible that such a coach might be capable of even bigger and better things on the team’s coaching tree? I mean, Vermiel was once a Ram ST coach, you know.

I’m wondering if the ingredients for a spectacular position coach, maybe an eventual coordinator, hell, maybe an ultimate HC might be sitting right there under our noses. Don’t anybody say that he might supplant McVay, btw. I meant as a HC elsewhere.

Fassel has “it” as a leader commanding respect. He’s certainly organized and effective. His results speak for themselves, don’t they? Why wouldn’t his skills as a ST coordinator transfer over to the O or the D part of the game?

Or, am I missing something?

Food for thought.

Actually, Bones was the interim coach after Fisher was fired...and HATED it.

He loves coaching, but was honest that he really didn't enjoy much of what constitutes the HC job.

I think he'll be a ST coach for life and earn a fantastic living doing what he loves to do.

If I were Kroenke, I'd back up the truck and sign him to a really long-term deal, really lucrative deal (with McVay's and Snead's blessings, of course).

 

[den-the-coach]

Let's get one thing clear about Dick Vermeil, he was a special teams coach, however, @Rams43 he was an offensive assistant with the Rams (RB Coach in 73) then was Head Coach of UCLA from 74-76 before he became Head Coach of the Eagles in 77. Only John Harbaugh has made the jump from Special Teams Coach to Head Coach.

Now onto Fassel, I don't think he's Head Coach material. Now, players love him and he's fantastic at what he does, but I'm not sure he could command the whole team. Now if you surround him with high profile coordinators, you would have a better chance and a team might take a chance because of the lineage, however, IMO, I believe he might be interviewed, but I don't believe will get hired.

 

[Selassie I]

In addition to paying him whatever it takes to keep him coaching our special teams...

Can we please feed Bones a double cheeseburger with extra bacon after all 3 of his daily meals going forward! Also, make him eat a half gallon of ice cream every single night before bed.

Watching his skinny ass run around on the sideline not only makes me think that he's about to pass out from starvation and exhaustion... it makes me run into the kitchen to grab more food for myself.