Ian Rapoport reports the Rams' defensive coaching staff is hoping to keep their jobs

[A55VA6]

I'm almost 100% positive the new coach will keep the 4-3 defense.

I'm quoting Kevin Demoff here..

"The most important thing how the job stacks up is finding the right candidate. For some candidates, they might not want this job for a philosophy they have about - maybe they play a 3-4. Maybe they want to do a 3-4, and look we have the best 3-technique in the NFL and maybe a 3-4 doesn't make a ton of sense for the Los Angeles Rams."

 

[Dxmissile]

I seriously doubt that man.

I don't that's Fisher name all over it. Look at how he play the offense. He don't have a killer instinct he rather play it safe and leave it up to the defense. On defense he tell Greg to back the corners up so they can't throw deep it works because we are always in the top for fewest 20 yard pass plays but that's Fisher philosophy. If you look at Greg tape he always have his guys press that's his m.o

 

[Memento]

I'd keep Dennard Wilson on as defensive backs coach. They've actually been pretty solid, and I think that Cecil will find employment elsewhere since Fisher's gone. I'd also keep Waufle.

 

[Corbin]

I don't that's Fisher name all over it. Look at how he play the offense. He don't have a killer instinct he rather play it safe and leave it up to the defense. On defense he tell Greg to back the corners up so they can't throw deep it works because we are always in the top for fewest 20 yard pass plays but that's Fisher philosophy. If you look at Greg tape he always have his guys press that's his m.o

So your saying that Fisher was on the phone with GW for the final 7 mins of the game against SF with us up 14 and we blow it because he's aggressive? Dude was playing his BS defense once again. He needs to gtfo and go to Cleveland.

 

[Dxmissile]

So your saying that Fisher was on the phone with GW for the final 7 mins of the game against SF with us up 14 and we blow it because he's aggressive? Dude was playing his BS defense once again. He needs to gtfo and go to Cleveland.

The last half of the year is a wash the team already packed it in by then. But we only got that lead because of the defense then what happens the offense can't keep drives alive. I wish I could post the time of possession on the year for our defense compared to the offense. That will tell the true story

 

[…..]

Giving Wauffle so much high praise when in fact his position group is the ONLY postion of strength, bolstered by multiple 1st round draft picks and solid depth, is a vit over the top for me.

I'm not saying he isnt deserving. I really dont know. And since I dont know, i feel its worth mention that he didnt have to coach alot of guys up. Our D`Line is practically self coached. I belieive we have some pretty intelligent players there. Jmo

 

[CGI_Ram]

Let's see...

We are a 4-12 team.

The defense was average the final half of the season.

We have a new HC.

This team needs to distance itself from the past, in a hurry... even if that means changing the DC is done simply for cosmetics.

I'll give Kevin the benefit of the doubt and agree this isn't a total rebuild, but this was a failed team and changes need to be made.

We might feel like we want to keep coaches and players we like, but that's a path that leads to similar results next year.

 

[shovelpass]

Let's see...

We are a 4-12 team.

The defense was average the final half of the season.

We have a new HC.

This team needs to distance itself from the past, in a hurry... even if that means changing the DC is done simply for cosmetics.

I'll give Kevin the benefit of the doubt and agree this isn't a total rebuild, but this was a failed team and changes need to be made.

We might feel like we want to keep coaches and players we like, but that's a path that leads to similar results next year.

Exactly. (Hypothetically) if I soiled myself, for one I'd shower, but I would change clothes entirely. I wouldn't keep my shirt because it was clean, the whole outfit is soiled.

 

[Zaphod]

Barron is a key element in a change over to a more conventional look, no doubt. But I actually think he'd be better off as a SS under a guy like Bradley or any other 4-3 DC who favors more cover 2 and simplicity. He was a big part of our run defense problems, the dude missed his assignment on multiple big plays and those are just the ones I noticed. I'm sure if I were to go back and watch the film and just watch him it would be uglier. But as a SS he would probably be better served.

Alexander is coming along real nice. I think in a defense with simplified reads like the Seattle version that Bradley runs, he'd be fine playing deep. I'd give him a shot there, regardless, and I suspect the results would be pretty good.

Really the problem with a more conventional 4-3 is our linebackers. This defense is way too light in the pants and it starts there. Ogletree goes to WILL, no doubt about it. We add a MIKE and SAM. Those types are cheaper and easier to get than the playmaker too, btw, so it's doable in one offseason.

And of course they gotta add a CB, but in that type of scheme you can do like Seattle and target bigger CBs with a little less range and use them aggressively on the LOS and rolled up zones. Tru is ideal for that type of defense btw, and would kill it. Rams are actually not too far off in the secondary given all that, just add one solid corner.

I thought that was one of the reasons we acquired Barron in the first place, as he was struggling in the cover 2, especially with Lovie Smith's implementation.

IMO, no matter what, the focus this offseason needs to be corner, and you really could go in a lot of different directions on that.

 

[Merlin]

I thought that was one of the reasons we acquired Barron in the first place, as he was struggling in the cover 2, especially with Lovie Smith's implementation.

It was, however for some reason Lovie was trying to get him to do more coverage side responsibilities if memory serves, which I am sure he's fine doing a little bit but not as a primary role. As long as his role is centered on being a conventional SS, I am sure he'd be fine. Last season as WILL was a catastrophe IMO, way too many missed assignments by him as a playmaking linebacker.

Either way I don't want to see him at WILL. Good thing is we have Ogletree, who should be able to slide back over if they find a MIKE, which you can get outside of the rarefied draft real estate. The defense might end up being the most interesting part of this offseason tbh.

 

[BonifayRam]

It was, however for some reason Lovie was trying to get him to do more coverage side responsibilities if memory serves, which I am sure he's fine doing a little bit but not as a primary role. As long as his role is centered on being a conventional SS, I am sure he'd be fine. Last season as WILL was a catastrophe IMO, way too many missed assignments by him as a playmaking linebacker.

Either way I don't want to see him at WILL. Good thing is we have Ogletree, who should be able to slide back over if they find a MIKE, which you can get outside of the rarefied draft real estate. The defense might end up being the most interesting part of this offseason tbh.

I not in your corner here Merlin, Lb'ers Mark Barron & Alec Ogletree were the only two LB'ers on the field most all season. Once in a great while Gregg would offer up some relief to those two with rookie SSLB'ers Forrest & Littleton coming in to replace a very small DB. Barron & Tree were given some serious hard assignments over & over again where they were assigned to cover very large amounts of territory in the back seven. Would you not consider the big responsibilities' that were placed on those two?

Mark Barron is a special defensive player who does have some HOLES in his game. One large hole is his skills is in pass coverage. The other smaller holes in his game are related to this area...that's it. I would also consider that Barron just concluded his 2nd NFL season playing Lb'er. Mark did not play LB'er in his first 3 seasons nor did he play Lb'er in his four seasons @ Alabama all those past 7 yrs he was assigned as a defensive back.

I am of the opinion...... that when our new DC goes back to a standard 4-3-4 base (instead of the normal 4-2-5) with the addition of a fulltime starting SSLB'er into the normal LB'ing area assignments.....that we should see much better consistent play from both Ogletree & Barron. In conclusion I find it very difficult for me to call Mark Barron's play as a Ram WSLB'er a catastrophe. All Barron has done is ...234 tackles in 28 starts, 2 sacks, 2 INT's, 3 forced fumbles & 1 fumble recovery as the Rams WSLB'er. I can easily name close to 25 much worse starting WSLB'er than Mark Barron.

If you would review the 2017 pro bowl roster & check out the OLB'ers you would not find any of these NFL all stars that has any solo tackles close to the 90 that Mark Barron had this season. Barron is off the charts!

 

[Zodi]

Exactly. (Hypothetically) if I soiled myself, for one I'd shower, but I would change clothes entirely. I wouldn't keep my shirt because it was clean, the whole outfit is soiled.

Shirt in the underwear type of guy huh?

 

[Zaphod]

So your saying that Fisher was on the phone with GW for the final 7 mins of the game against SF with us up 14 and we blow it because he's aggressive? Dude was playing his BS defense once again. He needs to gtfo and go to Cleveland.

I can't say I'm even a fan of Williams, but I do think he can deliver a consistently top 10 defense, for good or bad, but he was dealt an ugly hand in the off-season as with so many resources subtracted and pretty much the entire draft being dealt to the offense with less than positive effect.

Not just talking about the loss of Jenkins either, or the subsequent failure of Sensabaugh and Gaines at the position to Troy Hill being the UDFA waiver who actually sucked less. Or the regression against the run that they've incurred with the subtraction of Laurinaitus and moving Ogletree to the middle. But then you add to that cutting Long and Quinn, whom no offense but should be considered to be a gamble to start consistently at this point, you've really handcuffed the DC at all three levels of the defense to the point that anyone would struggle as the Rams have.

 

[dieterbrock]

Let's see...

We are a 4-12 team.

The defense was average the final half of the season.

We have a new HC.

This team needs to distance itself from the past, in a hurry... even if that means changing the DC is done simply for cosmetics.

I'll give Kevin the benefit of the doubt and agree this isn't a total rebuild, but this was a failed team and changes need to be made.

We might feel like we want to keep coaches and players we like, but that's a path that leads to similar results next year.

I totally agree with everything you're saying.
Once they finalize who the HC is and pieces start falling in to place, then I think it will all come together.
This wait is just unbearable, and I know the best thing to do is to try and ignore it right now, nothing can be done.

 

[A55VA6]

lol welp