New Coordinators Introductory Press Conference

[Merlin]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DprF12kuB8

 

[Merlin]

I have a feeling O'Connell is going to be an enormous boost for Coach McVay. IMO there was a serious dip in the quality of gameplanning in 2019, especially in the pass game but I feel like the run gameplanning dipped as well. Suspect he is going to rectify that.

 

[den-the-coach]

Well, my quick evaluation....

Brandon Staley....I would have asked some better questions, however, seems to be the type that will match McVay's energy on the defensive side of the ball and I'm a huge fan of Vic Fangio and having one of his Chief Lieutenants will be an asset and hopefully propel the Los Angeles Rams into the upper echelon of defense moving forward.

Kevin O'Connell....I believe he will not only make Sean McVay better, I'm counting on him to make Jared Goff better. Good to hear that he will be overseeing the Quarterbacks too as Shane Waldron will not be involved as much and Liam Cohen & Zac Robinson have flipped flopped titles as Cohen is now the Assistant QB Coach and Robinson the Assistant WR Coach.

John Bonamego.... I do feel going from John Fassel to John Bonamego appears to be a downgrade, although I do believe Fassel overstepped on the fake punt call at our own 15 yard line and maybe it was time of a change of scenery. Bonamego's best special team rating came last year with the Lions (8th Overall) and they still fired him, although I think that was more about Matt Patricia. In fairness to Bonamego, he's had a good history of getting the best out of his kicker & punter, however, even though Fassel's units have been on the downside the last two years, there still has not been a punt return or kick off return for a TD on his watch and if Bonamego can have similar success I will consider it a plus.

 

[Paydirt]

Staley stood out the most for me ....... like his personality. Have a good feeling about him & the defense.

 

[bubbaramfan]

I like the overall chemistry.

 

[Merlin]

Well with O'Connell taking on QB coach duties that completes an offseason staff adjustment that has seen Shane Waldron get his responsibilities nuked so badly it feels like a firing. Passing game coordinator and QB coach to, well, QB coach in name only.

Sort of what I expected too, given the look of the offense last year. Will be interesting to see if he hangs around.

 

[Merlin]

John Bonamego.... I do feel going from John Fassel to John Bonamego appears to be a downgrade, although I do believe Fassel overstepped on the fake punt call at our own 15 yard line and maybe it was time of a change of scenery. Bonamego's best special team rating came last year with the Lions (8th Overall) and they still fired him, although I think that was more about Matt Patricia. In fairness to Bonamego, he's had a good history of getting the best out of his kicker & punter, however, even though Fassel's units have been on the downside the last two years, there still has not been a punt return or kick off return for a TD on his watch and if Bonamego can have similar success I will consider it a plus.

Yeah last year was really bad for Bones. The fake was terrible by itself (hard to rectify that with any coach you work for) but then you have our kicker tanking, our HoF punter having an uncharacteristically down year, and a pedestrian return game. Seemed like our coverage teams dipped too but too lazy to look that up.

But I agree the new guy is a downgrade. That said the teams can still improve across the board next season simply by bringing in a depth player who has good return skills, and replacing a few of these guys at the bottom of the roster.

 

[CGI_Ram]

Sean McVay: New coordinators will bring "fresh new perspectives"

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay is excited to start collaborating with the team's new coaches.

www.therams.com

Sean McVay: New coordinators will bring "fresh new perspectives"

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – There were quite a few new faces around the Rams' training facility, but it marked an exciting day for head coach Sean McVay and his staff when he officially introduced new offensive coordinator Kevin O'Connell, defensive coordinator Brandon Staley and special teams coordinator John Bonamego on Wednesday morning.

"I would say (I'm) more rejuvenated and reinvigorated than I've ever been since I first got here," McVay said during a news conference sitting alongside the new hires. "That's a reflection of these men up here."

Those men will work with McVay to help bring the Rams back to the postseason in 2020, and they arrive with "fresh new perspectives" that McVay is excited about.

The 34-year-old O'Connell comes to Los Angeles after spending the last three years with the Washington Redskins, the same franchise McVay worked his way up with before L.A. hired him as its head coach.

He brings a different view as a former NFL quarterback, who, in addition to overseeing the offense, will also coach the position he once played.

"I've been really impressed with from when he was a player and the seamless transition that he's made into coaching – his mastery of the position," McVay said. "When you talk about big-picture perspective, it's not just the quarterback position, it's all 11 (players) on offense, it's all 11 (players) on defense, understating rules, responsibilities. Just the charisma, the presence, all those things were things that excited you about getting an opportunity to work together."

On defense, Staley also offers a different perspective, having taken an untraditional route as a converted college quarterback. However, working under Broncos head coach Vic Fangio as an outside linebackers coach – first for two seasons with the Bears when Fangio was Chicago's defensive coordinator, followed by last season in Denver – was enough to convince McVay the 37-year-old Staley was the right man for the job.

"When you look at the system, especially with the success that a Vic Fangio-led defense has had over the course of a really elongated period of time, Vic is a coach that I really respect and hold in high regard," McVay said. "When you listen to the things he says about Brandon Staley, when you listen to the people that I've come in close contact with that have been around him, when you look at the background, it's impressive."

Bonamego, a 17-year NFL coaching veteran, has plenty of experience to draw upon having overseen the specialists for five different teams. Three of them – the Jaguars, Saints and Lions – hired him back for a second stint.

Not only will he bring new ideas, he will also be able to help McVay during crucial moments in a game.

"He's got innovative things to be able to implement, he's got an ownership on situational football – which in a lot of instances, especially for the head coach, you rely on your special teams coordinator," McVay said.

More fresh perspectives are on the way. New running backs coach Thomas Brown, assistant special teams coach Tory Woodbury and defensive quality control coach Jonathan Cooley were officially announced as additions to the staff Wednesday afternoon.

Together, their ability to collaborate well with the rest of the staff will add value to the team. A re-energized McVay is confident these moves will benefit the organization.

"I think it can be a good thing, too, where you bring in some fresh new perspectives," McVay said. "What I like is as much as anything is you like a good challenge of, 'Hey, alright maybe I see it a little bit different and let's find out what's the best way to do it.'

It doesn't matter who's right, it's what's right. ... I know I'm going to be a better coach for having been around these guys, the people that we're bringing in and the 14 coaches that are already in place that are going to continue to do a great job for us."

 

[CGI_Ram]

Innovation, ideas, charisma, collaborate, fresh perspectives... teams that are always innovating, are hard to figure out.

Love it. McVay isn’t one of those ego guys... he gets it.

 

[den-the-coach]

Somewhat of a humorous moment at the press conference, ST Coordinator John Bonemego was drinking quite a bit, staying hydrated, in fact, he had a can of sparkling water and the bottle of spring water he opened that too. OC Kevin O'Connell looks over and grabs the bottle of water and seems to think "We can actually open this?, I thought it was for show." As Bonemego continues to guzzle down both beverages.

 

[BonifayRam]

I got it.....McVay is .....E X C I T E D ! & certainly Energized.

Our new OC Kevin O'Connell after working with our Offensive Line.....

 

[thirteen28]

Listening to Staley makes me much less concerned about the prospective loss of Fowler, Littleton, or both. Sure, would love to keep those guys if it was at a price do-able for us (not likely for at least one, if not both), but Staley just gives me that gut feeling he'll be able to negate those losses somehow.

 

[WestCoastRam]

I have a feeling O'Connell is going to be an enormous boost for Coach McVay. IMO there was a serious dip in the quality of gameplanning in 2019, especially in the pass game but I feel like the run gameplanning dipped as well. Suspect he is going to rectify that.

And it seemed like half-time adjustments weren't as sharp...

 

[Rams43]

I’ve got a REAL good feeling about our ‘20 D under Staley.

Even with the possible loss of both Fowler and Littleton, mind you.

It’s because I anticipate more unpredictability and aggressiveness from this new D plus the better utilization of players to their strengths, such as Ramsey in more man coverage.

i look for AD to now receive more help along that DL to somewhat minimize his double and triple teams.

I expect more impactful LB play from the Staley D, too.

Great hire, IMO, and perhaps one that was overdue.

 

[bubbaramfan]

i keep wondering if AD is getting double or triple teamed, what are the other D linemen doing? Doesn't that free them up?

 

[Deac]

i keep wondering if AD is getting double or triple teamed, what are the other D linemen doing? Doesn't that free them up?

I've often thought the same thing, so hopefully new DC can capitalize on this, or maybe its just the personnel and opposing schemes. Hopefully new Dc may have a wrinkle or 2 for this.

 

[Merlin]

Somewhat of a humorous moment at the press conference, ST Coordinator John Bonemego was drinking quite a bit, staying hydrated, in fact, he had a can of sparkling water and the bottle of spring water he opened that too. OC Kevin O'Connell looks over and grabs the bottle of water and seems to think "We can actually open this?, I thought it was for show." As Bonemego continues to guzzle down both beverages.

Yeah lol. O'Connell strikes me as one of those dudes who is so smart he's a space cadet at times.

And Staley seems like a guy who will work gameplans with McVay and teach him the nuances of Fangio's scheme. Also isn't it interesting that McVay is actually collecting knowledge in addition to smart young coaches, which is damn rare in a head coach. He's not looking for guys to take the load off him like many HCs do, but rather guys he can get smarter and achieve a deeper knowledge of the game with.

And the water thing is kind of funny though lol. Just going off their body language I feel like if you put those three in a mail room Bonemego would run that shit.

 

[bubbaramfan]

This cadre stays together, five years from now "Chess Masters of the NFL"