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The first weekend of January has past us by with a thrilling Missouri Tigers win 41-31 over the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
Then we get hit with a snow storm that lasted about as long as that four-hour football game. But, sandwiched between those two events: The first Sunday with no St. Louis Rams football for at least eight more months. It has been a recurring theme with this franchise and has been well chronicled. The Rams were bystanders again for a number of reasons. This week my focus is solely on the offense.
In 2013 the Rams did improve, and whether you like or not Sam Bradford numbers were better than he was given credit for. Last year the Rams offense averaged 18.7 a game leaving them ranked 25th. In this past season, the Rams improved in that area scoring 21.8 points a contest. In 2012 Sam Bradford threw for 3,702 yards, and when you look at where he was going this year it’s impressive. After Bradford’s season-ending injury, he accumulated 14 touchdowns and 4 interceptions 1,687 yards.
Even backup Kellen Clemens enjoyed one of his finest career years with one more touchdowns (8) than interceptions (7). However, the Rams still need to get much better on offense to be legit playoff contenders. So it’s only natural once the season ends and coaches and coordinators are fired from other teams, fans and media alike ponder the possibility of maybe a change on the Rams coaching staff.
But, if anyone out there thinking that the Rams may cut loose Brian Schottenheimer, don’t hold your breath.
And for anyone else that thinks that the Rams can just sift through the Black Monday NFL coaching firing carousel and find an offensive coordinator, well sorry my friends that’s not going to happen either.
If and only if the Rams were really interested in making a personnel move in that area, it wouldn’t be an offensive coordinator on a playoff team. Why?
Because, those guys are normally the next in line to get a head coaching job. Now who would I be interested in if the Rams were looking to make change? I would take a peek at Frank Reich. Yes the same Frank Reich that was Jim Kelly backup for the Buffalo Bills in the early 1990’s. He’s now Phillip Rivers quarterback coach in San Diego. Joe Lombardi he’s also the quarterbacks coach in New Orleans and has been in that organization for the last seven seasons. Then Ben McAdoo of the Green Bay Packers another QB coach who works with one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL Aaron Rodgers.
The path from QB coach to OC is very common. Mike Martz was a QB coach in Washington before becoming the architect of the Greatest Show on Turf here in St. Louis. We all remember those days. Ironic as that is Brian Schottenheimer was the QB coach with the San Diego Chargers from 2002-2005 before getting the job as the OC with the New York Jets from 2006-2011. He’s been interviewed for head coaching jobs. And after two seasons in St. Louis, he has sometimes looked like an exceptional play caller. Then he has moments when the Rams are forced to pass the ball, or can’t establish the run, and he has nothing to offer.
The Rams offense is a part of the Don Coryell famous coaching tree, which includes coaches previously mentioned Mike Martz and Norv Turner. But, that’s all the past now. The Rams need more help on offense and it starts with the guy drawing up the plays.
Will this be Schottenheimer’s break out year? This will be his eighth year as a coordinator. As good as the Rams defense is, an average offense means 7-9 or 8-8 and no playoffs. Going forward, should the Rams offense crawl and miss the playoffs, then it would be time to move in a different direction.
The first weekend of January has past us by with a thrilling Missouri Tigers win 41-31 over the Oklahoma State Cowboys.
Then we get hit with a snow storm that lasted about as long as that four-hour football game. But, sandwiched between those two events: The first Sunday with no St. Louis Rams football for at least eight more months. It has been a recurring theme with this franchise and has been well chronicled. The Rams were bystanders again for a number of reasons. This week my focus is solely on the offense.
In 2013 the Rams did improve, and whether you like or not Sam Bradford numbers were better than he was given credit for. Last year the Rams offense averaged 18.7 a game leaving them ranked 25th. In this past season, the Rams improved in that area scoring 21.8 points a contest. In 2012 Sam Bradford threw for 3,702 yards, and when you look at where he was going this year it’s impressive. After Bradford’s season-ending injury, he accumulated 14 touchdowns and 4 interceptions 1,687 yards.
Even backup Kellen Clemens enjoyed one of his finest career years with one more touchdowns (8) than interceptions (7). However, the Rams still need to get much better on offense to be legit playoff contenders. So it’s only natural once the season ends and coaches and coordinators are fired from other teams, fans and media alike ponder the possibility of maybe a change on the Rams coaching staff.
But, if anyone out there thinking that the Rams may cut loose Brian Schottenheimer, don’t hold your breath.
And for anyone else that thinks that the Rams can just sift through the Black Monday NFL coaching firing carousel and find an offensive coordinator, well sorry my friends that’s not going to happen either.
If and only if the Rams were really interested in making a personnel move in that area, it wouldn’t be an offensive coordinator on a playoff team. Why?
Because, those guys are normally the next in line to get a head coaching job. Now who would I be interested in if the Rams were looking to make change? I would take a peek at Frank Reich. Yes the same Frank Reich that was Jim Kelly backup for the Buffalo Bills in the early 1990’s. He’s now Phillip Rivers quarterback coach in San Diego. Joe Lombardi he’s also the quarterbacks coach in New Orleans and has been in that organization for the last seven seasons. Then Ben McAdoo of the Green Bay Packers another QB coach who works with one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL Aaron Rodgers.
The path from QB coach to OC is very common. Mike Martz was a QB coach in Washington before becoming the architect of the Greatest Show on Turf here in St. Louis. We all remember those days. Ironic as that is Brian Schottenheimer was the QB coach with the San Diego Chargers from 2002-2005 before getting the job as the OC with the New York Jets from 2006-2011. He’s been interviewed for head coaching jobs. And after two seasons in St. Louis, he has sometimes looked like an exceptional play caller. Then he has moments when the Rams are forced to pass the ball, or can’t establish the run, and he has nothing to offer.
The Rams offense is a part of the Don Coryell famous coaching tree, which includes coaches previously mentioned Mike Martz and Norv Turner. But, that’s all the past now. The Rams need more help on offense and it starts with the guy drawing up the plays.
Will this be Schottenheimer’s break out year? This will be his eighth year as a coordinator. As good as the Rams defense is, an average offense means 7-9 or 8-8 and no playoffs. Going forward, should the Rams offense crawl and miss the playoffs, then it would be time to move in a different direction.
