Chris Shula promoted to DC

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XXXIVwin

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Past performance does not always equal future success and past failures
do not ban anyone from future success

Spags has coached some of the best and worst defenses of past 20 years
circumstances vary, players vary, offenses vary ... his assistants vary, he varies

but all got their start somewhere - some good success early then dropped off
others the opposite ...

just no way to know what will happen with Shula



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Great analysis, thanks for that. The red and yellow really highlights how the same guy can get vastly different results.

This board probably would have been happy with the Staley re-hire. However, amazing to see how his defense was great with the Rams yet sub-par with the Chargers.
 

JimY53

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Past performance may not equal future success, but varied experience provides a larger knowledge base upon which to draw on.
That could be. Maybe it is why Staley failed with the Chargers. Too much of a one-trick pony.


Shula coached under Phillips, Staley and Morris, each with their own style and philosophy of playing defense.
Staley and Morris run the same scheme - Fangio's. Under Phillips Shula was an assistant OLBer coach and probably not involved in coverage calls. I think he was probably helping coach the OLBers, but that is just a guess.

At JCU, according to press reports, Shula ran what Staley ran ... Staley left, Shula was replaced. Shula left and Staley came back. That scheme was similar to Fangio's which is what got him the job in Chicago. To be honest, I have never seen a single snap of what JCU ran, so I cannot say for sure what it was but plan to take a look. I am going by Cody Alenxander's stuff who has profiled Staley.

Shula will run the same thing as Morris which was the same thing as Staley.

Will he put his own stamp on it? Sure. So did Morris. But this thing of Morris only partially adopting the Fangio scheme is false. Also you have to do is look at the fronts and coverages and blitzes.

McVay wants Fangio and that is why he got Staley. And he wanted to keep it and wanted someone he trusted to run it so Morris adopted it. Now, Shula will run it.

If McCay had wanted a change, he'd have made a change. If he'd have wanted Pleasant, he'd have hired Pleasant. He passed over Pleasant in 2021 and in 2024. He was probably never a viable option. He may not be DC material in McVay's eyes, at least right now.
 

Gandalf

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Another thing to think about, if this guy ends up being really good, then it's a one year deal. He gets a job next year somewhere else, and we don't get continuity.

If he's bad, then we are stuck with him, because McVay won't fire his buddy.

If he's average, we are stuck with him as well.

I wanted a proven commodity, not a roll of the dice.
Everybody wanted a proven commodity when we signed McVay. He's done ok.
 

Classic Rams

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Past performance does not always equal future success and past failures
do not ban anyone from future success

Spags has coached some of the best and worst defenses of past 20 years
circumstances vary, players vary, offenses vary ... his assistants vary, he varies

but all got their start somewhere - some good success early then dropped off
others the opposite ...

just no way to know what will happen with Shula



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Yeah I looked up a couple of these guys the other day. Also saw Seattle's new HC Macdonald (ex Raven) who had a similar path as Chris Shula when he was first hired as DC. The young sought after MacDonald as some here may know guided a below avg 2021 Wink D to top 10 in 2022. Of course in the 1st or 2nd year there's always the potential argument that the new DC took over what the previous one had built.

Just saw that MacDonald hired ex-Vikes HC Leslie Frazier as secondary coach for the Squawks.
 

So Ram

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Well I’ll just say I’ve been going to training camps when The Rams have been local (OC-LA).

Went to that scrimmage for SD Fans only.Got a free ticket drinking beers in the parking lot.

I went to the 50 yard line with my 2 beers & actually sat for a minute taking it all in.

Right before the start Chris Shula came over in front of me & gave his wife a kiss.Think that was cool because of how far he has come from the start.

His Love for Ramily is good.

Chris Beake will more than likely go back to Inside LB coach.
 

So Ram

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Don’t know what that means…

But.. interesting. Really expected Staley.

Shula was apparently being considered in Miami for the DC spot as well.

LMAO - Staley is The Worst!!!

What a joke of a HC. He is a 1 hit wonder. Do The Rams resign Jordan Fuller ?
 

RhodyRams

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GDT week 1 within the first couple pages there will be at least one post from one or two specific posters calling Shula an idiot. I bet $100k ROD $s.
I'll give you 1/1000 odds on that

you'll break the sportsbook
 

So Ram

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Staley is the next Spagnuolo. Mind your tongue! ~ Loyal Ram
LOL - just looked up Spags career & thought he had more experience than he did as a DC.He has been basically a DB’s coach & small college coach for years.

He is going great as a DCwith KC ! Staley ?? Just think his ideas as a HC were Horrible!! I always thought of him as a PENCIL NECK. The perfect DC spot for him would be Miami .
 

ottoman89

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Thanks to all that have posted info and positive things about Shula. You guys have all really got me to calm on the hire and like the prospect of what he can bring.. kind of exciting me. Above all, I hope he really is able to shift the mentality and get the front office to get some DAWGS and mean dudes.

Kind of reminds me of Thomas Brown, he coached all over the O and is now one of the hottest young OCs.

I apologize to Kupped, Old School and whoever else I argued with.

I irrationally responded to the hire because it wasn't a person I wanted or knew much of. I reaaaaaalllly wanted Jimmy Lake, Evero, Jim Leonard or Stanley.

McVay has proven we need to trust him, except for anything special teams related ;)

We will rally around Chris Shula, and play great, mean, tough fuckin defense!
 

den-the-coach

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I have a good feeling about Chris Shula for some reason, I bet we blitz a ton in 2024 under Shula & I also believe after the Rams win the Super Bowl, he will be the next Head Coach of the Dallas Cowboys.

FWIW I dreamt this last night, seriously. Woke up, immediately told my wife and her response: "You are the same man I married over 30 years ago." My response: "Is that a good thing?"
 

Allen2McVay

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That... escalated quickly
I simply could not resist ...
1706982246714.png


And ... Brick killed a guy!!!
 

Kupped

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I have a good feeling about Chris Shula for some reason, I bet we blitz a ton in 2024 under Shula & I also believe after the Rams win the Super Bowl, he will be the next Head Coach of the Dallas Cowboys.

FWIW I dreamt this last night, seriously. Woke up, immediately told my wife and her response: "You are the same man I married over 30 years ago." My response: "Is that a good thing?"
Well... who knows??? lol

This was in the Athletic about Shula...

"Rams coach Sean McVay made a popular decision this week to promote Chris Shula to defensive coordinator. Shula has been with the Rams since McVay arrived in 2017, most recently as the pass rush coordinator and linebackers coach this season.

Shula, the 37-year-old grandson of Hall of Fame coach Don Shula, was drawing interest elsewhere and is viewed by peers as a coach on the rise. Those who know Chris Shula regard him as incredibly sharp with the ability to lead a room and present well when speaking to coaches, executives and players.

He might have head coaching opportunities in the future.

Somewhat surprisingly, McVay went with Shula after interviewing former defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, who is coming off his three-season stint as the Los Angeles Chargers coach. Staley and McVay have had a strong relationship for several years.

Staley has had other opportunities, too, so he still has a good chance to land a job soon."