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Les Snead, now without Jeff Fisher, will rise or fall on his own merits
By RICH HAMMOND
Certainly it’s not a scenario Les Snead wanted to find himself in, but it’s tough to imagine how the aftermath of a miserable 2016 season could have worked out better for him.
The Rams, last December, fired Coach Jeff Fisher but chose to bring back Snead for a sixth season. It was a bold move, given that the Rams haven’t sniffed the playoffs since Snead’s hiring in 2012.
Snead didn’t just keep his job. By all accounts, he boosted his profile. Depending on who is asked, Snead and Fisher either had equal say on personnel matters, or Fisher had the final say. Now, after the Rams’ hiring of Sean McVay, the youngest coach in NFL history, Snead gets a more prominent seat at the table.
Both men still report to Kevin Demoff, the Executive Vice President of Football Operations. But as the Rams prepare for this week’s draft, it’s difficult to imagine that they would lean on McVay, 31, rather than Snead, who has been evaluating NFL players since McVay was a teenager.
To his credit, Snead has remained quiet about the last few seasons, even last year, when Fisher publicly took a couple thinly veiled shots at him over Rams personnel decisions. It was Fisher who told a reporter in 2012 that he took the Rams’ job – before Snead’s hiring – because it included final say in personnel.
Never mind all that now. Snead remains – he quietly received a contract extension at the start of last season — and now it’s his time to shine. Or not.
Snead faces some huge decisions in the coming weeks and months, beyond the eight picks the Rams hold in this week’s draft.
The Rams must decide what to do with top cornerback Trumaine Johnson: sign him to a hefty extension, trade him or let him play out the final year of his contract. They must make progress on an extension with star defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who otherwise will become a free agent after the 2018 season. They must, in general, make good roster decisions in an attempt to improve after last year’s 4-12 debacle.
Can Snead pull it off, and rehabilitate his image, as well as that of the Rams?
Set aside Fisher’s culpability, because Snead deserves at least some blame for the past five seasons. Yes, the Rams have acquired some quality players through the draft – including Aaron Donald, Todd Gurley, Alec Ogletree and Jared Goff – but they’ve also displayed a startling inability to draft and develop receivers and offensive linemen, or sign them as productive free agents.
Snead’s drafts have included a tendency to be fairly strong in the first couple rounds, but rarely have the Rams found a mid- to late-round hidden gem.
Their track record in free agency also has been spotty. Last year, for instance, the Rams let cornerback Janoris Jenkins walk via free agency, then attempted to fill his spot (in part) with Coty Sensabaugh, who signed a three-year contract in March then was cut in October.
For the Rams to show improvement, Snead’s hits must begin to outnumber his misses. Here’s a look at how things have gone for the Rams since his hiring in 2012:
BEST DRAFT PICK
Aaron Donald, DT, first round, No. 13 overall, 2014
Donald fell to No. 13, apparently because, even though his NCAA resume was stellar, other teams saw his shorter, stockier frame as a bit of a detriment. Instead, Donald quickly proved himself to be a monster, a defensive tackle who, if he played on a more successful team, probably would be considered the best defensive player in the league.
As it stands, Donald isn’t far off. He was the NFL’s defensive rookie of the year in 2014 and has been a Pro Bowl selection in each of his three seasons. Donald has 28 sacks in 48 NFL games.
WORST DRAFT PICK
Greg Robinson, OT, first round, No. 2 overall, 2014
Snead’s poorest came approximately an hour before his finest. The Rams, gifted this pick as part of the Robert Griffin III trade, didn’t use it wisely.
The Rams spent three years telling everyone about the progress Robinson was making about left tackle, about his athleticism and willingness to learn. Finally, this offseason, the Rams gave up and now plan to move Robinson to either right tackle or guard, and they’re not expected to pick up his fifth-year contract option for the 2018 season, which would make him a free agent next spring.
BEST MOVE
Signed defensive end William Hayes, 2012
Fisher has to get some credit for this, because he coached Hayes for four seasons in Tennessee, but Snead signed off on one-year, $900,000 deal Hayes signed as a free agent.
Hayes didn’t start a game in 2012 but recorded a career-high seven sacks, which earned him a three-year extension with the Rams the following spring. Hayes eventually became a productive starter before, this March, the Rams traded him to Miami in a money-saving move.
WORST MOVE
Signed cornerback Cortland Finnegan, 2012
The first big move of the Fisher/Snead era was the signing of Finnegan to a five-year, $50 million contract. Two years later, the Rams released Finnegan, after he started only 21 of 32 games, dealt with injuries and had a terrible rating on passes thrown his way.
Again, Fisher has to take much of the blame for this one, because he previously coached Finnegan in Tennessee, but unless the full truth is ever revealed, Snead will have to share in the blame.
[www.ocregister.com]
By RICH HAMMOND
Certainly it’s not a scenario Les Snead wanted to find himself in, but it’s tough to imagine how the aftermath of a miserable 2016 season could have worked out better for him.
The Rams, last December, fired Coach Jeff Fisher but chose to bring back Snead for a sixth season. It was a bold move, given that the Rams haven’t sniffed the playoffs since Snead’s hiring in 2012.
Snead didn’t just keep his job. By all accounts, he boosted his profile. Depending on who is asked, Snead and Fisher either had equal say on personnel matters, or Fisher had the final say. Now, after the Rams’ hiring of Sean McVay, the youngest coach in NFL history, Snead gets a more prominent seat at the table.
Both men still report to Kevin Demoff, the Executive Vice President of Football Operations. But as the Rams prepare for this week’s draft, it’s difficult to imagine that they would lean on McVay, 31, rather than Snead, who has been evaluating NFL players since McVay was a teenager.
To his credit, Snead has remained quiet about the last few seasons, even last year, when Fisher publicly took a couple thinly veiled shots at him over Rams personnel decisions. It was Fisher who told a reporter in 2012 that he took the Rams’ job – before Snead’s hiring – because it included final say in personnel.
Never mind all that now. Snead remains – he quietly received a contract extension at the start of last season — and now it’s his time to shine. Or not.
Snead faces some huge decisions in the coming weeks and months, beyond the eight picks the Rams hold in this week’s draft.
The Rams must decide what to do with top cornerback Trumaine Johnson: sign him to a hefty extension, trade him or let him play out the final year of his contract. They must make progress on an extension with star defensive tackle Aaron Donald, who otherwise will become a free agent after the 2018 season. They must, in general, make good roster decisions in an attempt to improve after last year’s 4-12 debacle.
Can Snead pull it off, and rehabilitate his image, as well as that of the Rams?
Set aside Fisher’s culpability, because Snead deserves at least some blame for the past five seasons. Yes, the Rams have acquired some quality players through the draft – including Aaron Donald, Todd Gurley, Alec Ogletree and Jared Goff – but they’ve also displayed a startling inability to draft and develop receivers and offensive linemen, or sign them as productive free agents.
Snead’s drafts have included a tendency to be fairly strong in the first couple rounds, but rarely have the Rams found a mid- to late-round hidden gem.
Their track record in free agency also has been spotty. Last year, for instance, the Rams let cornerback Janoris Jenkins walk via free agency, then attempted to fill his spot (in part) with Coty Sensabaugh, who signed a three-year contract in March then was cut in October.
For the Rams to show improvement, Snead’s hits must begin to outnumber his misses. Here’s a look at how things have gone for the Rams since his hiring in 2012:
BEST DRAFT PICK
Aaron Donald, DT, first round, No. 13 overall, 2014
Donald fell to No. 13, apparently because, even though his NCAA resume was stellar, other teams saw his shorter, stockier frame as a bit of a detriment. Instead, Donald quickly proved himself to be a monster, a defensive tackle who, if he played on a more successful team, probably would be considered the best defensive player in the league.
As it stands, Donald isn’t far off. He was the NFL’s defensive rookie of the year in 2014 and has been a Pro Bowl selection in each of his three seasons. Donald has 28 sacks in 48 NFL games.
WORST DRAFT PICK
Greg Robinson, OT, first round, No. 2 overall, 2014
Snead’s poorest came approximately an hour before his finest. The Rams, gifted this pick as part of the Robert Griffin III trade, didn’t use it wisely.
The Rams spent three years telling everyone about the progress Robinson was making about left tackle, about his athleticism and willingness to learn. Finally, this offseason, the Rams gave up and now plan to move Robinson to either right tackle or guard, and they’re not expected to pick up his fifth-year contract option for the 2018 season, which would make him a free agent next spring.
BEST MOVE
Signed defensive end William Hayes, 2012
Fisher has to get some credit for this, because he coached Hayes for four seasons in Tennessee, but Snead signed off on one-year, $900,000 deal Hayes signed as a free agent.
Hayes didn’t start a game in 2012 but recorded a career-high seven sacks, which earned him a three-year extension with the Rams the following spring. Hayes eventually became a productive starter before, this March, the Rams traded him to Miami in a money-saving move.
WORST MOVE
Signed cornerback Cortland Finnegan, 2012
The first big move of the Fisher/Snead era was the signing of Finnegan to a five-year, $50 million contract. Two years later, the Rams released Finnegan, after he started only 21 of 32 games, dealt with injuries and had a terrible rating on passes thrown his way.
Again, Fisher has to take much of the blame for this one, because he previously coached Finnegan in Tennessee, but unless the full truth is ever revealed, Snead will have to share in the blame.
[www.ocregister.com]
