- Joined
- Aug 18, 2019
- Messages
- 1,102
Rams’ Brandon Staley isn’t defensive about head coaching rumors
A great first season in L.A. makes the defensive coordinator a prospect for a top job. He’s happy to be mentioned but says his focus is here and now.
www.dailynews.com
THOUSAND OAKS — Brandon Staley has been the Rams’ defensive coordinator for less than a season, and people say he’s already set to move on and move up to a head coaching job.
Not so fast, Staley said Wednesday at the Rams’ practice facility, throwing a full-on blitz at any idea that his mind is elsewhere just yet.
“It’s humbling anytime you’re considered in those conversations,” Staley said in his regular weekly Zoom conference with reporters. “I think that’s what you’re after as a competitor, is to be recognized among your peers, coaches and players, as someone who’s doing a good job.”
But he was quick to share credit for that recognition with players and assistant coaches on the NFL’s leading defense and to say he isn’t looking beyond the Rams’ game against the New York Jets on Sunday and two regular-season games after that.
“I know each and every day, I feel a deep responsibility to be as good as I can be for our team and our organization,” Staley said. “Excited to see where we can take it these last three games of the season. There’s so much work to do, and that’s where our focus is.”
He said the speculation hasn’t been a big topic in the Rams’ building.
“No, sir. Our focus really is on becoming as good as we can be as a team. I don’t want to sound unoriginal, that’s just the way it is around here,” Staley said. “We’re focused on ‘How can we improve on last Thursday night? Where can we take this thing this season?’
The Rams, 9-4 after beating the New England Patriots last Thursday night, are 17-1/2-point favorites over the Jets (0-13) at SoFi Stadium. A win or a tie would clinch a playoff spot for the Rams with two games to play (as would a Rams loss combined with a tie between Minnesota and Chicago on Sunday). A win would put them in position to clinch the NFC West title, and at least the No. 3 seed for the NFC playoffs, by beating the Seattle Seahawks the following Sunday.
“Our full focus is on the New York Jets, because the truth in this league is that anything can happen any Sunday. We have full respect for their players and their coaches,” Staley said.
The Rams are in this position mostly because of a defense that leads the NFL, allowing 285.8 yards per game. Defensive tackle Aaron Donald and cornerback Jalen Ramsey are the stars. Staley is the mastermind, in his first season as an NFL coordinator, replacing legendary Wade Phillips.
Speculation that Staley will be a prospect for a head coaching job in the next offseason picked up this week after the University of Kentucky’s hiring of Rams assistant quarterbacks coach Liam Coen highlighted the respect the football world has for Sean McVay’s staff.
McVay, 34, hired Staley, 38, because he saw a lot of himself in the young coach who had spent three seasons as outside linebackers coach under Vic Fangio with Chicago and Denver.
Now teams looking for new head coaches might want to interview Staley in part because he’s in the McVay, coaching-prodigy mold.
At least one Rams player goes along with that image of Staley. Cornerback Darious Williams was asked on Wednesday if Staley is head coach material. Williams didn’t hesitate.
“Oh, hell yeah. The dude’s a genius,” Williams said. “He came in (to Los Angeles) with a plan. He knew he was going to be successful with it. All we had to do was buy into it. It panned out exactly how he said it would.”
If Staley left for a head coaching offer, he’d be the third McVay assistant to do so, following Matt LaFleur (Green Bay) and Zac Taylor (Cincinnati).
“I think one of the best things about when we’ve been able to have success is you see other guys get opportunities that I was so fortunate to get a few years ago,” McVay said Wednesday.
“So even though the Rams would get worse, that’s what it’s about. If that’s something that he wants to do, and he gets the opportunity to compete for (a) job, there’s no doubt in my mind that he’ll do a great job.”
But that’s in the future, McVay said.
“Whenever those times come, if teams do want to be able to talk with him, I’ll do nothing but try to help,” McVay said. “But I don’t have any doubts or concern that this will take away from focus on the 2020 Rams and what we’re trying to accomplish collectively.”
