Rams' search for QB coach continues/Wagoner

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Rams' search for QB coach continues
By Nick Wagoner

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/16238/rams-search-for-qb-coach-continues

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The St. Louis Rams finally filled their offensive coordinator job Thursday, formally announcing Frank Cignetti's promotion. They also promoted Rob Boras from tight ends coach to assistant head coach/offense.

Boras will continue coaching tight ends, but Cignetti's focus on quarterbacks will not remain. So head coach Jeff Fisher is searching for a replacement for the role of quarterbacks coach. On Thursday evening and Friday morning, Fisher and the Rams interviewed former NFL quarterback Jeff Garcia for the job.

All signs are that the discussion with Garcia went well, but Fisher made it clear that he'd like to investigate other candidates further before making a decision.

"We’ll have a quarterback coach in place that’s going to help us," Fisher said. "That process is ongoing. As it was reported, we did have Jeff Garcia in last night and today. I’ll continue to interview several others. We have some really solid options in place, but again, we’re going to probably take a little time before we make that decision.”

It should be no surprise that Fisher doesn't want to rush into the hire of a quarterbacks coach. Taking his time has been a Fisher trademark in coaching searches, as evidenced by the lengthy process preceding Cignetti's hire.

Garcia is the only known candidate at this point. He has never coached in the NFL, but spent last season as the quarterbacks coach for the Montreal Alouettes. Garcia has, however, spent time as a mentor and trainer for quarterbacks at all levels as part of his Jeff Garcia Football Academy in San Diego. And, of course, Garcia had a lengthy NFL career in which he started 116 games and went to four Pro Bowls.

At this point, none of the other potential candidates are known, but there is at least one more potential coach that Fisher would like to talk to. It's possible some of that business could get cleaned up next week at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis.

No matter who the Rams ultimately add to complete the coaching staff, Cignetti says there will be a little difference in how he and former coordinator Brian Schottenheimer divided up the duties.

Schottenheimer was the coordinator, but spent a lot of time working with Cignetti and the quarterbacks. Cignetti intends to have input with the quarterbacks, but take on more of an all-encompassing role with the offense.

"I want to be the offensive coordinator in terms of leadership and motivation," Cignetti said. "We want to hire a quarterback coach that will be the quarterback coach. I’m not going to be as involved with the quarterback as much as Coach Schottenheimer was involved. That would probably be the biggest difference.”