WED DEC. 14, 2016
Rams Coaching Search: Possible Names to Watch
Jim Harbaugh isn’t interested. Neither is Pete Carroll. But plenty of other candidates will line up to work in L.A., and here’s an early primer.
Five losing seasons and Jeff Fisher is fired
A note of caution as you attempt to divine what direction the Rams are going in their search for a new coach: Don’t be surprised if you’re surprised.
In 2012, the St. Louis Rams had a coach to hire after firing Steve Spagnuolo. The smart money was on Jeff Fisher, and Fisher, who ended up deciding Rams over Dolphins, was a common-sense pick and ended up coaching the Rams till Monday, when owner Stan Kroenke decided the embarrassment of a 4-9 season—capped by falling behind Atlanta 42-0 in Los Angeles on Sunday, with fans booing for much of the game—merited the firing of Fisher.
But early in the 2012 process, club COO Kevin Demoff, who ran that coaching search and will run this one, flew from St. Louis to Newark, rented a car and drove to central New Jersey to meet surreptitiously with Rutgers coach Greg Schiano. For hours Demoff debriefed Schiano, and he was careful to not fall too much in love with a coach no one had on the NFL radar. But when he left Schiano that night, Demoff was convinced he had the stuff to be hired as an NFL coach. The Rams did get their number one choice, Fisher, on Jan. 17, 2012. But had Fisher said no, it’s very possible Schiano would have been the Rams’ pick. Turns out the secret didn’t stay secret for long: Tampa Bay, where Demoff had worked for four seasons before the Rams, hired Schiano exactly one week after the Rams got Fisher.
Many believe Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, six seasons removed from being fired as Broncos coach, is ready for another shot.
Photo: George Gojkovich/Getty Images
Many believe Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, six seasons removed from being fired as Broncos coach, is ready for another shot.
In the first 48 hours of the coach search, the usual suspects have been proffered: Jon Gruden, Jim Harbaugh, Pete Carroll, David Shaw, Josh McDaniels, Kyle Shanahan. To which I say:
• On Gruden: I’m not hiring a coach who’s been out of the game for eight seasons, no matter how close he’s stayed to the game. And his track record of developing quarterbacks when he was in the NFL wasn’t good anyway.
• On Harbaugh: He denied interest in the job Tuesday. He’s not leaving Michigan after two years, I’m told.
• On Carroll: He denied interest in the job Tuesday. The lure of Carroll and L.A. would be sorely tempting to him, certainly. But the Seahawks would have to sign off on a trade within the division for a coach that embodies the personality of their team. I think, barring a ridiculous trade (the Raiders gave up two first-round picks and two second-rounders for Gruden in 1998), there’s no way owner Paul Allen would agree to it. Reminds me of the reaction of GM Ted Thompson in 2008 when Brett Favre wanted to be released so he could play for arch-rival Minnesota, which was basically, Are you crazy?
• On Shaw: I asked him about a move to the pros last week for a future “The MMQB Podcast with Peter King” episode, and the Stanford coach said, basically, that one day way down the road he may be interested, but not now. He made a great point: College coaches with great jobs go to the NFL, to downtrodden teams, and then get in what he called “the spin cycle” of the pros. Two years of losing, maybe three, and they’re out … and struggling to find a good job. Mindful of Schiano, who lasted two years in Tampa and was out of major coaching for three years, until he found the defensive coordinator job at Ohio State.
• On McDaniels and Shanahan: Interesting. Very interesting. Both men will be NFL head coaches, and soon, if they want. The Rams should talk to both. The most important thing, I believe, is the franchise finding a coach who likes Jared Goff and can make him better.
Keep these names in mind for the unsung college guys who just might come out of nowhere: Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen, who is popular in the eyes of some in the NFL for his development of Dak Prescott and is well-liked by NFL people who pass through Starkville … Wisconsin coach Paul Cryst, who had Russell Wilson for his last college season and who Wilson loved and credits for some of his development. Quiet guy, but a good coach … Now here’s an interesting guy: Colorado’s Mike MacIntyre. He’s been a career defensive coach, but he has two things going for him: He turned around downtrodden programs at San Jose State and now Colorado; and he coached under Bill Parcells in Dallas.
This is a coaching search that I bet will take some odd turns before it’s over.
Finally: There’s the question of whether the Rams will keep GM Les Snead. It’s more likely they won’t, but never say never if a coach they like is a Snead admirer. This GM job, if it opens, will be well sought-after, because the owner has bottomless pockets, it’s in LA, and it’s got one of the best young players in the league in Aaron Donald, and has cap room (roughly $41 million in 2017) to build. And it’s in LA. Did I mention that?
FISHER FIRING
Might the Rams have fired Fisher this week so he doesn't wind up alone as the all time losingest coach in league history? If so a classy move.
—Randy S., Wausau, Wisc.
No. The 42-0 deficit at home Sunday after three quarters was probably the clincher. The Rams knew there was no sense dragging this out, knowing they were going to fire Fisher at the end of the season anyway.
