Adam Schefter, in a blog post at NFL.com, cites league sources who think that Baltimore Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan is the favorite to land the Rams head coaching gig for 2009.
With the Falcons, Rams new GM Billy Devaney interviewed Ryan and Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz for the head coaching job before settling on Mike Smith. Those connections could be the key to filling the Rams de facto coaching vacancy.
Schefter's take on Ryan:
Ryan is the type of coach that could help turn around this franchise, and he would not command the type of salary that a Bill Cowher or a higher-profile head coach would.
Here's an interesting thought from Mike Preston at the Baltimore Sun (they still have a newspaper there?):
But Ryan's departure would have a huge impact. He is loved by the defensive players, and they would love to leave Baltimore to follow Ryan wherever he would go. Right now, Ryan is the only coach on the staff who can somewhat keep those defensive players in line.
More than Xs and Os, that's exactly what the Rams need, a leader that squeezes every last drop of talent and effort out of a team that has become ascustomed to losing. No more head scratchers like wondering yesterday where this Rams team was all season.
We'll know more soon, as teams start filing requests to interview candidates.
0 recs | 28 comments
Presumably..
Any chance at Rex Ryan is going to be dependent on how well the Ravens do in the playoffs?
mpire - December 29, 2008
i not sure thats true
unless his defense falls apart or he loses control of some players in some wierd meltdown, i dont see how his body of work would be affected by the performance in the playoffs. do you mean that a long run in the playoffs may lead teams to look elsewhere?
FunkeeC - December 29, 2008
Well,
the Rams will have to wait until the Ravens season comes to an end before they can ask for permission to interview him. I think Ryan would be the perfect coach for the Rams — and if it is true that his players would follow him wherever he goes — I do believe Ray Lewis and Terrelle Suggs will be available this offseason. Just a thought.
BruinFanBaby - December 29, 2008
Ryan would get my stamp
3k - December 29, 2008
i like ryan
but i worry about what he can do without the benefit of all that talent on defense.
jroman - December 29, 2008
He brings some of the Ravens with him?
Option27 - December 29, 2008
Let's not take this out of control
Even if Rex Ryan is the next head coach, which is still mere speculation, the idea that he will “bring” players with him is far-fetched. Signing players is a personnel move, not a coaching decision. Yes, a coach has leverage in the personnel area (see: Fakhir Brown’s release earlier this season), but personnel decisions remain in the front office.
And let’s be real. If we’re talking about Ray Lewis, how many years of MLB does that get us? Would we be better suited filling the spot for a year or two until we can draft a premier MLB or sign a young one?
3k - December 29, 2008
I doubt we could get Lewis,
but Bart Scott and Terrell Suggs are also going to be FA this offseason. I’m not exactly sure what our salary situation will be, but if Ryan is the next head coach it would seem to give us a head start on landing either of those elite defenders. I agree with you that it’s very unlikely that we could get Lewis or, even if we could, that it would be worth it for the Rams.
Chareth Cutestory - December 29, 2008
Are you blind?
Or faking it?
3k - December 30, 2008
Mangini anyone?
I always loved him but Ryan would be nice as well
Option27 - December 29, 2008
No!
Mangini is a good football coach, but from the reports in the media, he couldn’t get along with anyone in the front office, and that is something the Rams don’t need right now. At least when Haslett became interim head coach he made a concerted effort to bring unify the organization. Plus, I would have concerns about his ability to keep secrets about the franchise considering what happened with Spygate. Moreover, I just didn’t agree with some of his coaching decisions this season. Let’s go back to Week 2 against the Patriots, for instance: the Jets had First and Goal from the 3, and ran the ball three straight times with Thomas Jones. The result: minus-2 yards and a field goal. When you have one of the greatest QBs of all time, I don’t know about three straight runs. The Jets went out this past offseason and spent $160 million dollars to build a Super Bowl contending team. And I know many are quick to blame Brett Favre for the finish to the season, but anytime a team starts 8-3 and ends up losing four of its next five games and missing the playoffs, it is a direct result of coaching.
BruinFanBaby - December 29, 2008
What in the hell do you think we're doing?
What devious secrets do the Rams need to hide?
3k - December 29, 2008
I'm not
saying the Rams have secrets to hide, I’m just saying that it may be a concern among owners. From PFT:
BruinFanBaby - December 29, 2008
Fair enough, I guess
I would question what team secrets the franchises of the NFL are concerned about. Off-field player issues, tactics, those are one thing. But to equate those to outright cheating (for which the Patriots got off next-to-scot free) is foolish and, bluntly, unethical. Not that you’re saying that, but the vagueness of that quote could have been refined a bit.
3k - December 30, 2008
I created a facebook group - Don't Re-Sign Jim Haslett as Rams Head Coach
Hopefully the article is right and this is a short-lived group. I’m all for Rex Ryan.
felone - December 29, 2008
I doubt Haslett will be back
Adam Scheffter is reporting that the Rams are already asking for permission to speak to coordinators despite not making an official announcement that Haslett has been fired.
http://blogs.nfl.com/2008/12/29/rams-reach-out-to-packers-moss/
Chareth Cutestory - December 29, 2008
I would like for them to take a look at Mangini
riotmute - December 29, 2008
Mike Martz!
Who voted for him? He’s the one that messed up The Greatest Show on Turf, the same thing he created. If he was a better head coach we would have multiple Super Bowl rings. I would take him as offensive coordinator, but I don’t think we would take him back after getting rid of him. Head coach, I would go with Ryan and have Haslett as the defensive coordinator.
srdmad - December 29, 2008
Just wondering
Why not Haslett as HC and Ryan as DC? Haslett has 6+ years of head coaching experience at the NFL level. Ryan has yet to ascend to the head coaching position (I say yet, because he will). And agreed on Mike Martz. He should never be offered head coaching position in the NFL.
3k - December 30, 2008
I don't understand why you think that
Ryan would leave his position as DC at Baltimore to come here and do the same thing? Is he dissatisfied there and wants out even if only in a lateral move? Or maybe you figure he is looking for a challenge.
WestCoastBuc - December 30, 2008
Exactly
It would make sense if he is looking for a big challenge, but otherwise, I don’t see him leaving Baltimore unless it would be for a head coaching opportunity.
BruinFanBaby - December 30, 2008
exactly
3k - December 30, 2008
I'm not saying he would
I was just wondering why srdmad would want Ryan as HC and Haslett as DC. I don’t think there’s any way he leaves the Ravens for anything else but a head coaching job.
3k - December 30, 2008
No problem with that,
I just assumed that Ryan would leave only for a head coach. I agree with you and would want Haslett as the head coach and Ryan as the defensive coordinator.
srdmad - December 30, 2008
I wanna punch
Martz and anyone who voted for him…
gorams77 - December 30, 2008
What's this about Haslett offering to bring along
Martz as OC (surely that’s farfetched) and Dom Capers as DC (would be a GREAT move) in hopes of impressing Devaney and winning the job?
Is Brian Billick not an option? Guy has a ring and a pretty good track record.
bigwood25 - December 30, 2008
Is Rex Ryan the "good" Ryan?
Buddy Ryan = brilliant defensive coordinator, terrible head coach.
Rob Ryan = mediocre defensive coordinator, puppet of Al Davis on the Raiders sideline
Rex Ryan = caretaker of one of the greatest defenses in NFL history…
He’s been defensive coordinator in Baltimore for three years, benefiting from one of the greatest defensive talent bases ever. His defenses have been consistently stingy in terms of not allowing first downs, and while last year their scoring defense was ranked pretty badly, it looks like a hiccup compared to their dominant 2006 and very good 2008.
The question is, how much of this is the coach and how much is the contribution of the players? Haslett looked pretty good as a defensive coordinator when he had Dick LeBeau’s scheme and players in Pittsburgh.
taiko - December 30, 2008
Matt Ryan = rookie QB
Meg Ryan = annoying blond actress
Jack Ryan = Tom Clancy’s protagonist
Nolan Ryan = Rangers idol (Go Rangers!)
Leo Ryan = the only sitting Congressman ever murdered (Man, I’m glad I wasn’t of age in the 70’s. You people were just ass crazy)
3k - December 30, 2008
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