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Have The Rams Settled On A Backup Plan If Jeff Fisher Turns Them Down?

Since you haven't been reminded of this fact in at least a couple hour, Jeff Fisher remains undecided about whether or not to take a head coaching job with the St. Louis Rams or the Miami Dolphins. Many seem to think that Fisher ends up in St. Louis, and the Dolphins have already started turning over rocks for Plan B. It begs the question as to what the Rams have in mind for a backup plan should Fisher opt for sunny Florida. They may have already found their second option in Ray Horton.

Late last week, the Rams interviewed Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton. That move put them in compliance with the league's Rooney Rule, that stipulates teams must interview at least one minority candidate for their head coaching vacancies and other senior level positions.

According to DeMarco Farr of 101 ESPN radio in St. Louis, the Rams' brass came away very impressed with Horton. Farr even seemed to think that if Fisher leaves them standing at the alter, they would instantly hire Horton.

The team has yet to conduct any further head coach interviews, which is pretty telling.

Horton runs a hybrid defense, featuring players mostly from a 3-4 scheme. It's not a straight line conversion for the Rams, but Wade Phillips' deft transition of the Houston Texans defense shows that it can be done. Again, it's not an easy, direct comparison.

Robert Quinn could make the transition to a rushing linebacker in a 3-4. Chris Long might have to settle in as a five technique. Some have criticized Long's run defense, but he's been asked to focus on getting to the quarterback as the Rams leaned on the pass rush to mask other team deficiencies. Justin Bannan has played in a 3-4 before, and could be the other five technique. Nose would be a problem, but Fred Robbins would be the first to get a shot there.

Linebacker might be a bigger issue. James Laurinaitis would still be elite on the inside in either system. Without an upgrade to the other linebacker positions, the same problems that have plagued the Rams in the recent past would still be there with a switch.

RELATED: Josh, aka buckeyefan55, took a longer look at the Rams switching to a 3-4 when Rob Ryan's name was being batted around as a coaching candidate.

But, like Doug Farrar pointed out, Horton uses a hybird system similar to Dick LeBeau, who was Horton's boss in Pittsburgh before taking the Cardinals' DC job. In that case, the transition might look a little different, more adaptable to the pieces the Rams have rather than a dogmatic conversion forcing square pegs into round holes.

Regardless of the nuts and bolts of the 3-4 defense, the idea of Horton coaching the Rams is an interesting one. The only red flag I'd have with it is that Horton lacks experience running an entire team. A more experienced GM, less power for the head coach and a clear lines of demarcation in the power structure would help, but is that enough? We may find out soon.

0 recs  |  52 comments

Comments

Mrs Fisher is really beginning to piss me off
I don't get it.
Inside joke.

See the comment section of the last story.

DOES HE HIDE THE LOCKS?

If he’s gonna be the baddest motha fucka alive, he’s gotta free those babies. It’s upsetting how truly legit he looks with them hidden…….he looks legitimate like that

Oh, I'm blaming her 100%

for his not already signing with us. Clearly, nice weather is more important to her than my morale

Starting to get tired of hearing about Fisher...

wish he would just go ahead and make up his mind. Same way I felt about the Pujols situation, gets to a point where I really dont care where he goes as long as he does it soon so I have to stop wondering about it. Would love to see Fisher come to Stl, but just hope this doesnt drag on much longer. I remember hearing last week we would know something within the next 48 hrs. That was about 4 or 5 days ago, now we wont know anything till mid week. When will it end???

give it a rest we all wanna know no one wants to hear your bitching hahaha
Plan B

GM – Bill Polian
HC – Brian Billick

Plan C
GM – Polian
HC – Chudzinski

Chudzinski – good
Polian – bad
Billick – “knows QBs”…

First HC with braids/dreads in NFL history?
Almost

Look at him giving it to Tom Brady

Yellin like that will land you a HC gig at Penn State

Tell me that's a Pats jersey

that says 12 on the shoulders and 5 on the front? WTF Snoop!!! You’re a Pittsburgh fan, damnit!

Wrong you are, yelling like that at Top will get you gone from the Patriots hahaha
Tom i meant lol
Who would be the OC?
Russ Grimm...?
Rams are bracing for loss of best player

Howard Balzer

Rams sign punter Tom Malone. Donnie Jones becomes a free agent March 13.

Bones Malone? From The Blues Brothers?

Matt “Guitar” Murphy for equipment manager!

Thats exactly who I thought

Lets get the band together, man.

Probably have to give chicago a draft pick for Murph
Just don't let the Illinois Nazis find out.

I hate Illinois Nazis.

I laugh at that part every time I know a few actual Illinois Nazis (or skinheads/KKK members at least)

They really do suck hardcore

If not for bad news around here,

we’d have no news at all

Jones had a very bad year by his standards though

His skill set might be declining because the Rams have had to use him too much :)

I really don't care; just thought it was worth sharing.

The way I see it, the Rams would be better off letting him walk than paying $1 million+ on a punter. Use that money on a REAL free agent.

Same thought

3 extra yards on a punt ain’t worth what he’s payed

I really don't give a crap

Cause it’s a frickin punter

With all due respect to Horton...

… I would be extremely disappointed if we hired him. We need someone with coaching experience… no more experiments a la Linehan, Spagnolo please!!

Welp, this would be classic Rams

Although let’s keep it in mind: the Steelers were gonna hire Russ Grimm, they simply interviewed Tomlin to handle the Rooney Rule, and they were blown away by him. It’s not the end of the world is what I’m saying, but it would be another showing this team simply isn’t gonna last at this rate

Tomlin didn't get his interview because of the Rooney rule.

The steelers had already satisfied the Rooney rule before they interviewed tomlin.

The headlines will buzz....

Horton Hears a Who? Who’s heard a Horton?

Here's my question:

How did the Cards do at half time adjustments this year?

I have no idea.

To be honest, the Cardinals were an afterthought to me the entire season..

Off topic

but I already hate Josh McDaniels, but it just dawned on me that he could be getting a SB ring…

Better that than Alex Smith...
I do, however, hope

that McDaniels rolls into NE and makes their offense as inefficient as ours. I hope they score 6 points, and Tebow scores the same

He's in a win-win situation

He either helps to beat the Broncos, or is beaten by his draft picks Tebow and Thomas.

hahaha good point
Getting another coordinator would be a disappointment.
I do mot think that woulg fly

I have never been in a emotional *pit *like this one. Rams ticket holders an in general fans need a face of the Franchise.

WILL ANYONE TELL ME OUR OFFENSE

I need to know NOW. Are we a power running teaM OR JUST LAST YEARS BITCH FROM THE PROM?

we will be a running team with Fisher i can tell you that lol
he had his share of good running backs thats for sure

E Campbell ,E George,C Johnson

Uh, Earl Campbell?

He last played for the Oilers in ‘84. Fisher didn’t show up in Houston until ten years later as their d-coordinator.

I think he meant

he coached Campbell in Tecmo Super Bowl

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