The Los Angeles Rams made headlines last offseason when they opted to part ways with defensive coordinator Wade Phillips following a disappointing 2019 campaign.
The decision from head coach Sean McVay and general manager Les Snead was magnified when they opted to bring in former Denver Broncos linebackers coach Brandon Staley to be his replacement. After all, these were some big shoes to fill for a rookie coordinator.
Fortunately, the result was much better than many expected as Staley quickly found a way to kick things up a notch. The result was the Rams boasting the best unit in football as they finished the year with the No. 1 ranked defense.
Staley’s success with this group has not gone unnoticed by teams around the league with head coaching vacancies. As a result, head coach Sean McVay is bracing himself for the prospect of losing another valued member of his coaching staff.
McVay acknowledged the possibility of Staley’s departure and shared praise for his potential as a head coach, via Gary Klein of the L.A. Times:
“Even though the Rams would get worse,” he said of a possible Staley departure, “that’s what it’s about. And if that’s something that he wants to do, and he gets an opportunity to compete for the job, there’s no doubt in my mind he’ll do a great job.”
Staley’s defense was the major reason why the Rams managed to lock in a playoff spot this season. Despite the underwhelming play of McVay’s offense, this group led by defensive tackle Aaron Donald and cornerback Jalen Ramsey found a way to win time and time again.
Staley’s group gave up the fewest points (18.5) and passing yards (281.9) while ranking second in the league in sacks. This was thanks to his ability to utilize the skill sets of players outside of superstars like Donald and Ramsey.
Edge rusher Leonard Floyd and defensive lineman Morgan Fox finished with career-high in sacks. Meanwhile, cornerbacks Darious Williams and Troy Hill also notched career-highs in interceptions.
Among the teams that have already requested to interview Staley for their vacancies are the Los Angeles Chargers and New York Jets. It is safe to say that both teams could use a much-needed spark after falling vastly short of expectations in the 2020 NFL season.
Staley has made it clear that his focus remains on the Rams’ upcoming playoff run for the time being. Regardless, it will be interesting to see if and where he lands this offseason should it come to fruition.
