Breaking News:Just In Los Angeles Rams Confirm Another departure Ahead Of Playoff

What a Raheem Morris exit could mean for the Rams
Raheem Morris is starting to garner deserving recognition and potentially become a head coach, what does that imply for the Rams?

The Los Angeles Rams current defensive coordinator Raheem Morris is starting to create a significant bit of head coaching hype. Steve Wyche of NFL network said that DeMeco Ryans’ performance this year with the Texans could be helping out Morris this time around. Wyche emphasized how organizations may now switch their focus to more culture-building men like Morris.

Should Morris end up becoming a head coach in the NFL for the second time in his career it would mean a few things. Before we dig into that though its worth mentioning that Morris joined the Rams in 2021 and promptly helped them win a Super Bowl. Ever then his defenses have been solid and have kept them in games they might not otherwise have been in. Morris got 3-13 in his first year as a head coach with the Buccaneers in 2009 and followed it up with a 10-6 record the next year. Morris became the only coach since the 1970 NFL/AFL merger to start at least 10 rookies and finish with a winning record.

 

The difficulty for Morris was the year that followed after the Buccaneers failed to retain a few key players, the club finished 4-12 and Morris was fired. He did got another shot to be a head coach in an interim job with the Falcons when Dan Quinn was let go and he went 4-7. While Morris has a losing record of 21-38, it’s undoubtedly worth noting he’s learned a ton in his time as an assistant coach. I feel Morris is ready and I’m sure the Rams do as well. So, if Morris is truly hired what does that mean for the Los Angeles Rams?

Draft Compensation
Due to the NFL’s minority coaching hiring compensation, the Rams would earn two third-round picks for losing Raheem Morris as a head coach to any team. The Rams would see their first third-round pick in that haul as early as this year’s 2024 NFL Draft and would receive compensation for 2025’s NFL Draft as well. Here’s how the Rams 2024 draft might look after this.

1st Round

2nd Round

3rd Round

3rd Round Compensatory (Raheem Morris)

5th Round

5th Round via Steelers (Kevin Dotson trade)

5th Round Compensatory (Baker Mayfield)

6th Round Compensatory (Matt Gay)

6th Round Compensatory (Nick Scott)

6th Round Compensatory (A’Shawn Robinson)

2. Potential Losses

This is the difficult fact about the NFL throughout the coaching cycle. You not only will lose top coaches who can become head coaches but those individuals you lose will also want to bring along a couple of their own guys from your squad to get started. Now, Raheem Morris is a long time coach thus he will have enough of his coaching colleagues that will want to be apart of his staff. However, it doesn’t mean he won’t want to bring a few from the Rams if he’s hired. It’s important mentioning that the Rams cannot do anything to block him if he is handing them a promotion the only way the Rams can block is if they give such coach a promotion instead or its a lateral move. Let’s delve into who this could mean:

Offensive Coordinator Mike LaFleur

The reason for this is that Mike officially doesn’t call plays. He has a lot to do with the offense but this would undoubtedly be regarded a promotion for him if he was the primary offensive play-caller for Raheem Morris’ club.

Quarterbacks Coach/Passing Game Coordinator Zac Robinson

Sean McVay hired Zac Robinson from Pro Football Focus. This has been his guy and I could see him promoting Robinson to offensive coordinator should he lose LaFleur. However, Morris could name him the offensive coordinator, that would be a promotion and he would be able to depart if so.

Rams Pass Game Specialist Jake Peetz

Peetz has been said to have interest in the college ranks as a head coach but if he doesn’t go for that and the Rams block Zac Robinson, this might be your best hope for Raheem Morris’ next offensive coordinator.

Offensive Assistant KJ Black

This is an easy one. Black has two years of experience and Morris might promote him to be a full on position coach or passing game coordinator to bring him over for a promotion.

Offensive Assistant Nick Jones

The exact same may be said of Nick Jones who is in a similar position as coach Black. Black works more with the quarterbacks while as Jones works more with the offensive line. Keep in mind, these are men that coaches like McVay want to groom into long-term prospects at position and coordinator jobs. Still though, you never know.

Running Backs Coach Ron Gould

I just don’t see him leaving. I think he only wants to coach running backs and has no interest in a promotion but perhaps if offered he might consider it.

Wide Receivers Coach Eric Yarber

I do not see Yarber leaving. I assume he wants to stay with the Rams and coach wide outs but if he wanted a promotion here would be a location to acquire one.

Tight Ends Coach Nick Caley

Caley was hired over from New England this year but Morris could definitely bring him over in a greater role such as a passing game coordinator or assistant head coach to persuade him to come over from the Rams.

Assistant Offensive Line Coach Zak Kromer

Aaron Kromer’s kid has worked his way up the rungs and is almost at the level of being an offensive line coach. He could get that opportunity with whatever team Raheem Morris goes to. He’s a name to look out for.

Assistant Special Teams Coach Jeremy Springer

Springer has two years of experience under his belt and has Chase Blackburn in front of him for the special teams coordinator post. If Morris wants to bring Springer to his team and appoint him the special teams coordinator he could definitely do that.

Defensive Assistant Mike Harris

Here’s another aide that may gain a raise if he joined Morris wherever he ended up. We will see what happens on this front.

Assistant Defensive Line Coach AC Carter

Carter is in his third year coaching and is the assistant to Eric Henderson. If the Rams lose Henderson I think Carter takes over that role but if Henderson stays there is a chance Morris might pluck Carter to be his defensive line coach and maybe run game coordinator.

Defensive Line Coach/Run Game Coordinator Eric Henderson

Henderson might be the defensive coordinator to replace Morris but if he doesn’t get the opportunity to do so I wouldn’t be stunned if Morris invites him over.

Linebackers Coach/Pass Rush Coordinator Chris Shula

Shula, like Pleasant has a lot of experience coaching. I would not be surprised to see him take over as the Rams defensive coordinator nor would I if he went with Morris to be his defensive coordinator.

Outside Linebackers Coach Joe Coniglio

This is another one to watch out for. There’s a high chance the Rams like him long-term and wouldn’t hesitate to elevate him but we will see.

Defensive Backs Coach/Pass Game Coordinator Aubrey Pleasant

Speaking of coaches I wouldn’t be stunned to see go with Morris, Aubrey Pleasant. Pleasant it would depend on if he receives the defensive coordinator promotion or not. Quite a few believed he deserved it when the team went in a new route and hired Brandon Staley and Raheem Morris.

Secondary Coach Chris Beake

No one on the staff has the amount of experience Beake has as he’s coaching in his 25th year. While more experienced and older coaches like to stay in fantastic situations, this could be an opportunity for Beake to go be a defensive coordinator with Morris if he so chooses.

3. Defensive Coordinator Replacements

Aubrey Pleasant

As said previously, I think Pleasant has a shot to be the defensive coordinator for Morris if he is hired anywhere. Pleasant was someone that was previously described to me by someone with knowledge of the Rams problems as “the defensive Sean McVay” he was someone that felt like a shoe-in to be a head coach. This could be the first step to doing that.

Eric Henderson

Henderson, like Pleasant is another coach I feel firmly that could accompany Morris wherever he goes as the defensive coordinator. Henderson has gotten interest before from organizations as a defensive coordinator this could be his shot. If Morris departs and he stays it might be as the Rams defensive coordinator.

Chris Shula

This is a bit of a dark horse one here. Shula is well-liked and talked highly of by McVay. I wouldn’t be astonished if he became the Rams defensive coordinator.

Joe Coniglio

He hasn’t coached long but Sean McVay trusts his fellow Alum from Miami (OH) as the outside linebackers coach. This would be a bit of a shock, I think Coniglio is someone who down the road might nab this post but he still has to have some development and could be asked to be a pass rush coordinator or anything along those lines before he moves straight to defensive coordinator.

Jim Leonhard (Illinois Senior Football Analyst)

The former interim Wisconsin head coach was previously highly-sought after by Sean McVay to be his next defensive coordinator. The Rams ended up hiring Brandon Staley as Leonhard apparently didn’t want to leave his alma institution. Well, fast forward to present and he’s no longer with Wisconsin. This might be a big opportunity to get back to where he should be. The essential thing to notice is that Leonhard is currently the favorite to join Deion Sanders at Colorado and be his defensive coordinator.

Brandon Staley (Former Chargers Head Coach)

Staley led the Rams defense in 2020 to the strongest defense the organization has arguably ever had. He went shortly after the team fell in the divisional round of the playoffs to become the Chargers head coach and things didn’t go so smoothly for Staley. There’s no denying Staley was a superb defensive coordinator with the Rams but can they still trust on him to be that following his downfall with the Chargers? Could Sean McVay really bring him back? I think it’s conceivable but wouldn’t be the most likely case.

Wink Martindale (Former Giants Defensive Coordinator)

The Rams learned first-hand how terrifying a Wink Martindale defense is in their one-point victory vs. the Giants. It would be a different path to take the defense since Martindale is lot more aggressive than how the Rams have run their defense quite honestly ever in the McVay era. However, he’s incredibly talented and is aggressiveness and successful resume could inspire the Rams to consider going in a different path for the defense with the next era of Rams football right around the bend.

Antonio Pierce (Raiders Interim Head Coach)

Pierce was terrific for the Raiders after he came in for Josh McDaniels as the interim head coach. If the Raiders elect to not bring him back as the head coach the Rams could attempt to add him as their defensive coordinator.

Jerod Mayo (Patriots Inside Linebackers Coach)

Mayo has been rumored to be a future head coach for awhile but it hasn’t come to fruition. He’s been around Belichick whole coaching career and if McVay wanted to introduce pieces of the Belichick defense this would be a way to accomplish it.

DeMarcus Covington (Patriots Defensive Line Coach)

He’s one of the up-and-comers in the league. The Patriots defensive line saw lots of progress and Covington is one of the better defensive coordinator choices out there in the NFL. Again, this would be headed in a significantly different way.

Anthony Weaver (Ravens Defensive Line Coach)

The progress has been there for the Ravens defensive line and if Sean McVay wanted to dig into the Mike Macdonald pool of defensive knowledge this would be an intriguing change to make. Macdonald would undoubtedly take him with him if he became a head coach though.

Joe Whitt Jr. (Cowboys Defensive Backs Coach)

Look at the Cowboys development in the DB room. Clearly Joe Whitt Jr. is doing a wonderful job. He would likely follow Dan Quinn if he left at all as Quinn is projected to be a head coach and maybe with the Seahawks but Whitt Jr. would be an intriguing candidate to be the next defensive coordinator.

My ultimate view is that the Rams will either go back to Jim Leonhard or stay in-house with one of Aubrey Pleasant, Eric Henderson and Chris Shula.