When Raheem Morris left the Los Angeles Rams to grow to be the Atlanta Falcons’ new head coach, Sean McVay wanted to search out his substitute at defensive coordinator.
McVay has traditionally employed exterior candidates when filling vacant coordinator positions, however this offseason he bucked the pattern by selling linebackers coach Chris Shula. Shula and McVay are shut pals courting again to their time collectively as school teammates at Miami (Ohio) and have coached collectively in Los Angeles since 2017.
That is the primary season that Shula will act as a defensive coordinator within the NFL, although he’s been across the Rams’ protection lengthy sufficient that the gamers ought to snug with him on the helm. Ernest Jones has labored intently with Shula since he was drafted and already believes that the latter will match completely in his new function.
Shula obtained the prospect to work extra hands-on with the protection throughout OTAs and he was mic’d up for his first day as defensive coordinator, through the group’s official YouTube account:
Within the video, it’s obvious how a lot Shula takes after McVay as he expresses loads of pleasure and enthusiasm and appears to get alongside effectively with the gamers. Within the scrimmage portion of OTAs, Shula is seen a number of occasions leaning again and cheering after a play which fits to indicate how into the practices he can get. The video ends with McVay breaking down the huddle and Shula speaking to gamers asking them how they felt they did.
Its’s early, however the returns on Shula are constructive thus far although the remainder of OTAs and coaching camp are proper across the nook. At the moment, the Rams are anticipated to run the same protection and system that they’ve been utilizing for years although Shula will certainly tinker with sure alignments.
The most important problem for Shula might be how he will get strain on quarterbacks after Aaron Donald retired. Los Angeles invested in its defensive position throughout the 2024 NFL Draft, so it’ll be fascinating to see how Shula navigates that problem in his first yr calling the protection.
Byron Younger placed on extra weight, desires to grow to be higher nearer for Rams
Byron Younger was arguably probably the most underrated defensive rookie in 2023 as he was an impression participant from Day 1 for the Rams. Younger confirmed unbelievable velocity off the sting and will tackle a good greater function in 2024.
Younger revealed that he placed on extra weight this offseason with the aim of changing into a greater nearer for Los Angeles.
