Rams hire Holmgren protege as receivers coach
by Ryan Van Bibber on Feb 10, 2010 4:28 PM CST
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PrintThe St. Louis Rams have hired a new wide receivers coach, a name that fans will recall. Former Rams defensive back Nolan Cromwell (1977-1987) will replace Charlie Baggett, who left for the University of Tennessee.
There was talk when the season ended that Rams all-time leading receiver Isaac Bruce would be a possibility for the job, and Bruce said he would be interested. I know fans would have loved to see Bruuuuuce back in the team fold, but this will hopefully prove to be a good hire. And it's not like Cromwell doesn't have a past with the Rams.
As for Cromwell's experience, one of the more interesting things is how his coaching career shifted from one side of the ball to the other. He began coaching with the Rams in 1991, as defensive and special teams assistant. A year later he moved on to Green Bay as the special teams coach from '92 through '97 before taking over as their receivers coach in 1998. Of course, a defensive back would know and understand receivers well, sort of like you find so many former catchers working as pitching coaches in baseball.
After that he joined the Seahawks, spending nine seasons coaching receivers there. He's been the offensive coordinator at Texas A&M.
You'll notice his coaching career coincides closely with Mike Holmgren. Cromwell joined the Packers the same year Holmgren became head coach and moved to Seattle with him in 1999. What's that mean? He knows the West Coast offense, something that can't be over looked as the Rams try to improve the rotten offense from the last season.
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Bruce would have been .....
a fan favorite, but this hire makes more sense in the end. Cromwell not only has a history with the Rams, but also pretty extensive coaching experience.
Plus I think that Bruce should take a little time to distance himself from the game. I would imagine that going directly from playing one year to coaching the next year would bring up a lot of mixed emotions in a person. If you were Bruce, wouldn’t you think to yourself at some point “I can do it better than that. Maybe I should suit up.”
that's a good thought on the matter
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by Ryan Van Bibber on Feb 10, 2010 8:02 PM CST up reply actions
Isaac hasn't officially retired, has he?
Have the Niners officially released him? How can he interview for a coaching position if he is still on the Niners roster? Just wondering.
Great Hire
Back when I answered ‘no’ in the poll whether Bruce should be hired as the WR coach, I defended myself saying we needed somebody with more experience, especially in the West Coast offense. Well, I think somebody was listening…just sayin.
by Ramfan from Seattle on Feb 10, 2010 5:14 PM CST reply actions
I voted for Bru, but now i'm delighted to get Cromwell.
Just the fact that he kept each job he has had in the past for so many years sez a lot for his ability, and can get along with the staff. Good grab Spags!!
Cromwell a great choice.
Now go out and Hire an Offensive Coordinator, The play calling the last 2 years have stunk!
by California Mobile CPR on Feb 10, 2010 7:34 PM CST reply actions
RAMS DEFENSE?
It’s hard to grade the defense objectively. First of all the injuries and then being on the field for 80% of the game. The best conditioned athlete will wear out being on the field all day being pushed around, tackled and abused. If the RAMS OFFENSE? can sustain drives and score more than field goals maybe they wouldn’t get injured as much and get the snot kicked out of them for the last 5 minutes of the 3 rd quarter and the entire fourth. Come on Spags, get an Offensive Coordinator, free up some money so you can get a good one, God knows the teams talent has been sent away
(Bruce, Holt, Pace, Weatherspoon) we can’t win kicking field goals!
by California Mobile CPR on Feb 10, 2010 7:39 PM CST reply actions
pretty smart hiring all these west coast offense
guys to fill the offensive coaching ranks. could pay off getting the whole thing up and running.
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by Ryan Van Bibber on Feb 10, 2010 8:03 PM CST reply actions
I have to admit
Watching Seahawks game as I was younger, I was quite impressed with what the receivers would accomplish.
Now, I wouldn’t say any of them were top-five, unstoppable receivers, but almost all of them were low draft pick, good quality receivers.
Ben Obamanu, D.J. Hackett, Darell Jackson, Bobby Ingram. With the power run game with Shaun Alexander, they made it to the Superbowl. All those receivers were pretty good, if only slightly above average. But it worked because they all could catch the ball when you needed someone to.
Promising.
The House of Spears reigns supreme
..but the drops!
Weren’t they also berated for dropping the ball all the time?
Oh well, that’s probably more due to skill than Cromwell’s coaching. I remember Nolan as a player in LA and am excited that he’s back. He certainly knows football as well as anyone. I was hoping for at least a phone call to Isaac, and not sure if this ever happened. However hiring Nolan eliminates all angst and replaces it with contentment.
Considering the exceptional success of the Seahawks WR corps
I’d say the Rams are still screwed.
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