Rams offensive coordinator: Close to hiring Josh McDaniels?

by Ryan Van Bibber on Jan 14, 2011 8:06 PM CST in 2011 NFL offseason

The St. Louis Rams might just have their next offensive coordinator: Josh McDaniels.

According to John Clayton guesting on ESPN 101, he was surprised that the former Broncos head coach and chief lieutenant in the Patriots offense prior to that had not already been hired. Called it a "no brainer."

Don't mark it down yet. This is just one report, but as smooth as the whole process with Pat Shurmur has been, from his departure to his hire in Cleveland, it gives Clayton's certainty some weight.

Sam Bradford, Stan Kroenke and now Josh McDaniels, the Rams are starting to get a little more attention on the national stage. Let's just hope the league and NFPLA can get a new CBA worked out and keep that cap in place or else football teams like the Rams will be like KC and Pittsburgh are in baseball.

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PleasePleasePlease

"We start wit straight--shots then get the bottle poppin!"

by OGC Reds on Jan 14, 2011 8:15 PM CST reply actions

This makes sense

Does this mean it’s not going to happen?

You don't seem to want to accept the fact you're dealing with an expert in guerrilla warfare, with a man who's the best, with guns, with knives, with his bare hands. A man who's been trained to ignore pain, ignore weather, to live off the land, to eat things that would make a billy goat puke. In *St. Louis* his job was to dispose of enemy personnel. To kill! Period! Win by attrition. Well, *Steven Jackson* was the best.

by 3k on Jan 14, 2011 8:17 PM CST reply actions

its almost too perfect

Will gladly sell my soul for a championship..........

by Throw on Jan 14, 2011 9:23 PM CST up reply actions

Im nervous..

It does really seem too perfect. I just have this feeling that something is going to go wrong though

by diehardram87 on Jan 14, 2011 9:47 PM CST up reply actions

Shurmur thinks he makes a mistake and comes back

"We start wit straight--shots then get the bottle poppin!"

by OGC Reds on Jan 14, 2011 9:53 PM CST up reply actions

Please NO!!! anything but that!

The name's Rams, St. Louis Rams.

by Bond_007x on Jan 14, 2011 10:49 PM CST up reply actions

So are we building a Super Bowl 2007 Coaching team?

Sam Bradford

by Jombari on Jan 14, 2011 8:38 PM CST reply actions

I think with an OC like Mcdaniels and a more willing playbook to take chances that it will help King Sam because he seems like he could thrive on with an offense that tries to strike deep at an opponent and not just run up the middle on 1st, screen pass for 2 on 2nd and finally a quick pass of 5 on 3rd and then punt,lol

If practice makes perfect....
Yet nobodies perfect.....
Then why practice ???

by peteyweestro on Jan 14, 2011 8:39 PM CST reply actions

Good audio link....

here

and, yes please, bring in McDaniels.

I should be working right now...

by gorams77 on Jan 14, 2011 8:52 PM CST reply actions

I read that he runs the same offense that sam ran in college so he will be more familiar in this offense than the wco! i love this move if it works out.

by kevio3000 on Jan 14, 2011 9:37 PM CST via mobile reply actions

I don't think so

But that would be great. Sam ran a spread at OU

Wolf. Wolfgang Wolf

by dbcouver on Jan 14, 2011 10:00 PM CST up reply actions

and thats what he runs! all the same concepts 3 and 4 wr sets not exactly the same but as close as u can to it

by kevio3000 on Jan 15, 2011 12:19 AM CST via mobile up reply actions

McDainels

worries me, he runs off players w/ his attitude. The best benefit about him is that he would give King Sam a working knowledge of some of the best systems in the league. Talk about a learning curve, King Sam could really thrive if he and McDainels click.

by Jas the Mace on Jan 14, 2011 10:28 PM CST reply actions

running off players

He ran off older more mature players. Our team is full of youngsters…..he’ll be ok with the players…..remember he won’t have HC powers

by JordansDad on Jan 14, 2011 10:41 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Cutler and Marshall

were older and more mature?!?

I should be working right now...

by gorams77 on Jan 14, 2011 11:04 PM CST up reply actions

yes....they were more than first and secomd year guys

Like most of our guys are

by JordansDad on Jan 14, 2011 11:07 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

I'm on the McDaniels train

but I think its a stretch to classify Cutler and Marshall as older, mature payers when was he was hired as HC (they only had 3 yrs under their belt).

I should be working right now...

by gorams77 on Jan 14, 2011 11:12 PM CST up reply actions

He ran them off as a coach.

Moss and Brady made beautiful music when he was an OC.

by kswiss on Jan 15, 2011 3:11 AM CST up reply actions

Well for all the people who were hating on Shurmur

here’s your guy.

There is no substitute for victory

by Brandon Birkhead on Jan 14, 2011 10:48 PM CST reply actions

Is it confirmed?

"We start wit straight--shots then get the bottle poppin!"

by OGC Reds on Jan 14, 2011 10:49 PM CST up reply actions

not yet but it's very likely

Clayton, even though he looks like an alien, knows his shit.

There is no substitute for victory

by Brandon Birkhead on Jan 14, 2011 10:54 PM CST up reply actions

lol

Pooch punts should be illegal inside an opponents 38 yard line.

by VTramsFan on Jan 14, 2011 10:56 PM CST up reply actions

mind-reading abilities?

you may be onto something

"We start wit straight--shots then get the bottle poppin!"

by OGC Reds on Jan 14, 2011 10:58 PM CST up reply actions

He's coming in for an interview tomorrow.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=6023836

There is no substitute for victory

by Brandon Birkhead on Jan 14, 2011 11:04 PM CST up reply actions

YYYYYEEEEAAAAAYYYYYYY

And hopefully by tonight (its saturday for me, east coast) we have a deal

"We start wit straight--shots then get the bottle poppin!"

by OGC Reds on Jan 14, 2011 11:07 PM CST up reply actions

Heres to hoping there is no need for his return flight...

I should be working right now...

by gorams77 on Jan 14, 2011 11:13 PM CST up reply actions

I got my fingers, toes and even my eyes crossed hoping this happens

by diehardram87 on Jan 14, 2011 11:39 PM CST up reply actions

No he's Charlie fucking Brown

Charlie Brown is not a very good source of knowledge and probably the worst analyst that works on ESPN.

by 81 Witness on Jan 15, 2011 11:55 AM CST up reply actions

"the rams will be like KC and Pittsburgh of baseball"

All more reason why Stan the man will move the Rams back LA…

by JordansDad on Jan 14, 2011 11:11 PM CST via mobile reply actions

easy, dude.

there’s only one Stan the Man.

block! building kick! exploooooooosion!

by mooseknuckles41 on Jan 15, 2011 4:40 AM CST up reply actions

Im still on the fence about J Mac

But some guys make better OCs or DCs than HCs(mart, linny, and so on)…..the question is…is Spags a strong enough personality to make this work?

by JordansDad on Jan 14, 2011 11:17 PM CST via mobile reply actions

Over/Under 5 times

the Super Bowl victory is brought up by Spags, lol. Joking of course.

"We start wit straight--shots then get the bottle poppin!"

by OGC Reds on Jan 14, 2011 11:21 PM CST reply actions

just out of curiosity

What type of offensive does mcdaniels run and how will it effect bradford

by TheBradfordEra on Jan 14, 2011 11:33 PM CST via mobile reply actions

and how is it different from the west coast

by TheBradfordEra on Jan 14, 2011 11:42 PM CST via mobile reply actions

the New England style

More screens, more down field, MORE AGGRESSIVE (GSOT like) it will affect Bradford simply because he will need to learn it (Plays, terminology, etc.). Bradford has great skill to run this offense because he has great accuracy which is need to run this style.

There is no substitute for victory

by Brandon Birkhead on Jan 15, 2011 12:07 AM CST up reply actions

West coast is based on shorter timing routes

While the New England Offense is based on quicker routes exposing the soft coverage of a defense. They both rely on short passes, but there are more intermediate and deep routes with the NE offense type.

by stuman89 on Jan 15, 2011 2:53 AM CST up reply actions

Much more shotgun and multi receiver sets as well

I should be working right now...

by gorams77 on Jan 15, 2011 9:50 AM CST up reply actions

The Rams are going to interview Childress too

http://www.nooooooooooooooo.com/

"Mishy gishy gushy gushy mishy mashy mushy VINCE CARTER!" - Lester Freamon

by Smoooth Criminal on Jan 14, 2011 11:55 PM CST reply actions

link?

"We start wit straight--shots then get the bottle poppin!"

by OGC Reds on Jan 14, 2011 11:56 PM CST up reply actions

http://twitter.com/SoftliSTL/status/26154358534045696

http://www.nooooooooooooooo.com/

"Mishy gishy gushy gushy mishy mashy mushy VINCE CARTER!" - Lester Freamon

by Smoooth Criminal on Jan 15, 2011 12:08 AM CST up reply actions

he just wouldn't be a popular hire

the man has a terrible presence about him, just seems like a douchbag

There is no substitute for victory

by Brandon Birkhead on Jan 15, 2011 12:10 AM CST up reply actions

McDaniels doesn't? haha

http://www.nooooooooooooooo.com/

"Mishy gishy gushy gushy mishy mashy mushy VINCE CARTER!" - Lester Freamon

by Smoooth Criminal on Jan 15, 2011 12:23 AM CST up reply actions

at least mcdaniels doesnt look like a pedo

"We start wit straight--shots then get the bottle poppin!"

by OGC Reds on Jan 15, 2011 10:15 AM CST up reply actions

he looks like an engineer

(sewage waste management)

by Jas the Mace on Jan 15, 2011 11:28 AM CST up reply actions

Does anyone know which terminology McDaniel uses with his offense?

Gus Frerotte was on 101 ESPN today talking about the difficulty of picking up another system. He said there are two popular systems out there currently, the West Coast and the Martz/Norv Turner system. He said the two use terminology that is almost completely opposite, and it’s very hard for a QB used to one system to switch to the other. It was something like in one system numbers designate routes while in the other they designate players.

He also talked about Childress and said the man knows what he is doing. However, he is very meticulous. He expects each route to be run exactly as drawn up, with each player doing exactly what he is supposed to do at the exact time he is supposed to do it.. He does not take well to free-lancing. While you got the feeling he doesn’t like Childress personally because of some stuff that happened between them, he does feel he is a good coach.

He strongly believes Bradford would be far better off with an OC that uses the West Coast system.

by andyhawk on Jan 15, 2011 12:13 AM CST reply actions

I'm just cribbing from Pat Kirwan's book..

A play called “I weak Right 819” would have the X receiver run an 8 route (post, based on Coryell’s route tree), the Y running a 1, and the Z running a 9. Add QB rollout and a fullback who is releasing through the line against his alignment and it would be “I Weak Right Boot Right 819 Opposite”.

The WCO verbiage of this same play would be “I Weak Right Boot Right X Post Y Out Z Fly Fullback Opposite”.

I guess one of his points is that West Coast’s offenses rely on more longwinded detail in huddle playcalling from the QB, and less on memorization of formations and routes by the rest of the team. In taking more time to describe the nuances of each play the less time you have to get to the line, read the defense and call for audibles etc.

block! building kick! exploooooooosion!

by mooseknuckles41 on Jan 15, 2011 4:58 AM CST up reply actions

No

The West Coast system uses a numbered system ‘Trips left 187R fake spear Blue’ that’s trips formation w/ fake motion by slot, w/ the 3 wr tagged 187 Flat post flag, and the Te tagged w/ a drag, blue means it’s a deeper pass w/ a deep drop step for the QB. It can still contain package plays as well ‘Eye left Waggle’ the formation, motion, and routes are all wrapped up in one (waggle is a playaction of a middle run w/ a small rollout w/ a crossing route by Te behind the LB’s who bite on the run fake) so there is a lot of ‘muddling’ of both systems

by Jas the Mace on Jan 15, 2011 11:44 AM CST up reply actions

First

The McDaniels offense (“the Amoeba Offense”) is not a style like the West Coast or the Martz system. For anyone saying that it’s “GSOT-like” you’re not even close to being right. The AO is unpredictable (it formed out of the Erhardt-Perkins system).

It means throwing on third-and-short, running on third-and-long, lining up in many, many formations…just doing whatever the defense does not expect. And it also involves utilizing tight ends. They are critical to the AO.

Yes, McDaniels attacked down-field, but 83 percent of their pass attempts from 2006-2008 were short-to-intermediate. Better get over it now, folks.

by blindmouse on Jan 15, 2011 2:01 AM CST reply actions

That's ok short to intermediate along with the deeper passes has good balance

McDaniels is a blessing for this team that would be like we just got two grand slams Shurmur gone and McD taking his place

by Rams67 on Jan 15, 2011 4:47 AM CST up reply actions

That's not even rational

but OK.

by blindmouse on Jan 15, 2011 8:44 AM CST up reply actions

When I said GSOT like

I meant the aggressiveness (notice the placement of the statement)

There is no substitute for victory

by Brandon Birkhead on Jan 15, 2011 9:10 AM CST up reply actions

I got your mening Brandon but I'm glad it invited blindmouse's "First" post

So now we have three offensive philosphies and I’v seen all three be devastating.
I’m guessing here but, Martz = Air Coryell derivative?, the Chargers were unstoppable in the late ‘60s. SF proved the West Coast in the ’80s. The Amoeba run by the pats just set a bunch of offensive records. Why do these systems work so good in some places and yet are nothing special in others.
It must be the players. SD had Hadl and Lance Alworth. I don’t recall the others but that offense was definately highlite reel material. When the Rams got Hadl they also went out and got a speedy WR from Philly. Ron Jackson? Jesse? Cost us Ron Jaworski. The 80 TD bomb became a staple of our offense.

Siefert had that monstrosity from Notre Dame, Montana. He also had Rice and very good TE and RB. These players usually just crushed opposing defenses but if they had to, they could come up with the “miracle play”.

The pats. I don’t know who on their offense is any good. They never look like they are doing all that much, to me. Yet a TD here, a TD there and they have 35-45 pts. Brady, Welker, Moss could be the reason why this offense works.

Whoever we hire, I hope they go out and get the needed players to make it work.

by LARams1968 on Jan 15, 2011 9:41 AM CST reply actions

Shurmur

Was not the problem. In my opinion Spagnuolo was far too insecure to allow Shurmur to run the offense without interfering. I doubt if a timid play calling OC would be hired or for that matter considered for a HC position in the NFL. If The Rams are going to live up to their potential, it is vital that Spagnuolo allow his personnel to do their jobs. Systems in concept are great. A system as complex as an NFL offense requires the right parts, constant upgrades and monitoring. An example would be NE. Their system succeeds because the coach seeks the right personnel and allows them to do their job. When the HC makes headlines for firing an equipment manager instead of focusing on improving the team, it makes me wonder about his abilities as a leader and a HC.

by ValdezY on Jan 15, 2011 10:42 AM CST reply actions

The problem was mostly

not having the right personnel. For all the time people spent bitching about Laurent Robinson, I can’t fathom why they would think he’d be able to run good deep routes and get separation from his defender.

by blindmouse on Jan 15, 2011 10:48 AM CST up reply actions

McDaniels is a moron

please. NO.

Lets get the QB Coach of the Packers, or SOMEONE ELSE

McDaniels has a planetary ego, and his PLAYCALLING last season helped get himself fired.
An OC has a say in personnel decisions and there is no way he should be aloud to speak beyond saying what play he wants.

This dude is too big of an issue and I don’t think he’d be conducive to the progressive atmosphere in Rams park.
He’s the TO of coaches with less talent. I said it, less talent.
I’ll explain. McDaniels has monster numbers with Brady and Moss? Cassel has a good season coming in for Brady while throwing to Moss, Welker etc.? McDaniels then coaches an awful Broncos team, alienates all the talent (including other coaches) and after a second awful year gets fired. I don’t see where his resume says he’d be great for us. He’s done well with HOF calibre players, and when using players that aren’t great he’s sucked (and the use of these guys is also his fault).

Don’t hit me with the Orton threw for a fuck load of yards thing, look at when he threw them, and how many TD’s he got. His offensive scheme is overrated and Belicheat disciples are rarely successful outside of New England.

This guy is a divisive, overrated moron who’s ego would do more damage than good.
NO THANKS. (and for those that have noticed I’m not normally so strong in my opinion)

Bradford to Onobun!

by Infemous on Jan 15, 2011 11:39 AM CST reply actions

Welker

is a HOF-caliber player?

Other than Moss, who was the HOF-caliber player Cassel was throwing to in 2008?

As for Belichick’s coaching tree not having success outside of New England, they failed as head coaches. Weis and Crennel brought Kansas City back to life in 2010.

by blindmouse on Jan 15, 2011 12:03 PM CST up reply actions

KC is the first exception, then Weis went to FLorida

Welker isnt HOF calibre, but he’s put up godly numbers as a slot guy.

Cassel was throwing to an offense that still helped the Pats go 17-1 or 18-1?
He wasn’t asked to do much, and ran a vanilla system, and the outfield players made stuff happen.

McD is too unstable and volatile and I wouldn’t trust him with Bradford.
I can imagine him alienating some talent and other coaches and that’d become an issue.

in another post he is refferred to as an “a**hole” how can you hire an “A**hole” when you’ve got a young developing team and his only success has been with the Pats? it’s a different situation with the Rams.

Bradford to Onobun!

by Infemous on Jan 15, 2011 12:10 PM CST up reply actions