Rams Hire Rutgers' Frank Cignetti As QB Coach, Per Report

by Ryan Van Bibber on Feb 7, 2012 1:09 PM CST in St. Louis Rams Hire Jeff Fisher

The St. Louis Rams hired Frank Cignetti as their quarterbacks coach on Tuesday, according to a report.

The St. Louis Rams have hired a quarterbacks coach. According to Alex Marvez of Fox Sports, the Rams have hired Rutgers offensive coordinator Frank Cignetti, Jr. to fill the position last held by Dick Curl in 2010.

Cignetti has been a quarterbacks coach in the NFL before, with the Saints in 2000-2001 and then with the 49ers in 2007. He was considered a candidate to replace Greg Schiano, who left to take the head coaching job in Tampa Bay, but was passed over for Mario Cristobal.

Many thought he would end up in Tampa with Schiano as the Bucs' offensive coordinator.

The Rutgers offense leaned heavily on the run under Schiano and Cignetti.

The Rams took heat for not hiring a quarterbacks coach last season, when Sam Bradford was learning a new offense on short notice. Why they decided not to hire a specific position coach for Bradford is unknown. It proved to be a fateful decision.

Cignetti fills one of the few remaining assistant jobs. Head coach Jeff Fisher said during his Super Bowl media appearances that he hopes to have the coaching staff in place by the end of the week.

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Comments

Nice

we finally got one. I was still a fan of bringing back the man with the greatest coaching name ever, Dick Curl.

Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

by Brick Top on Feb 7, 2012 1:11 PM CST reply actions

I'm gonna miss that

Wolf. Wolfgang Wolf

by dbcouver on Feb 7, 2012 1:46 PM CST up reply actions

Well, it's someone.

I’m in no position to comment on Cignetti’s credentials, but I’m glad that the team has its staff at this point.

by Abrantes on Feb 7, 2012 1:13 PM CST reply actions

Whoooooooooo!!!!!!

Finally. Its time to get down n dirty

We might be down now but when we get back up u better move out are way are ul get RAMED!!!

by Ramzman18 on Feb 7, 2012 1:17 PM CST via mobile reply actions

Finally, Good news for Sam.

"Can you count suckers?!" - Cyrus, The Warriors 1979

by MOOSERAM13 on Feb 7, 2012 1:22 PM CST reply actions

I didn't care who they get, as long as he's not known for coaching Leaf and Russell

I just wanted them to get someone

Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS

by King Sam Rules! on Feb 7, 2012 1:22 PM CST via mobile reply actions

LOL +1

Just a man who loves football

by BurnoutJoeB. on Feb 7, 2012 1:44 PM CST up reply actions

Does this mean that we can breathe a sigh of relief that he coached Alex Smith?

by Da Rams! on Feb 7, 2012 1:46 PM CST up reply actions

Well

If you mean the one who coached the two year starter voted MWC Player of the Year as well as the 1st overall pick of the 2005 draft then yes.

Just a man who loves football

by BurnoutJoeB. on Feb 7, 2012 3:27 PM CST up reply actions

I hope he can teach him the

pump fake, and how to fake a handoff that doesn’t look like a joke.

by OakCityRam on Feb 7, 2012 1:25 PM CST reply actions

I don't know if this is good or not

“He aided former Pitt quarterback Bill Stull in throwing for 21 touchdowns as a senior. At California, he guided the Golden Bears’ offense to 33 points per game. He also spent a season working with former NFL No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith of the San Francisco 49ers.”

by OakCityRam on Feb 7, 2012 1:31 PM CST reply actions

Never heard of Bill Stull

33 is ok as a college team, and nobody besides Harbaugh could fix Smith

Note to Douglas M: Remember that 99% of what I say involves BS

by King Sam Rules! on Feb 7, 2012 1:37 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

We're talking Alex Smith here, not Tom Brady or Aaron Rogers.

by Da Rams! on Feb 7, 2012 1:42 PM CST up reply actions

Kinda a bad omen that we hire a QB coach from a college that leaned heavily on the run during his tenure there.

Is that telling us something? Am I the only one shaking his head on this one?

by Da Rams! on Feb 7, 2012 1:40 PM CST reply actions

Hey...

I’m just happy they got SOMEONE! Lol

by Rcoon1307 on Feb 7, 2012 1:41 PM CST via mobile reply actions

Same

Just like everyone else is stating I am so glad that they at least gotten somebody. To have a dedicated set of eyes to coordinate with the OC is enough for me. Figure the OC and Fischer will have the final say as to what he needs to work with Sam on.

Just a man who loves football

by BurnoutJoeB. on Feb 7, 2012 1:46 PM CST reply actions

Don't know him

Have to do a little reading up I guess.

Wolf. Wolfgang Wolf

by dbcouver on Feb 7, 2012 1:48 PM CST reply actions

I wonder if Sam was asked for his input?

Join my Google+ circle

by Douglas M on Feb 7, 2012 1:48 PM CST reply actions

Interesting hire, to balance the offense.

If Cignetti is predominately a run preferred coach,
and Schotty is all over the place,
then these two different coaches may meet successfully in the middle.
Which is where Fisher comes in, to balance it out.
Go Rams!

by look closer on Feb 7, 2012 1:51 PM CST reply actions

Who are we? IUP!

Those Cignetti’s eat, breathe and piss football.

Been losing sleep over Rams football since 1999.
Steven Jackson is a beast, a legend, a HoFer and should be treated as such.

by Joe Mazzi on Feb 7, 2012 1:57 PM CST reply actions

Kinda dumbfounded that this is the second regime in 6 years to have a former IUP player on the coaching staff.

First Jim Haslett, now Cignetti. Frank Cignetti’s older brother, Curt, is now IUP’s HC.

Been losing sleep over Rams football since 1999.
Steven Jackson is a beast, a legend, a HoFer and should be treated as such.

by Joe Mazzi on Feb 7, 2012 2:10 PM CST up reply actions

As a Fresno State fan, I can offer a little input

He was our OC for a stretch and helped lead them to 3 straight bowl victories over Georgia Tech, UCLA, and U. of Virginia. That may not seem like a feat, but here in Fresno people were pretty excited. He had a fair hand in the development of Paul Pinegar, who most have never heard of, but was a pretty good college QB. The most memorable game was when they almost beat USC in 2005. His offenses were some of the best, if not the best, in the last 10 years. While his offenses were very run heavy, the QB play under him was steady.

by mcihaelT on Feb 7, 2012 2:08 PM CST reply actions

Thanks

And from what I have been reading he has done well with what he had. Plus GT, UCLA and U of V is a pretty good regime in my books.

Just a man who loves football

by BurnoutJoeB. on Feb 7, 2012 3:30 PM CST up reply actions

I still wish we coulda gotten

John Ramsdell somehow. Damn you Chargers for keeping him from us!!!!!!!!

I am time grown old, full of knowledge and whiskey.

by Tampa_Ram on Feb 7, 2012 2:10 PM CST reply actions

He name sounds like a new york mobster! Lol hope he can coach. Looks like a good hire. He will probably be The new oc is shcotty gets a hc gig.

by kevio3000 on Feb 7, 2012 2:20 PM CST via Android app reply actions

His name sorry.

by kevio3000 on Feb 7, 2012 2:21 PM CST via Android app reply actions

Meh

I am not impressed.

by 81 Witness on Feb 7, 2012 2:21 PM CST reply actions

Most importantly

the team now has a coach whose sole responsibility is working with Sam, instead of letting him try to figure things out on his own. Cignetti has experience as a QB coach, most notably in New Orleans turning Aaron Brooks into a pro bowl QB. If he can do that with Brooks…

by mcihaelT on Feb 7, 2012 2:30 PM CST reply actions

XACTLY!!!!!!

Key word being SOLE RESPONSIBILTY!!!

Just a man who loves football

by BurnoutJoeB. on Feb 7, 2012 3:31 PM CST up reply actions

Never heard of this guy but....

I’m all for anyone that can help turn Sam into the next best thing at QB

by Jballa2005 on Feb 7, 2012 3:10 PM CST reply actions

run heavy offense

says to me sam will finally learn to do play action fakes that look like hand-offs for a change instead of waving the ball toward the rb from 3 steps away.

by hbwb on Feb 7, 2012 3:43 PM CST reply actions