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The Los Angeles Rams will officially be looking for a new offensive coordinator this offseason. Liam Coen is leaving the Rams for Kentucky the team announced on Tuesday. Coen joined the Rams last offseason after spending the 2021 season with the Wildcats.
Finally official: Liam Coen returns to Kentucky as offensive coordinator, the team announced today.
— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) January 10, 2023
This comes as little surprise as there were previous rumors that Coen was planning to leave according to ESPN’s Chris Mortenson. Still, there were some uncertainties on whether or not Coen would actually make the move. It’s fair to wonder if the move is being made with the idea that Sean McVay won’t be back in 2023.
Coen was the Rams assistant quarterbacks coach in 2020 before leaving for Kentucky. He then returned to the Rams last offseason after Kevin O’Connell was hired as the Minnesota Vikings head coach.
The 2022 offense was the worst offense that the Rams have had in the Sean McVay era. The Rams ranked 23rd in offense DVOA, rankings 25th in passing and 19th in rushing. In six seasons, this will mark the fourth time that McVay will be looking for a new offensive coordinator.
Obviously contingency plan at OC for the Rams will be predicated on whatever Sean McVay decides to do. If McVay stays, internal candidates for role include Thomas Brown and Zac Robinson, and externally had even heard about some interest in a veteran coach such as Frank Reich. https://t.co/8rmc5rgIWu
— Jourdan Rodrigue (@JourdanRodrigue) January 10, 2023
It will be interesting to see who the Rams bring in to replace Coen. Certainly internal candidates such as Zac Robinson and Thomas Brown would be up for promotion. Robinson probably makes the most sense as he’s on the path that other coordinators such as Zac Taylor and O’Connell were on prior to their promotions.
However, the small twist here is that McVay might be looking to give up play-calling. As Rodrigue notes, the Rams could show some interest in veteran coordinators such as Frank Reich. This would allow McVay to give up play-calling and take something off of his plate, if that’s something that he’s willing to do.
Another option here would potentially be Kliff Kingsbury who is close with McVay and has play-calling experience with the Arizona Cardinals. With Raheem Morris getting head coach interest from the Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts, offensive coordinator may not be the only coordinator change that the Rams will have to make this offseason.
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