Chris Shula promoted to DC

[Ramhusker]

If he talks then into drafting Cooper DeJean.. I'll forever be his biggest fan.

I’d bet it’ll be a CB or Edge now. The new DC will get a needed toy.

 

[OntarioRam]

Very surprised to see everyone hating on this hire. Let's see how he does first and give him a chance before bringing out the pitch forks.

I, for one, am excited to see how the defence looks with Shula at the helm. It will be something new which is always fun to see play out. McVay has done well with his defensive hires, picked Shula despite traditionally hiring from outside of the organization for DCs, and Shula apparently garnered outside interest too so clearly some smart football people thought highly of him.

Morris was good but not great. He will be trying to fill shoes of feasible size.

An internal hire also helps with stability. And assumedly, Shula will at least last 2+ seasons before being poached. Perhaps something the brass values right now after so much turnover.

 

[majrleaged]

Well, as far as aggressiveness goes and @JimY53 can speak to this. We were definitely more aggressive this year (if by aggressive you mean blitzs).

The blitz's just didn't get home.

We didn't have the horses. It will be amazing next year if FA and draft go well how "more aggressive" we'll be without doing hardly anything different.

I agree, the D was more aggressive. I think we could have been more creative with our blitzes and coverages, hid them better. Timed our blitzes better as well. But as you say our talent was lacking and maybe the talent couldn't do it.

 

[ottoman89]

Yeah… if you live in a bubble.

If you listen/read outside a Rams-only universe… the D was highly praised this year.. for its results with truly a gutted roster.

It’s one of the reasons Morris is a HC now.

But… you do you. Just keep on hating.

Oh I will for a few days. And then I'll read about it and him and then think it's a great hire.

I'm a moron that's had about 8 beers and few rips. So naturally I have to irrationally respond! Haha.

You know much more about stuff than me so I'll trust you Kupped if you like it.

 

[den-the-coach]

Well let’s hope great coaching skips a generation. Shula was a great DC for John Carroll University albeit a small sample size at a small college.

Kudos to @JimY53 he had this.

 

[Memphis Ram]

Just reminds me of another Joe Barry lol!

Not a fan of Joe Barry the DC. But Joe Barry the linebacker coach would be a good hire, IMO.

 

[Kupped]

I have no idea how it’s going to go.

I feel good about the process.

They talked to people outside of the building before making a decision.. qualified people.

 

[ArkyRamsFan]

I know about as much about how Chris Shula will perform as our DC as I knew about how Sean McVay was going to perform as our HC when we hired him.

So that’s about all I have to say about that.

Next you'll be telling us that life's like a box of chocolates or something.....

~ArkyRamsFan~

 

[Ramhusker]

Don’t think for one minute that McVay’s stamp won’t also be on this D. I think McVay has promoted from within for the first time for specific reasons, loyalty and input. He has learned a lot from the revolving door that has been his Coordinators. Now he’s going to stay real close to Shula to feed him his opinions on a style of D. This is a dynasty building move.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

Next you'll be telling us that life's like a box of chocolates or something.....

~ArkyRamsFan~

 

[ArkyRamsFan]

If he talks then into drafting Cooper DeJean.. I'll forever be his biggest fan.

So is fellow Iowan Cooper DeJean your cousin or something? Is this another example of NEPOTISM!!!!

~ArkyRamsFan~

 

[FrantikRam]

This confirms the defensive scheme is McVays and he was serious about wanting continuity. Hard to complain given how much the defense overachieved last year

 

[JimY53]

Well let’s hope great coaching skips a generation. Shula was a great DC for John Carroll University albeit a small sample size at a small college.

Shula and Staley were both affiliated with JCU around the same time ... one replacing the others or whatnot

 

[ottoman89]

So is fellow Iowan Cooper DeJean your cousin or something? Is this another example of NEPOTISM!!!!

~ArkyRamsFan~

Probably by 7 cousins down

 

[ArkyRamsFan]

Probably by 7 cousins down

Hmmm....we don't talk much about family trees here in Arkansas. Kind of a sore subject and all...

Although the word "sapling" does come up every now and then......

~ArkyRamsFan~

 

[JimY53]

I wonder what style of defense he will employ?

Will be the same - more or less. All coaches put somewhat of their own wrinkles in --- but McVay wants TITE front/quarters ... basically Fangio. Staley got a job with Fangio because John Carroll ran form of it, Shula replaced Staley then Staley came back after Shula went to grade film for the Chargers

 

[PARAM]

I know about as much about how Chris Shula will perform as our DC as I knew about how Sean McVay was going to perform as our HC when we hired him.

So that’s about all I have to say about that.

Lol.

What doesn't surprise me is many are "not impressed" or "disappointed". Just like with Raheem. But we won a SB and got to the postseason with a defense that was 'supposed to be' our achilles heel. Hell, IIRC there were some not impressed with the Staley hire. "Fangio's LB coach". McVay is a smart guy. Snead is a smart guy. They've won with different DCs, different OCs, different QB coaches, different DB coaches. Different QBs, different RBs, etc. But none of us have interviewed any of the prospects. So WTF do we really know?

 

[RamFanWA]

So - what does AD99 have to say about this??

 

[ReekofRams]

Oh I will for a few days. And then I'll read about it and him and then think it's a great hire.

I'm a moron that's had about 8 beers and few rips. So naturally I have to irrationally respond! Haha.

You know much more about stuff than me so I'll trust you Kupped if you like it.

You mean that we actually should trust @Kupped?

 

[Angry Ram]

Imma bookmark this thread like I did the Matthew Stafford trade thread. We all knew THAT one aged beautifully. Can't wait for this one.

The offseason. Goddamn.