What's your thoughts on Chris Shula?

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RamUK

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I really don't have enough technical nous when it comes to the Xs and Os to give a strong opinion on Chris Shula.

But it does seem to me that a lot of Rams fans give him an unnecessarily hard time and have piled on to almost every D coordinator we've had over the last 25 years.

It was particularly brutal with Raheem Morris, even though he was running the D when we won the Super Bowl.

I think a lot of the problem is, if a defence fucks up big time on one play, it can be massively highlighted, can, on occasions, lose a game and as such, fans are all over it.

But leaving to one side, turnovers, a D that's running well and just doing its job is often unremarkable to the untrained eye.

As per usual in the GDT yesterday, he was coming in for some abuse, even though he's playing without his two best cornerbacks out.

Anyhoo, I'm just curious as to what you guys think, whether he's really as bad as it's being portrayed by some fans.
 
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In my book, Sheila overall has his defense prepared for game situations. They generally use good technique and are in position.

My problem with him and I do not know if it is Mcvay is the lack of aggression, lack of blitzing, lack of man coverage, and a safe approach with heavy zone that makes a quarterback comfortable, resulting in a defense being equal or less than the sum of its parts.

However, he has shown the ability to break from this philosophical approach at times. I think his play calls overall show a lack of experience and he has a big learning curve left however he has shown growth and potential probably not the guy you want for a Super Bowl run, but maybe a good coordinator for the future.

The in game adjustments at times have been way too slow. For example, if Josh Allen is running through the middle of your defense, and you can see Nate landman cannot stop him. You need to make an adjustment namely, putting someone quicker in the landman roll that mistake led directly to a loss.

Some experience coaches out there like Brian, Flores or Vance, Joeseph Have really refined systems with optimized blitz team plays, called at exactly the right time to surprise the offense and get to the quarterback with a great understanding of the blocking scheme by the offense. Our blitzing under Shula always looks a little unrefined and late to get to the quarterback.
 
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I get frustrated when the Rams don't stop the other teams clear number one threat like JSN, CMC out of the backfield, Josh Allen scrambling - but then - no teams really seem to stop those threats so maybe its not that we aren't prepared for it - its that those weapons really are elite.

Still, even with a few injuries, this defense has talent like no other defense we have ever had so I think elite results are kind of the expectation. That puts him in a difficult spot where there is only one result that is acceptable and even if he gets that result, he won't get all the credit.
 
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I don't see him as part of the problem when they struggle. I look at the players. But I will say this. With the talent on defense if he isn't at least in the conversation for a head coaching gig that will show what other teams think of him. I do think he his name will come up with potential head coaching jobs after the season.
 
snackdaddy said:
I don't see him as part of the problem when they struggle. I look at the players. But I will say this. With the talent on defense if he isn't at least in the conversation for a head coaching gig that will show what other teams think of him. I do think he his name will come up with potential head coaching jobs after the season.
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He got some interviews last year, not many but he did and id wager he gets more this year and we're looking for a new DC.
 
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To me its a bit of everything that's been said. I feel like he has to have top tier talent at all spots in order to really look like a SB caliber defense. As Oyster mentioned, would like to see more 3 & outs, but that's just me.

It drives me NUTS to watch the DB's give 10 yard cushions on 3rd and 7's or 3rd & 10's essentially giving up a 1st down for fear of getting beat over the top. If you can't trust the safeties then perhaps you don't have the right guys back there? Just sayin.

Look, I freely admit I'm armchair coaching here and don't understand the game as well as these guys do, but some things just seem fundamental. The "bend but don't break" thing just seems to leave your D completely exhausted at the end of games making it hard for them to keep up in really close games. Just not something I want to see.

When I compare the Bears (post Simmons trade) and the Rams defenses, I would say we are good, but the Bears look like a SB caliber defense. I can't say the Rams look like that. That said, we can't ever seem to have all our guys on the field at one time, together, to truly see what they could be so hard to say. However, if you can't scheme around some of those injuries, then maybe you aren't the guy to be calling the defensive shots on a SB hopeful team?

One area I do think we lack is prioritizing speed in our draft evaluations. I think the lack of speed is evident at the WR, RB, TE, DB & LBer spots. Terrance Ferguson has speed for a TE (the guy is made of paper mache, but that's another topic) but that seems about it. The guys at the other spots fit the scheme which is great, likely needed in many cases, but the lack of speed is why we can't hit the homerun from the RB spot or why we seem to be a half step slow getting to the QB, or to the edge stopping zone sweeps or why we have to play with such a large cushion when Watson & McDuffie aren't out there.

Again though that's just me guys. Just some simple observations off the "eye test". Can't imagine anyone is going to want Shula as their Head Coach next year. I think they have him for another year at least.
 
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From a fan view with a limited TV internet stream I think he is doing good. One thing that I don't like is the starting point of the DB blitzes and the timing. They come from too far back to make the necessary impact. They are giving the QBs too much time to make a decision. They disguise the blitz and alter them it enough.

He has to make calls with the players he has available. Most teams switch in game from zone-man to man to confuse the QBs. With McDuffy and Watson he played more man to many. It look like Forbes was playing man to man yesterday. He has limits when it come to WRs that are much bigger and stronger than him. The pass rush has been very inconsistent. Players have missed opportunities. That affects the coverage. Garrett will make Shula look much better. I noticed Dolac was getting some PT. I don't if he was replacing Landman and I think was spying Daniels.

Overall the Rams defense is holding up the Rams offense.
 
PARAM said:
15 points per game allowed over the last 4. I'd say he's doing pretty good.

He plays man when McDuffie and Watson are available.
He blitzes enough.
He's doing a fine job IMO.
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With all due respect, the last four teams were:
WASH
LAC
LV
AZ

Against teams I would consider as upper tier, they were pretty porous:
SF - 27 (Yes, unusual circumstances but still)
DEN - 30
BUF - 37
That's an average of 31 PPG

I was listening to the post game show on ESPNLA. They basically said how I feel:
Unless there is some epiphany... when the Rams play the better teams (GB, SEA twice, KC, SF), they/I do not feel confident that Shula's defense will look anything like it does against these also-rans.

Just my $.02 - but the guys who cover them locally seem to agree.
 
Rmfnlt said:
With all due respect, the last four teams were:
WASH
LAC
LV
AZ

Against teams I would consider as upper tier, they were pretty porous:
SF - 27 (Yes, unusual circumstances but still)
DEN - 30
BUF - 37
That's an average of 31 PPG

I was listening to the post game show on ESPNLA. They basically said how I feel:
Unless there is some epiphany... when the Rams play the better teams (GB, SEA twice, KC, SF), they/I do not feel confident that Shula's defense will look anything like it does against these also-rans.

Just my $.02 - but the guys who cover them locally seem to agree.
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Denver had a pick 6 in that game - and short fields most of the game to work with. For context - they had 186 yards in passing and 78 yards in rushing. I would take that kind of defensive production.
 
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I like Shula but he has some mishaps in situational football.

Example. 3rd and forever, and he drops Stewart and Young into zone coverage and sent Wallace and Kitchens on the blitz. Result; easy completion for a first down. This was when it was 20 - 13 Rams and they were trying to hang on to the lead.

A real bone head call and gave the Commodes life late in the game. Yes we won and pulled it out, but if we're gonna want to beat better teams we can't let the play calling beat us and honestly that type of shit will sink the ship that is barely floating.
 
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MG saved the day.

Shula seems to struggle unless the D isnt at near full strength. This D at full strentgh could win a championship with a mediocre offense. Shula still needs improvement but I dont think he is getting the mentoring.

As for Raheem. Even multiple broadcasters calling the games were baffled by many of this strategies like playing corners 12 yards back on 3rd and 4. It was maddening.
 
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