We should expect Kyle Shanahan is the next Los Angeles Rams head coach
By John Follett
Kyle Shanahan’s offense is good…too good. Shanahan’s unit is so good that he may be on the way to becoming the Los Angeles Rams’ new head coach.
Kyle Shanahan is already a hot name on the early head coaching market and for good reason. In only his second year as coordinator, everything is clicking for the Atlanta Falcons offense.
Shanahan has developed a knack for getting Atlanta’s raw athletes the ball in open space.
The Los Angeles Rams are in need of a head coach that can turn water into wine, especially with quarterback Jared Goff. Kyle Shanahan’s scheme in Atlanta has Matt Ryan posting perennial All-Pro numbers. Even better, the Falcons have experienced a lot of success in spreading the ball around this season. Shanahan has developed a knack for getting Atlanta’s raw athletes the ball in open space.
Taylor Gabriel is the example of the difference a player can make when properly utilized.
Ultimately, the Rams need a head coach who can maximize the offensive talent already in place. One can assume Rams GM Les Snead saw Gabriel’s 64-yard touchdown play on Sunday and thought about Tavon Austin. Or how about the potential of Todd Gurley running the ball inside Kyle Shanahan’s offense? The Rams don’t have the best offensive line in the league but then again, neither do the Falcons.
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Los Angeles needs a head coach who can generate optimism and motivate fans along the West Coast. Stan Kroenke will soon be selling luxury suites in Inglewood’s new, $2.66 billion stadium, a task made easier with washed-up Jeff Fisher gone. The Rams’ marketing team would have no problem selling a new era behind Kyle Shanahan to season ticket holders. Shanahan is young (37), innovative, and he’s got the football pedigree.
Of course, Kyle’s father is 2-time Super Bowl winning coach, Mike Shanahan.
Offensive guys filled all seven NFL head coaching vacancies last offseason.
Offensive guys filled all seven NFL head coaching vacancies last offseason. As the league continues to evolve, rules designed to protect player safety are handicapping defenses. This puts pressure on offenses to put up big yards and constantly outscore the opposition. Developing franchise quarterbacks remains essential as rarely do teams win big games without a good on under center.
Having worked with a few different types of quarterbacks, Kyle Shanahan may be as flexible as coaches come. Matt Schaub played out a pair of career years while Shanahan’s was Houston Texans’ offensive coordinator. Shanahan also ran the Washington Redskins offense during Robert Griffin’s Rookie of the Year season.
Shanahan spent a year as Cleveland Browns’ offensive coordinator before joining the Falcons. Speculation indicated Shanahan was not in agreement with the Browns’ front office on Johnny Manziel as the starting quarterback.
Kyle Shanahan makes too much sense for the Los Angeles Rams and should be one of their first interviews this offseason.