Fisher shakes up offensive staff

STLToday

To the surprise of many, Jeff Fisher has determined there may actually be a problem with the Rams being ranked last in the NFL in offense, and he has already taken steps this offseason to address that, opting not to retain five members of the coaching staff for 2016.

RamView was ready to fire wide receivers coach Ray Sherman two years ago after a year of complete slop from that unit. He rallied last year, though. Brian Quick briefly looked like a professional-quality receiver before getting injured, Kenny Britt took on a leadership role, Stedman Bailey flashed as a terrific route-runner. This year? The fiasco returned. Dropped passes, inability to get open - how does Tavon Austin never get open on a deep route when he supposedly has 4.3 speed? - and Quick played all season like he was an eastern European exchange student seeing NFL football for the first time. Fisher shouldn't have to look far for WR coach candidates. I can think of two, for instance, each of whom scored against him in Super Bowl XXXIV.

The decision not to retain RBs coach Ben Sirmans surprises and disappoints me, though. Fisher has maybe two position coaches who've been better the last three years imo: Mike Waufle on d-line and John Fassel on special teams. In 2013, the Rams' main RBs were a 5th-round pick (Zac Stacy) and a rookie free agent (Benny Cunningham) and they had a very credible running game. Stacy should have been a 1,000-yard rusher. Cunningham has developed into a high-quality 3rd-down back. Sirmans' backs all run hard, all have improved at blitz pickup (one of Cunningham's strengths) and as receivers, where they could be used more. Todd Gurley obviously brought a lot of natural talent to the table but also quickly has become good at blitz pickup and receiving out of the backfield. I guess you could consider Isaiah Pead and Darryl Richardson failures on Sirmans' watch, but it's not as if they got coached up somewhere else and turned into starters. I thought Sirmans stood out as a developer of young talent and Fisher may miss him more than he thinks he will.

Also not returning: miscast assistant WRs coach Jeff Garcia; assistant special teams coach Paul F. Boudreau (son of the Rams' offensive line coach); assistant strength and conditioning coach Adam Bailey.

Fisher also does not seem set on returning Rob Boras to the offensive coordinator role next year. According to reports, Fisher interviewed former Cleveland OC John DeFilippo this week. The Browns were 30th in scoring, 25th in yardage, 21st in passing and 22nd in rushing in DeFilippo's first season as an NFL OC. Doesn't sound like much to get excited about. Then again, the 49ers are interviewing him for their HEAD coaching position. He's getting credit for getting the most out of very little talent, which would make him a perfect fit for the Rams. The Browns had the 4th-most passing yards in a season in team history (and STILL 21st in the league?), four 500-yard receivers, and threw very few interceptions. Gary Barnidge came out of nowhere to have a huge season at TE and Travis Benjamin wasn't too far back. DeFilippo also incorporates his backs into the passing game much better than anybody with Rams headphones did this season. He also coached Derek Carr to a solid rookie season in Oakland last season.

Funny the quality of coaching candidates that's available when you don't screw around for weeks like Fisher did last year after Brian Schottenheimer (who is still available, btw) left after last season.

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