[ad_1]
The Los Angeles Rams announced Thursday that they have agreed with Raheem Morris to become their new defensive coordinator.
Here are five things to know about him:
1) The Rams Staff Ties Go Beyond Sean McVay
Morris worked with McVay in Tampa Bay (2008) and Washington (2012-14), but there are a few other familiar faces on the Los Angeles coaching staff as well:
- Rams offensive line coach / running game coordinator Aaron Kromer was the Buccaneers ‘main assistant during Morris’ last season as an assistant defensive back coach (2005). Kromer was also a senior assistant / offensive line coach for Tampa Bay in 2007, which straddled Morris’ first season with Tampa Bay as defensive backs coach.
- Rams Wide receivers coach Eric Yarber spent two seasons coaching wide Buccaneers receivers (2010-11); those two years coincided with Morris’s last two as head coach of the Buccaneers.
- In Morris’s last two seasons as defensive back coach for Washington (2013-14), current Rams cornerback coach Aubrey Pleasant has served as offensive assistant (2013) and quality control coach. defensive (2014) for Washington.
2) Has already worked with talented defensive backs
In Los Angeles, Morris will inherit a defense with twice first-team All-Pro and quadruple Pro Bowl cornerback Jalen Ramsey, but this isn’t the first time he’s worked with one of the best. NFL defensive backs.
As noted in his introductory article, he has extensive experience as a defensive back coach. In the last two seasons of his first stint at Tampa Bay (2004 and 2005), he served as an assistant defensive back coach under defensive back coach Mike Tomlin and helped cornerback Ronde Barber win the first team. All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors each of these two. seasons.
When Morris returned for his second stint with the Bucs (2007-11) – starting out as a defensive back coach the first two seasons after Mike Tomlin left for the Vikings and then the Steelers – he helped Barber win his fifth Pro Bowl in 2008. .
Barber is among the 15 Modern Era finalists for the 2021 promotion of the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
3) Succeed in working with young players
In 2010 – his second season as head coach of the Buccaneers – Tampa Bay became the first team since the NFL / AFL merger in 1970 to start at least 10 rookies and finish with a winning record. Tampa Bay went 10-6.
4) Made his NFL debut under Jon Gruden
Like McVay, Morris broke into the NFL under Jon Gruden. Morris indicated in an AtlantaFalcons.com article on Nov. 24 that Gruden had a great influence on his coaching career.
“He was one of the first people to teach me how to work, how to put time into it, how to get into work and absolutely beat people to work and thrive in this environment,” Morris said. “The work ethic he brought to the game, how much he loved football, his care for his coaching staff and everyone around him.”
5) Strong communicator
Morris’s stint on offense and receiving Falcons receiving training for three and a half seasons was by no means a demotion. On the contrary, it reflected one of his best qualities.
According to an Oct. 13 report from Athletic Dan Pompei, when then Falcons head coach Dan Quinn and then offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan had to hire a wide receivers coach in 2016, they enlisted Morris’s help in assessing the candidates. Morris pitched to Quinn the idea of hiring a “great communicator that Kyle Shanahan respects” and “the best coach in any position” without volunteering for the job; Quinn and Shanahan chose him later.
In a February 2017 article by Jason Reid of The Undefeated detailing the transition and unfolding of Morris’ first season as a receiver coach, Reid wrote: “Morris also effectively articulated Shanahan’s vision for the offense. He is largely responsible for improving the communication issues that plagued the offense during last season’s meltdown. “
Morris has also been widely praised by the former players he has coached for his ability to connect with them.
[ad_2]
Source link