Rams finish first phase of search
Rams finish first phase of search
By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Friday, Jan. 13 2006
It appears that Phase 1 of the Rams' coaching search is over.
Team president John Shaw and vice president of football operations Jay Zygmunt interviewed San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron on Friday.
Cameron, 44, was the seventh head-coaching candidate to meet with Shaw and Zygmunt, joining Jim Fassel (Baltimore Ravens), Pat Hill (Fresno State), Tim Lewis (New York Giants), Ron Rivera (Chicago Bears), Scott Linehan (Miami Dolphins) and Mike Zimmer (Dallas Cowboys).
In addition, the Rams have interviewed Ken Whisenhunt (Pittsburgh Steelers) on the phone. Should the Steelers lose their AFC divisional game against Indianapolis, the Rams may set up a formal interview with Whisenhunt.
Otherwise, it appears Shaw will narrow the list of candidates to two or three finalists by early next week, conduct a second round of interviews with the finalists and then pick a successor to Mike Martz.
Martz interviewed Friday with the New Orleans Saints for their vacant head-coaching job.
As long as the Bears and Steelers remain in the playoffs, the Rams can't schedule additional interviews with Rivera and Whisenhunt, much less hire them. Both teams play Sunday. If the Steelers beat the Colts and Chicago beats Carolina, it then becomes a matter of whether the Rams are willing to wait on one or both candidates.
Shaw steadfastly has declined comment on the coaching search, but it is believed that Linehan and Rivera were impressive in their initial interviews.
Another potential candidate, Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, officially withdrew from consideration Friday.
The Rams thought highly of Kiffin, who turns 66 next month, but realized he was a long-shot candidate all along.
At Rams Park on Friday, interim head coach Joe Vitt said his interview with the New York Jets earlier in the week went well.
In other news, newly named Minnesota head coach Brad Childress has hired Rams assistant coach Matt Sheldon as a defensive assistant-quality control. Sheldon, 36, has been with the Rams for five seasons, helping with special teams, the defense and special projects.
Re: Rams finish first phase of search
Quote:
In other news, newly named Minnesota head coach Brad Childress has hired Rams assistant coach Matt Sheldon as a defensive assistant-quality control. Sheldon, 36, has been with the Rams for five seasons, helping with special teams, the defense and special projects.
Not much quality in those departments. Whoever he is, I guess we shouldn't miss him too much. :drunk:
Re: Rams finish first phase of search
we won't but the other teams will. Remember last match against the bills?
Re: Rams finish first phase of search
Take your time, there's only 10 or 11 teams looking for Head Coaches!
I don't think they know where they're going. Teams can find out 98% of the information they need by talking to their contacts around the league, watching films, and analyzing data. The Rams had at least 1 month at the end of the season to decide what direction they were going in too.
Teams like the Bills and Vikings didn't have that Luxury. Minnesota was in the playoff hunt and the Bills coach just quit a couple days ago.
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Re: Rams finish first phase of search
Word has it the three candidates they've narrowed it down to are Jim Fassel, Cam Cameron, and Scott Linehan, with the possibility of Rivera getting another interview if the Bears lose.
Re: Rams finish first phase of search
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Originally Posted by Nick
Word has it the three candidates they've narrowed it down to are Jim Fassel, Cam Cameron, and Scott Linehan, with the possibility of Rivera getting another interview if the Bears lose.
Fassell is just too vanilla for me; boring...
Re: Rams finish first phase of search
Fassell, three trips to the playoffs and a super bowl appearance in five years. pretty good record if you ask me. Of course, not as good a record as martz and people wanted him fired.
ramming speed to all
general counsel
