Schottenheimer hired by Rams as secondary coach

**Nick** · -01-25-2005

Schottenheimer hired by Rams as secondary coach
By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch
Monday, Jan. 24 2005

Fired last week by Green Bay, Kurt Schottenheimer didn't stay unemployed for
long. About an hour after learning Schottenheimer had been dismissed by the
Packers, Rams coach Mike Martz was on the phone with him.

Schottenheimer visited Rams Park on Friday, and on Monday he was hired as the
team's new secondary coach, accepting a three-year deal. Schottenheimer
replaces Perry Fewell, who left the Rams to join the Chicago Bears.

"This is big," Martz said Monday. "Kurt was a hot item. He's a former
coordinator and a very successful coordinator. He's so highly respected in the
league. He has great experience. And he has knowledge of the multiple coverages
- all the things that we'd like to get to."

New Orleans and Miami were two clubs thought to be interested in hiring
Schottenheimer.

Schottenheimer, 55, has coached special teams and defensive backs and been a
defensive coordinator in NFL stints with five clubs over the past 18 years. The
younger brother of San Diego Chargers head coach Marty Schottenheimer, he was
defensive coordinator for the Chiefs, 1999-2000; for Washington in 2001; and
for Detroit, 2002-03.

In 1999, the Chiefs' defense set a franchise record by scoring nine defensive
touchdowns and ranked second in the NFL with 45 takeaways.

Things didn't go so smoothly for Schottenheimer this season in Green Bay, his
one and only season with the Packers as secondary coach. In 17 games, including
a playoff loss to Minnesota, the Packers allowed 37 touchdown passes, while
intercepting only eight passes. Opposing quarterbacks had a passer rating of
101.5 against Green Bay.

Martz said Monday that many of the Packers' problems in coverage had to do with
circumstances that were beyond Schottenheimer's control. Two rookie
cornerbacks, Ahmad Carroll and Joey Thomas, had trouble learning the system and
were immature. Carroll alone was flagged for 17 penalties. And the season began
on a bad note with starting cornerback Mike McKenzie demanding a trade and
eventually leaving the team.

Schottenheimer worked with Rams linebackers coach Joe Vitt for one season in
Kansas City (2000). Before Friday's visit to Rams Park, Martz had met
Schottenheimer on a couple of occasions but didn't really know him.

Martz said he didn't anticipate any more staff changes this offseason.

***RamWraith*** · -01-25-2005

pic of our new guy

elAcky · -01-25-2005

we pick up yet another reject

***tanus*** · -01-25-2005

I love it, we hire a new guy (ST) and Martz gets **** about hiring an inexperienced guy. We hire an experienced guy for our DB coach and Martz gets ****. Cool, its a **** party!

***theodus69*** · -01-25-2005

Change of scenery can be a big advantage. I don't think unless Martz hired belechick(spelling) and andy reid , he's gonna be at that **** party no matter what! :tongue:

**Nick** · -01-25-2005

Originally Posted by tanus

I love it, we hire a new guy (ST) and Martz gets **** about hiring an inexperienced guy. We hire an experienced guy for our DB coach and Martz gets ****. Cool, its a **** party!

Damned if you do, damned if you don't. That will always be the way with Martz.