Staff Shakeup Continues
Friday, January 18, 2008
By Nick Wagoner
Senior Writer
The Rams continued the shakeup of their coaching staff Friday when they made a few moves toward the offseason changes that many had suspected.
In the first order of business, Art Valero was officially named the team’s running backs coach as the team parted ways with Wayne Moses. Valero will also have the title of assistant head coach upon arrival inSt. Louis .
In addition, the team also released secondary coach Willy Robinson, creating another opening in addition to the vacant offensive coordinator position. The Rams also hired Steve Loney as offensive line coach, replacing Paul Boudreau (see related story)
Valero comes to the Rams from Tampa Bay , where he held a similar position. Valero was technically hired a couple of weeks ago, but his position wasn’t determined until Friday morning.
Like Loney, Valero goes back a long way with head coach Scott Linehan. That pair worked together twice in the college ranks, once at Louisville and again at Idaho in the early 1990s.
“He has coached running backs now for four years and had Cadillac (Williams) down there,” Linehan said. “He was another one I wanted to hire when I first got here. He and I go back a long time together and I feel he has the experience in all of these areas to help our overall team. Whoever I hire as a coordinator is going to benefit of having guys there that kind of know philosophically what we’d like to get done. I think that’s a big benefit.”
Moses worked as the running backs coach for both of Linehan’s seasons in St. Louis , including a 2006 season in which running back
Steven Jackson led the league in yards from scrimmage.
Robinson was in charge of a secondary that had its ups and downs in his two seasons in St. Louis. In 2006, Robinson’s group finished eighth in the NFL in passing yards allowed at 189.7. This season, the group dropped to 21st, allowing 225.8 yards per game.
Robinson’s 2007 season was complicated when he sustained a torn quadriceps in the tunnel at halftime of the Cincinnati game in Week 15.
There is no immediate replacement for Robinson, but Linehan indicated he will be meeting with some coaches at next week’s Senior Bowl. Ron Milus is currently the assistant secondary coach and could get a look for the position.
Meanwhile, the Rams are continuing in their search for an offensive coordinator. The team re-assigned former coordinator Greg Olson a couple of weeks ago. Olson was also given permission to seek other jobs and is believed to have discussed positions with Tampa Bay and Detroit though the capacity is unknown.
Linehan has spoken with a number of candidates for the vacancy including formal interviews with Cincinnati ’s Ken Zampese and Atlanta ’s Hue Jackson. Linehan said nothing is imminent on that job front, but he would like to have something completed early next week.
“It could carry into next week,” Linehan said Friday afternoon. “I think once the weekend is complete I think early next week I would have somebody in place. I am still talking to some guys. I have formally interviewed a couple of guys. I have done several phone interviews to gauge interest and find out more about people. I have called a lot of people on behalf of these coaching candidates. Our number one goal is to come away with the best fit right now but also not hurry or rush into anything. It’s just such a critical hire.”
Linehan will be leaving for the Senior Bowl in Mobile , Ala. on Sunday morning and said some discussions could take place there though evaluating the players there is his top priority.
Linehan acknowledged he has had discussions with former head coaches Cam Cameron and Brian Billick, but it under the impression that both are on less of a strict timetable to get something done.
“These two guys are two weeks out of being head coaches of their teams,” Linehan said. “Right now that is kind of where their mindset is. I can certainly relate to how that could feel. I understand it. That’s a couple of guys that quite frankly don’t need to jump into anything right away and are right to take their time. As of right now, I am still exploring all of the possibilities.”
guess who was put in charge in 2000? 
Linear Mode
