For the first time in three years, the Los Angeles Rams are welcoming a new defensive coordinator. Raheem Morris has left to become the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, prompting head coach Sean McVay to promote Chris Shula from within the organization after a comprehensive search.
Shula’s appointment, similar to that of Brandon Staley, brings some uncertainty. Unlike Staley, who had a clear plan and defensive background under Vic Fangio, Shula has never been a coordinator and has worked under various coaches like Wade Phillips, Staley, and Morris. This raises questions about the future direction of the Rams’ defense.
McVay addressed these concerns on Wednesday, saying, “It starts with the foundational philosophy, which is centered on the players. With each coordinator, including Staley and Morris, we’ve seen different identities but always built on our personnel. Chris will continue this approach. We have a mix of young talent and experienced veterans. There will be familiar elements and new adaptations to prevent predictability. Chris has done an excellent job so far.”
McVay emphasized that despite different coordinators, he heavily influences the defensive strategy. Morris had to adapt to Staley’s scheme in 2021, adding his personal touches. Shula, who has coached within this system for four years, will follow a similar path but with less of a learning curve.
In February, the expectation was that Shula’s hire wouldn’t drastically change the defensive philosophy. McVay initially brought in Staley to implement the Vic Fangio system, which Morris evolved. Shula will likely maintain this framework while adding his own modifications.
Shula’s approach, as stated during his introductory press conference, is player-focused: “My defensive philosophy is it’s about the players… We’re going to do whatever the players can execute at a high level where they can go out and play fast and play confident.”
Shula will build on the existing scheme, considering the strengths of players like Kam Curl, Kobie Turner, Braden Fiske, Ernest Jones, and Jared Verse. With a relatively young defense, simplicity will be key to enabling fast, confident play.
The exact nature of Shula’s defense will become clear in Week 1. While the overall scheme will resemble past defenses, Shula will introduce his unique twists, maintaining continuity with some innovation.
