Quick thread on the Wade Phillips departure with the #Rams...
1. Wade suspected the writing was on the wall when the team parted company with DL coach (and Phillips confidant) Bill Johnson last offseason. There were some indications the defensive staff was going to get younger and more scheme-driven under McVay moving forward.
2. From the team perspective, I think there was some frustration over relying on the fundamentals of playing sound football rather than a premium placed on scheming and changing looks to expose weaknesses. Too much reliance on just beating strength on strength.
3. Something interesting: I truly believe that when Sean McVay went through the experience of seeing New England largely change its stripes in the Super Bowl in terms of how it attacked the Rams, it gave him some food for thought in terms of being able to turn a scheme on a dime.
4. McVay not only wants to be more involved in some of the defensive conceptualizing moving forward, but he wants coaches challenging themselves to be more creative every single week based on the opponent. Be better physically in-game, but think better mentally in preparation.
5. I’d keep an eye out on Joe Barry as a potential replacement for Phillips as defensive coordinator, if he doesn’t end up in the role at USC. There will also be one or two other staff tweaks, including one on offense that could raise some eyebrows.
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