The Rams have had a busy week, far too busy to commence the process of looking for a new head coach. After Thursday night’s game against the Seahawks, however, the effort to find a replacement for Jeff Fisher will begin.
Per a source with knowledge of the situation, the Rams will embark on a “wide-ranging” coaching search on Friday. The team will lean toward a coach with an offensive background, but the Rams haven’t ruled out the possibility of hiring a defensive coach.
Those parameters necessarily will land Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels (who served as the offensive coordinator of the St. Louis Rams in 2011) and Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan on the list of potential candidates.
Getting the job surely will entail proposing a compelling plan for using quarterback Jared Goff, running back Todd Gurley, and receiver Tavon Austin -- and for augmenting their talents with other players who will assist in maximizing the ability of the Rams to rekindle the Greatest Show on Turf.
Many other factors will influence the final decision, including compensation for the coach and the amount of power he will have. The anticipated roles of G.M. Les Snead and COO Kevin Demoff likely will influence whether the coach the Rams target will accept the job.
Ultimately, that will be the most important factor when it comes to selling the hire to a potentially fickle L.A. fan base: Creating the impression that the Rams hired their first choice for the job. Whoever it will be, the effort to find him starts essentially when Thursday night’s game at Seattle ends.