Rams Peg Josh McDaniels To Run Offense

Added on Jan 19, 2011 by Scott in

NFL

It didn’t take long for ex-Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels to find employment. The 34-year-old’s latest gig will be as offensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams, in wake of Pat Shurmer’s departure to Cleveland. McDaniels exit from Denver was abrupt, but not unexpected considering his 11-17 coaching record. However, his success tutoring quarterbacks Tom Brady, Matt Cassel and Kyle Orton and expertise in the spread offense lends credence to the belief he should be good for would-be rookie of the year Sam Bradford.

St. Louis coach Steve Spagnuolo welcomed his newest assistant with open arms:

“I’ve always recognized that he [McDaniels] is one of the top offensive minds in the NFL. We think he is a great addition to our organization.”

McDaniels became a hot commodity after his years in New England, which included the record-setting 2007 campaign that featured the most explosive offense in NFL history. The “guru” label was quickly attached to his name and the Broncos swooped in prior to the 2009 season and hired him to rebuild their sinking franchise.

His brief stay in the Rocky Mountain state was marred by missteps and blunders. He alienated star players Jay Cutler and Brandon Marshall, and eventually traded both away. A videotaping scandal last November resulted in a $50,000 fine and brought unwanted negative attention to a team spiraling out of control.

The Rams offer is a golden opportunity for McDaniels to repair his sullied reputation. For all his troubles, the guy knows how to run and design an offense. With Sam Bradford at the controls, Steven Jackson in the backfield and a promising young corps of wide receivers like Mark Clayton and Danny Amendola, the Rams attack could be in store for bigger and better things in 2011.

As an added bonus, McDaniels will get to call plays against weak NFC West opponents. Both the Cardinals and Seahawks ranked near the bottom defensively, and the 49ers weren’t far behind. Let’s just hope he steers clear of videotaping equipment.

Source: NFL.com