[dieterbrock]

If his head is on straight, this may be the best hire yet

[Hacksaw]

The Rams are putting together a formidable coaching staff. We are going to smash people in the mouth. Especially with a Kromer hire..

[den-the-coach]

[HopHead Ram]

I'm Ok with Trestman not being the OC. I still think Wes will come over as the OC and become McVay's protege. McVay has enough knowledge to tap into with Kromer and Olsen on staff plus he already has a good working relationship with Wes.

[RedAlice]

I'm Ok with Trestman not being the OC. I still think Wes will come over as the OC and become McVay's protege. McVay has enough knowledge to tap into with Kromer and Olsen on staff plus he already has a good working relationship with Wes.

I agree. This is what I am thinking as well.

[RamsFanSince82]

Here's his background.

Chris Shula hired by Chargers as defensive coach
AP 8:44 p.m. ET Feb. 9, 2015



SAN DIEGO (AP) — Chris Shula, the grandson of former Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula, has been hired by the San Diego Chargers as a defensive quality control coach.

Shula spent last season as defensive coordinator at Division III John Carroll University.

A former linebacker at Miami of Ohio, Shula was assistant linebackers coach at Ball State in 2010 and then spent three seasons as an assistant at Indiana, working primarily with the defensive backs.
He is the son of former NFL coach David Shula.

The Chargers announced the move on Monday.

[RamsFanSince82]

http://www.cleveland.com/sports/college ... hulas.html

on November 13, 2014 at 12:47 PM

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio – Chris Shula was running behind. He was in a meeting, upstairs in the Shula Room at Don Shula Stadium. When he hurried back down to John Carroll's locker room area, he strolled by a display of the many alums who have worked in the NFL, beginning with Hall of Fame coach Don Shula.

Chris Shula was all smiles when he finally sat down for an interview during hectic Mount Union week to talk about his first season as John Carroll's defensive coordinator.

"It's been a blast,'' he said.

And a success. John Carroll's defense is ranked second in NCAA Division III heading into Saturday's 1:30 p.m. showdown between No. 6 John Carroll (9-0, 8-0) and No. 3 Mount Union (9-0, 8-0).

Chris Shula is the grandson of Don Shula, who grew up in Grand River, graduated from John Carroll in 1951, and was drafted by the Browns, beginning an unparalleled, 45-year NFL career. Chris' father, David, was coach of the Cincinnati Bengals from 1992 to 1996.

Chris, 28, is just beginning his career. John Carroll is his first coordinator's job after four years as a graduate assistant at Indiana and Ball State.

Chris keeps in close contact with his grandfather and father. At the end of the week, he shares the game plan with David, then talks to him again after the game about what worked and what didn't.

"He gives me a lot of advice, about motivation, thought process and dealing with adversity,'' Chris said.

The Shula legacy
Don Shula, 84, is the winningest coach in NFL history, and won two Super Bowls with the Dolphins. He keeps close tabs on Chris and JCU.
"I'm very happy and proud of him,'' Don Shula said during a visit with the team before the season. "I think he's really enjoying it.''

David Shula said Don loves having a personal re-connection with John Carroll's and its recent success.

"It's taking it full circle,'' David Shula told The Plain Dealer in May. "John Carroll has always been a very special place to him.''
Chris is personable, quick with a smile, and handsome. He bears a striking resemblance to Don Shula in his youth.

"I'm better looking,'' Don quipped in May.

Chris takes the family's John Carroll legacy seriously, but does not dwell upon it.

"It means a lot to me,'' he said. "When we step on the field, or when I'm coaching the guys, it's not something you're ever thinking about at all, but it's something cool that I can talk to my grandpa about, and he's calling me and checking up on how John Carroll is doing.

"The fact that I'm part of it now, a part of the legacy of John Carroll, is really an honor. Not just my grandfather, but all the other guys that have been to the NFL, it's just such an historic program.''

Not a name hire

So, yes, Chris Shula is a guy who fits right in at John Carroll, and lately it has nothing to do with his name and everything to do with his defense.

"We did not hire him because his last name is Shula,'' John Carroll coach Tom Arth said. "After getting to know him and what his philosophies are on defense, it fit very well with what we are doing. And he is someone who this job is going to mean something to. It wasn't going to just be a stepping-stone situation for him. He has ties to John Carroll. Chris was a perfect fit.
"Chris has done an absolutely phenomenal job. He's an incredibly smart football coach and he's done a great job building those relationships and trust with players, who know this guy is going to put us in the right position to be successful.''

Chris Shula didn't exactly step into a bad situation. John Carroll returned the core of a unit that was ranked No. 1 at this time last year. Several assistants returned, including line coach Brian Cochran, a former head coach who pushed for Shula during the hiring process.

But for many seniors, Shula is their fourth defensive coordinator. The last two, Jerry Schuplinski and Brandon Staley, took jobs with the New England Patriots and James Madison, respectfully.

Arth and Cochran liked that Shula emphasizes the attacking, multiple formations JCU had been using, so the transition was fairly smooth. John Carroll is allowing just 193 yards per game.

"I want guys that get off blocks and run to the ball,'' Shula said. "That's all we're focused on. Pursuit to the ball. We coach effort first, scheme second.''

When Shula begins film review, he first features players who are relentless and play smart. It's the same style he played as an undersized linebacker at Miami University in Oxford, where he was a three-year letterman.

"I would like to think I would fit in our defense real well,'' Chris said. "I was real versatile. I didn't fit in one position. I was really good at anticipating what the offense was going to do.''

Linebacker Kevin Cope loves the effort he sees from Shula as a coach.

"He's one of the most personable coaches I've played with,'' Cope said. "You can sit down and talk X's and O's, but he's really concerned with how we're doing as people, as well. That's something that builds a stronger relationship than just football, which makes you want to play even harder.''

Safety Marty Gibbons, the son of Ohio high school hall of fame coach John Gibbons and the brother of Euclid coach Tom Gibbons, knows the real deal when he sees it, and he thinks Shula is it.

"We believe in him. He's brought the best out in us,'' Gibbons said. "He's got a fire behind him.''

And a legacy.

[RamsFanSince82]

The Redskins‘ promotion of Aubrey Pleasant from assistant secondary coach to secondary coach has yet to be completed, Ryan O’Halloran of the Florida Times-Union notes. Washington’s talks with Pleasant are “at a standstill” after the team offered him the position, in a somewhat strange status for a defensive backs job. The Redskins still want to make Pleaseant its DBs boss after firing Perry Fewell. However, the Rams remain interested in Pleasant as well. Los Angeles already hired Samson Brown from the Broncos, but the former assistant secondary coach under Wade Phillips in Denver doesn’t appear to have a definitive role yet.

Should Pleasant join the Rams, he would be working with Don Shula’s grandson. The Rams plan to hire Chris Shula to work on Phillips’ defensive staff in Los Angeles, Alex Marvez of the Sporting News tweets. Chris Shula worked as a Chargers quality control coach the past two seasons. Prior to that, he served as a college defensive assistant. Shula played college football with Sean McVay.

[den-the-coach]

IMO, it would be a great to get Aubrey Pleasant one would surmise they would have to make him Secondary Coach or they could make both Pleasant & Brown Secondary Coach one focusing in Corners the other focusing on Safeties similar to what the Rams did with Dennard Wilson & Brandon Fisher last season.

Pleasant was highly regarded by the players last season for some to comment that he should have been the DB Coach over Perry Fewell. Pleasant only has four years of experience, but this point I'm looking for someone who is trending upward who might be in play when Wade retires to be the defensive coordinator and IMO Pleasant could be that guy because when that time happens I want anyone other than Joe Barry, who IMHO, is Larry Marmie in Sheep's Clothing.

[HopHead Ram]

I think the next show to drop is finally the OC. Staff still needs a TE coach and a WR coach as well. Any rumors on any TE or WR coaches?