The Los Angeles Rams were officially eliminated from the playoffs Saturday night after a 34-31 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. That marked the fifth game this season the Rams defense has given up more than 30 points, causing speculation about defensive coordinator Wade Phillips’ future with the team.
The same year head coachSean McVaywas hired (2017), defensive coordinatorWade Phillipswas brought on to take over theLos Angeles Ramsdefense. This at the time seemed like a great idea, bringing in a coordinator with lots of experience to help guide the youngest head coach in the league.
Since that year, the Rams have been reborn as a franchise, making themselves relevant in the NFL for the first time since the greatest show on turf days.
This season will be the first time under McVay that the Rams will miss the playoffs. The struggles they have had this season have many people wondering what happened to the Rams. Recently it has been the Rams defense that has been looked at as a possible cause of the Rams struggles this year.
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They have given up 30 points or more five times this year, and have games where they seem to be lost. However, there have also been games where the defense has looked like a force, giving up less than two touchdowns seven times this year.
The inconsistency of the defense has people talking about the possibility of a new defensive coordinator in Los Angeles.Wade Phillips‘ contract will be up at the end of this season, bringing up questions like will he come back, or do the rams even want him to come back?
The 3 years underWade Phillipsthe Rams defense has never ranked in the top 10 in points allowed. This certainly isn’t because of a lack of talent as over the last 3 years the defensive line and secondary have received plenty of talented players.
With the emphasis on getting to the quarterback, L.A. has been vulnerable against the run, and especially struggle against mobile quarterbacks. Among those struggles, there have been many defensive miscues during the season, and a lot of late.
In the Rams’ loss to the Cowboys, members of the Rams secondary were running into each other downfield, and on Saturday night, a miscommunication in the secondary leftEmmanuel Sandersopen downfield late in the game to help seal the victory for the 49ers.
It seems like the right time to make a change, and try to revitalize the defense as the Rams move into their new stadium next year. Whether Phillips wants to come back or the Rams want him back remains to be seen.
He and head coach Sean McVaywill reportedly meetat the end of the season and discuss the future of the defense. If Phillips does not come back it will be an interesting offseason for the Los Angeles Rams looking for someone to take over the defense.
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