One of Sean McVay’s first moves after becoming the Rams’ head coach in 2017 was to hire Wade Phillips as his defensive coordinator. It was an unusual match between the youngest coach in the NFL and a veteran with more than 30 years of experience, but it worked for them and the team.
Phillips, 72, may not be back in 2020, though. He’s in the final year of his contract and according to Alex Marvez of SiriusXM NFL Radio, the Rams may part ways with their defensive coordinator.
Linebackers coach Joe Barry would be a candidate to replace Phillips.
I'm hearing there's a chance Wade Phillips doesn't return as @RamsNFL d-coordinator. In final year of his contract. He's expected to meet with Sean McVay at season's end. Rams LBs coach Joe Barry would be strong replacement candidate. More tonight 8-11 pm et on @SiriusXMNFL
— Alex Marvez (@alexmarvez) December 21, 2019
The Rams defense has shown flashes of brilliance this season, but also many instances of struggles. They allowed 55 points to the Bucs, 45 to the Ravens and 44 to the Cowboys, but also seven games of giving up no more than 13 points.
It’s been an up-and-down season, to say the least, and Phillips doesn’t exactly know why the defense has had so many “clunkers,” as he put it recently.
“We’ve been inconsistent overall. We’ve had a couple clunkers and if I knew the reason, we wouldn’t do it,” he said this week. “But, we have fought back every time. I think the attitude of our team – our defense and our whole group – we’re fighters and we’re going to fight back.”
The Rams have ranked in the top 20 of yards and points allowed in each of the last three seasons, but they haven’t finished higher than 12th in either category despite having big names all over the defense.