Sean McVay wasted no time replacing Brandon Staley after he was hired as the Chargers’ head coach shortly after the Rams’ season ended. He quickly brought in Raheem Morris, who was most recently the Falcons’ defensive coordinator and interim head coach.
Morris and McVay have a track record of working together, going all the way back to their days with the Buccaneers on Jon Gruden’s staff. They’re excited about being on the same team again and though Morris hasn’t been a member of the Rams long, he’s already made a good impression on McVay in his few meetings with the new defensive assistants in L.A.
McVay told reporters last week that Morris checks all the boxes and that he’s going to make everyone around him better.
“Raheem is a special coach. I think when you guys got a chance to speak with him or anybody that knows Raheem – my dad says it best about Raheem, he has a zest for life. You never leave Raheem Morris not feeling better about yourself,” McVay said. “But the capacity, the command that this guy has, I think the charisma and the presence. When you’re looking at what you’re looking for from a coach, he checks all the boxes. He has an incredible ability to communicate and to relate to so many different types of people, I think he can help them reach their highest potential. Even just watching the way that he’s leading these staff meetings with the defensive coaches, where there are a couple of new faces and then a lot of continuity from the previous staff, he did a great job. There’s a real connection and a collaboration. Guys are enjoying doing football together and I think that’s a huge credit to Raheem and his leadership. I think the players are going to love working with him and what he brings.”
McVay has learned a lot from Morris over the years and looks at him like a big brother. Morris obviously had glowing things to say about the Rams’ head coach, too, but it’s clear Morris has had an impact on McVay when their paths have crossed.
“He’s been a big brother in a lot of ways to me, from our relationship dating back to even Tampa, and when we work together in Washington,” McVay continued. “So many of the things that I know, especially from the defensive side of the ball is a credit to learning from Raheem. I can’t say enough good things and how excited I am to be able to reconnect with him. He’s just going to affect our team and our building in so many ways. You talk to people that aren’t even involved in coaching, and he’s already made an impact. You certainly always feel when Raheem is in the room and I think that’s a great thing. I’m really looking forward to watching him lead this team.”
Morris has big shoes to fill after the Rams ranked first in total defense last season, but as he said previously, he’s not worried about stats. He wants to win a ring and bring a championship to Los Angeles.
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