Tag: rams chargers

Report: Sean McVay blocked Brandon Staley, Chargers from interviewing Kevin O’Connell

Brandon Staley and the Chargers targeted Kevin O’Connell for their OC role, but Sean McVay won’t let that happen.

The Los Angeles Chargers already stole Brandon Staley from the Rams, so Sean McVay isn’t going to let them poach another coach from his staff. According to Albert Breer of The MMQB, the Rams blocked the Chargers from interviewing Kevin O’Connell for their offensive coordinator position.

It’s no surprise that Staley targeted O’Connell for that role on his staff after working with him in 2020 with the Rams, but it is somewhat interesting that McVay blocked the interview from happening. The NFL permits teams from blocking interviews if it’s a lateral move for the coach, meaning it’s for the same position with another team.

McVay allowed Matt LaFleur to leave the Rams in 2018 to join the Titans as their offensive coordinator, but he doesn’t want to lose O’Connell in the same fashion. It makes sense, too.

By keeping O’Connell, McVay keeps some sense of continuity for Jared Goff, who otherwise would’ve gone through yet another offensive coordinator if O’Connell left.

That’s bad business for a quarterback and does nothing to help his development. With O’Connell being a former quarterback himself, he can help develop Goff further in 2021, assuming the Rams keep him as their starter.

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Jets and Chargers request to interview Brandon Staley for head coaching jobs

Brandon Staley is already drawing head coaching interest from two teams.

The coaching carousel has already begun to spin with six NFL teams seeking new head coaches for the 2021 season. And to the surprise of no one, first-year defensive coordinator Brandon Staley is already drawing interest from a pair of teams.

According to Mike Silver of NFL Network, the Chargers have requested to interview Staley for their head coaching vacancy after firing Anthony Lynn on Monday. Staley wouldn’t have to move very far for that job, considering the Rams and Chargers share SoFi Stadium.

Additionally, the Jets have requested permission to interview Staley for their head coaching vacancy after parting ways with Adam Gase, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN. This position would require Staley to move across the country, of course.

As Schefter noted, Staley can’t be interviewed by anyone until the Rams’ season concludes. They have a game against the Seahawks on Saturday and should they advance, they’d play the following weekend in the divisional round.

Staley is understandably a hot coaching candidate after leading the Rams defense in a remarkably dominant season. They ranked first in scoring, first in yards allowed, second in sacks and first in passing yards allowed.

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Rams and Chargers to be featured on HBO’s ‘Hard Knocks’

It’s the first time ever that two teams will be featured on “Hard Knocks.”

The Los Angeles Rams will officially be featured on HBO’s “Hard Knocks” this year, but they won’t be the only team on the show. The Chargers will also be on it, making this the first time ever that two teams will headline the series.

It was previously reported that the Rams and Chargers would be selected, but on Thursday, that news became official thanks to an announcement from NFL Films. The series will begin on Aug. 11 on HBO.

This is the second time in the last four years that the Rams have been featured on “Hard Knocks,” with their first appearance coming in 2016. That was Jared Goff’s rookie year and the team’s first season back in Los Angeles.

This was the perfect opportunity for HBO to have two teams on the show, given the timing. Both the Rams and Chargers got new uniforms, will be moving into a new stadium and there are plenty of storylines surrounding both teams with Philip Rivers and Todd Gurley both gone.

The format of the show will be something to watch, given the current circumstances with the coronavirus pandemic. If training camp doesn’t happen in July, there’s no telling what will be on the show.

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