We landed Wade Phillips!

[ItsonTavon]

This is couldn't be better! It's 9:22am, that said I might have to toast our new HC, DC.

 

[snackdaddy]

I don't get it. The defense is pretty good. Now they have to retool the defense as well as overhaul the offense. They are going to need a Nose tackle and despite what anyone says Brockers and Donald are not 3/4 DE's. I don't see where this hire makes sense. They will be letting Donald go when he hits free agency if not trade him sooner for a first round pick.

I don't recall Phillips ever running a 4/3.

This is not a something to be excited about.

All of the cap space will be blown in one year trying to turn the roster over. We are definitely looking for a rebuild now.

Here's a quote from Bemjamin Allbrigh on a tweet:

Wade technically runs a one-gap 4-3 under with the weak side end standing up, don't worry about nebulous 3-4/4-3 talk.

I'm pretty sure as long as Wade has been in the game he's had players that don't fit the typical 3-4. He knows how to fit the system to the players.

 

[jap]

Wade: "We need to get The Mighty One a new bionic backbone & neck and alert the NFL Rules committee that choke holds are actually illegal in the NFL."

 

[OldSchool]

I don't get it. The defense is pretty good. Now they have to retool the defense as well as overhaul the offense. They are going to need a Nose tackle and despite what anyone says Brockers and Donald are not 3/4 DE's. I don't see where this hire makes sense. They will be letting Donald go when he hits free agency if not trade him sooner for a first round pick.

I don't recall Phillips ever running a 4/3.

This is not a something to be excited about.

All of the cap space will be blown in one year trying to turn the roster over. We are definitely looking for a rebuild now.

They don't have to retool and it's too early in the morning to repost all our discussions on it and the video's of Wade discussing his D. We at most from what I've seen would need to change out 2 positions. We'll be just fine on defense, better even.

 

[fearsomefour]

Sweet - has he ever ran a 4-3 or is he for sure inplementing his 3-4

Coaches mostly coach scheme
In sure we are going 3/4.

 

[fearsomefour]

If we run a 3/4....a true 3/4 does this limit Donald. Yes would be the answer to this.
We will see what Phillips does.
I'm not in love with the 3/4 as a scheme, but, it certainly can work. Work with this personnel group? Don't know.
I have been saying for months whomever the team replaced Fisher with I would have prioritized staying with a 4/3.
So, I am in the minority here, but, I am a little disappointed with Wade coming over. Keepin an open mind however.

 

[lockdnram21]

The last thing this team needs is a scumbag. I'd prefer a corner with a little respect for the game.

He's better then every player we have... Would be massive upgrade from Tru

 

[fearsomefour]

Here's a quote from Bemjamin Allbrigh on a tweet:

I'm pretty sure as long as Wade has been in the game he's had players that don't fit the typical 3-4. He knows how to fit the system to the players.

I hope this is true.
No reason to not believe this. Phillips has been around forever and has had success most places.
I will disregard my nebulous 4/3 3/4 chatter for now.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

They don't have to retool and it's too early in the morning to repost all our discussions on it and the video's of Wade discussing his D. We at most from what I've seen would need to change out 2 positions. We'll be just fine on defense, better even.

I have seen plenty of Phillips defenses over the years. He runs a 3/4. He will make it fit at first because he wont have a choice. It would be impossible to make all of the moves necessary. Over the next two to three years the defensive roster will be turned over and this defense will be a true 3/4 defense.

I get that people are getting excited over change and I am glad Fisher and Williams are gone too, but the only time I recall Phillips succeeding is when he had a loaded defense full of stars. And McVey is the epitome of unproven. The track record for head coaches in his age bracket is not very good. I hope the guy is a genius, on the level of the greats but I can't help being skeptical with these moves.

I have read the responses here btw, I just don't buy it. I don't believe that Brockers is the right type of build for the NT spot on Phillips D. I don't think that Donald is the right type of DE to play it either. There is also a sudden need for LBers. I question if Barron is a fit at OLB in the 3/4. Tree is not a 3/4 MLB, nor a 3/4 OLB. Forrest may do well at OLB but I don't see much else being a great fit. The DBs will be fine but they were already the weak link on this D. Hopefully they have the foresight to move Joyner to FS. This hire creates many more needs.

There are just way too many 'wait and see' questions with these hires for me to get excited. I expect the D to take a big step backwards because the front seven will be a square peg in a round hole. It will take time to move all of the parts but guys like Tree, Brockers, Donald, Quinn will not be Rams in the future.

 

[Loyal]

We need a health specialist for Wade. He is SO important for this team, I worry about an overweight, almost 70 year old man with so much of our teams immediate future in his hands.....

 

[OldSchool]

I have seen plenty of Phillips defenses over the years. He runs a 3/4. He will make it fit at first because he wont have a choice. It would be impossible to make all of the moves necessary. Over the next two to three years the defensive roster will be turned over and this defense will be a true 3/4 defense.

I get that people are getting excited over change and I am glad Fisher and Williams are gone too, but the only time I recall Phillips succeeding is when he had a loaded defense full of stars. And McVey is the epitome of unproven. The track record for head coaches in his age bracket is not very good. I hope the guy is a genius, on the level of the greats but I can't help being skeptical with these moves.

I have read the responses here btw, I just don't buy it. I don't believe that Brockers is the right type of build for the NT spot on Phillips D. I don't think that Donald is the right type of DE to play it either. There is also a sudden need for LBers. I question if Barron is a fit at OLB in the 3/4. Tree is not a 3/4 MLB, nor a 3/4 OLB. Forrest may do well at OLB but I don't see much else being a great fit. The DBs will be fine but they were already the weak link on this D. Hopefully they have the foresight to move Joyner to FS. This hire creates many more needs.

There are just way too many 'wait and see' questions with these hires for me to get excited. I expect the D to take a big step backwards because the front seven will be a square peg in a round hole. It will take time to move all of the parts but guys like Tree, Brockers, Donald, Quinn will not be Rams in the future.

It's been cited dozens of times that his 3-4 isn't very different than Williams' 4-3. Couple that with teams in a nickel 2/3 of the time taking on of the front seven off and you're making a mountain out of a mole hill. At worst we'll need to change out two maybe three spots on the defense.

 

[dieterbrock]

I have read the responses here btw, I just don't buy it. I don't believe that Brockers is the right type of build for the NT spot on Phillips D. I don't think that Donald is the right type of DE to play it either

I agree but Phillips ran more 4-3 than I thought and the Rams personnel also favors a big nickel package that he is a fan of, which they ran some 80% of the time last year.
I mean, lets not forget where Wade comes from, his dad was the pioneer of the 46 defense which was built on its dominant 4 down lineman

 

[DaveFan'51]

Coaches mostly coach scheme
In sure we are going 3/4.

I sure hope not!! It's not what we are built for. In Rams history they have tried it only once, I believe it was in the John Robinson era, it wasn't that successful, and they went back to the 4-3!
And, as Phillips has said he doesn't coach a 3-4/4-3 he uses what works for the players he has! whatever they do best!!

 

[fearsomefour]

I have seen plenty of Phillips defenses over the years. He runs a 3/4. He will make it fit at first because he wont have a choice. It would be impossible to make all of the moves necessary. Over the next two to three years the defensive roster will be turned over and this defense will be a true 3/4 defense.

I get that people are getting excited over change and I am glad Fisher and Williams are gone too, but the only time I recall Phillips succeeding is when he had a loaded defense full of stars. And McVey is the epitome of unproven. The track record for head coaches in his age bracket is not very good. I hope the guy is a genius, on the level of the greats but I can't help being skeptical with these moves.

I have read the responses here btw, I just don't buy it. I don't believe that Brockers is the right type of build for the NT spot on Phillips D. I don't think that Donald is the right type of DE to play it either. There is also a sudden need for LBers. I question if Barron is a fit at OLB in the 3/4. Tree is not a 3/4 MLB, nor a 3/4 OLB. Forrest may do well at OLB but I don't see much else being a great fit. The DBs will be fine but they were already the weak link on this D. Hopefully they have the foresight to move Joyner to FS. This hire creates many more needs.

There are just way too many 'wait and see' questions with these hires for me to get excited. I expect the D to take a big step backwards because the front seven will be a square peg in a round hole. It will take time to move all of the parts but guys like Tree, Brockers, Donald, Quinn will not be Rams in the future.

**going back on my word about not engaging in nebulous 4/3 3/4 talk....
I can't disagree with this.
On the O side of the ball it can't get worse really, so, upside there.
On the D side all I wanted was to keep the 4/3 scheme for the reasons you stated.
I don't like the Phillips hire for that reason. Why weaken the one strength on the team?
Taking Donald, the best player on the team, and putting him in a place to be less successful is a suicidal move.
Time will tell. I'm not distraught or excited by this hire. It is sort of nonsensical to me.

 

[Prime Time]

This is what it feels like to have an owner who can make anything happen. I feels freaking awesome.

Thank You Stan !!!

If Bernie reads this his head will explode.

 

[FRO]

As long as Aaron Donald isn't negatively impacted by this hire, it's a tremendous move. He is probably the best DC in the league and most likely done as a HC.

 

[fearsomefour]

I sure hope not!! It's not what we are built for. In Rams history they have tried it only once, I believe it was in the John Robinson era, it wasn't that successful, and they went back to the 4-3!
And, as Phillips has said he doesn't coach a 3-4/4-3 he uses what works for the players he has! whatever they do best!!

That is my hope.
This would also make him a rarity amongst coaches.
Most tend to be ideologs.

 

[Mackeyser]

I have seen plenty of Phillips defenses over the years. He runs a 3/4. He will make it fit at first because he wont have a choice. It would be impossible to make all of the moves necessary. Over the next two to three years the defensive roster will be turned over and this defense will be a true 3/4 defense.

I get that people are getting excited over change and I am glad Fisher and Williams are gone too, but the only time I recall Phillips succeeding is when he had a loaded defense full of stars. And McVey is the epitome of unproven. The track record for head coaches in his age bracket is not very good. I hope the guy is a genius, on the level of the greats but I can't help being skeptical with these moves.

I have read the responses here btw, I just don't buy it. I don't believe that Brockers is the right type of build for the NT spot on Phillips D. I don't think that Donald is the right type of DE to play it either. There is also a sudden need for LBers. I question if Barron is a fit at OLB in the 3/4. Tree is not a 3/4 MLB, nor a 3/4 OLB. Forrest may do well at OLB but I don't see much else being a great fit. The DBs will be fine but they were already the weak link on this D. Hopefully they have the foresight to move Joyner to FS. This hire creates many more needs.

There are just way too many 'wait and see' questions with these hires for me to get excited. I expect the D to take a big step backwards because the front seven will be a square peg in a round hole. It will take time to move all of the parts but guys like Tree, Brockers, Donald, Quinn will not be Rams in the future.

I'm sorry, but you're just wrong.

And this has NOTHING whatsoever to do with any level of excitement.

Schematically, it's been said over and over and over again that Philip runs a 4-3 under 1 gap that puts Quinn in the "Ware" role and it's not that hard to understand.

Brockers has already been playing both 1 and 2 gap NT for awhile now as GW has had the Rams in some 3-4 looks on occasion. So it wouldn't be something that he couldn't do. Moreover, he's BIGGER than most NTs. Moreover, Brockers would EXCEL in a Philips 3-4 (hybrid) because his is a 1 gap and Brockers would actually get more opportunities to defeat blocks which he's actually pretty good at.

I'll make a post later today about Denver's starting D and how our D would look changed to it.

You'll see that we will be not just fine, but actually BETTER. Considering we actually have more guys like Easley and AD than Brockers, this move may actually benefit us going forward.

There will be some learning pains. That's to be expected, but Philips isn't the kind of coach to overly complicate things. He's going to put guys in position to make plays and do what they do best.

There's a reason that as a DC over the last nearly 30 years, he's been among the best in the business...consistently.

And, lastly...THERE IS NO, ZERO, NADA, ZILCH, ABSOLUTELY NO CHANCE WHATSOEVER that the Rams will EVER get rid of Future Hall of Famer Aaron Donald, irrespective of Scheme. Aaron Donald has the talent to succeed in either scheme AND, it turns out that Philips uses both a 3 tech DE and a 5 tech DE, so if AD really wants to stay inside and keep at the 3 technique...NO PROBLEM. Easley, who's really coming along can slip out to the 5 technique and blow things up.

Neither Brockers nor Donald are going ANYWHERE, and I'd wager all of my ROD dollars this year and next.

 

[Mackeyser]

We need a health specialist for Wade. He is SO important for this team, I worry about an overweight, almost 70 year old man with so much of our teams immediate future in his hands.....

He's moving to the land of green smoothies and yoga...

(glad I got a Vitamix so I can make my own smoothies...and I need to start yoga... man... the New Year is STARTED!!!)

 

[MTRamsFan]

@Mackeyser, I'm eating a little crow today after making a comment Phillips ready to retire and you called me on it. I like mine medium thank you!