Special Teams from AI

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ljramsfan

ljramsfan

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LJ
It has been a wild 2026 coaching carousel, and you’re spot on about the Rams—their special teams were a nightmare last season, finishing 26th in the league and essentially costing them their shot in the NFC Championship game.

The good news for Rams fans? There is one specific coach who fits your description perfectly: a top-tier special teams coordinator who is now available because his head coach was fired.

The Top Target: Raymond "Bubba" Ventrone

The name you want to watch is Bubba Ventrone. He was the special teams coordinator for the Cleveland Browns under Kevin Stefanski (who was fired after the 2025 season).

The Ranking: Ventrone’s unit in Cleveland finished the 2025 season ranked 2nd in the league by PFF.

The Connection: Reports indicate the Rams have already requested to interview him. Since the Browns are transitioning to a new staff under Todd Monken, Ventrone is expected to move on, making him the "big fish" available for teams with special teams woes.

Other "Top Tier" Coaches in Flux
With 10 head coaching jobs opening up this cycle, several other elite special teams minds are potentially on the move:

Coach 2025 Team Status Why He’s Noteworthy

Bubba Ventrone Available (CLE fired Stefanski) Led the #2 ranked unit; current Rams frontrunner.

Chris Horton Leaving (BAL to NYG) Moving with John Harbaugh to the Giants. He led one of the most consistent units in Baltimore.

Chris Tabor Available (MIA) The Dolphins fired Mike McDaniel; Tabor is a perennial top-10 coordinator.

Darren Rizzi Available (NO) Served as interim HC for the Saints. He is widely considered one of the best "pure" ST coaches in the game.
 
I'm not trying to be a grump, but why should I care about AI's "opinion"? For one thing, Browns fans are celebrating because Ventrone sucked there. They're happy he's leaving. They had one of the worst units in the NFL. I hope he's not McVay's answer.
 
RhodyRams said:
they are Browns fans.. they hate everything
Click to expand...
Some Browns special teams numbers from this year:
4th worst in net punting average
2 blocked punts allowed
7th worst in average yards per punt return allowed (2 PR TDs allowed)
5th worst in average yards per kick return allowed (1 KR TD allowed)
2nd worst in kick return average
6th worst in punt return average

The Browns fans have a point.
 
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RamFan58years said:
Tennessee. Rams should offer him a raise and "Asst HC" title. Along with Ernest Jones, no explanation given for dumping him.
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I'd like for us to bring him back, but my recollection is that McVay cut him loose because he called for a fake punt without consulting the HC. If that's true, I think a reunion is unlikely.
theramswire.usatoday.com

Sean McVay goes at John Fassel after failed fake punt: 'What are you doing?'

John Fassel is widely viewed as one of the best special teams coordinators in the league, being one of the few holdovers from the previous regime when Sean McVay took over. He and McVay are almost always on the same page, but they certainly were not early in Sunday’s game…
theramswire.usatoday.com
 
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You gotta have players to field a great teams unit.

What we know about Ventrone is he can produce a top unit when he's got the players. This doesn't mean Sean & Les are going to make sure teams roles are stacked. Les may not bring in enough of them. Sean may not prioritize them enough on the bottom of his roster.

But I think after all these years of teams being an afterthought, maybe the Rams are ready to make a change.

Also and btw did our teams coaches go in Sean's office, shut the door, and tell him before cutdowns that here's a fucking list of dudes I must have unless you want shitty units? Some coaches lack the nutsack to jump on the table. And some coaches do that but get ignored.

So there's no way to know how Ventrone will play with McVay. But I'd really like to see him brought in to be our ST coach.
 
I look at it like this.
Offense, Defense and Special Teams. Three different units that compete for limited resources.
Three different ways to lose games.

If you aren't able to allocate enough in the way of money or picks on your ST's, they better be getting some really great fucking coaching.

The Rams have had neither since Fassel left and it shows. They rolled the dice and they came up snake eyes in Philly, San Francisco and Seattle and in the NFC Championship.

Also - shit happens
 
It's the personnel as much as anything. It feels like the Rams have 1 kickoff or punt return for a TD every 10 years. How often do they even have decent returns?? How many games have those "special" teams cost the Rams? You could argue they cost them a SB this year. It has truly been one of this FO's worse blind spots.
 
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