Rams coach Sean McVay labored with Ben Kotwica for 3 NFL seasons in Washington when McVay was the workforce’s offensive coordinator and Kotwica was the particular groups coordinator.
Within the aftermath of McVay’s firing of particular groups coordinator Chase Blackburn, Kotwica will oversee the unit, McVay mentioned Monday throughout a videoconference with reporters.
“I do know his capability, I do know the accountability, I do know the core perception that he has,” McVay mentioned of Kotwica, who has been a Rams assistant this season after working because the Denver Broncos defensive coordinator the earlier two. “This late within the 12 months, you’re not naive to, you’re going to maintain a variety of the foundational issues.
“However I feel there’s some issues that we wish to have mirrored in our model of play, and the best way we go about our total method that I feel can be improved.”
Ben Kotwica will oversee particular groups for the Rams transferring ahead, coach Sean McVay mentioned.
(Related Press)
Matt Harper, the San Francisco 49ers’ assistant particular groups coach from 2021 to 2024, will be part of the employees to help Kotwica, McVay mentioned.
Kotwica assumes a management position because the Rams (11-4) put together to play the Atlanta Falcons (6-9) on Monday night time at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
The Rams have clinched a playoff spot, however their 38-37 time beyond regulation defeat by the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday dropped them from the No. 1 seed within the NFC to No. 5.
Blackburn’s departure marked the primary time in McVay’s 9 seasons with the Rams that he fired a coach throughout the season.
McVay mentioned he knowledgeable Blackburn of his choice Friday morning, the day after Rashid Shaheed of the Seahawks returned a fourth-quarter punt for a landing that sparked a comeback from a 16-point deficit and helped ship the Rams to defeat.
It was the newest in a sequence of expensive particular groups miscues that included a number of blocked field-goal and extra-point makes an attempt early within the season, which resulted in losses to the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers.
In early November, the Rams signed kicker Harrison Mevis to exchange Joshua Karty, who’s on the Rams’ follow squad, and signed veteran snapper Jake McQuaide to exchange Alex Ward. Mevis made his first eight field-goal makes an attempt — together with three in opposition to the Seahawks — earlier than lacking from 48 yards in Seattle.
McVay mentioned that as head coach he was in the end liable for the particular groups’ efficiency. However he made the transfer to vary management for that unit.
“There’s been some issues that we must be higher at in vital moments,” McVay mentioned. “It was simply what we thought was finest for the collective. … So simple as it will get.”
After the Rams play the Falcons, they are going to conclude the common season at dwelling in opposition to the Arizona Cardinals.
“I do assume this is a chance that provides us an opportunity to have the ability to use the final couple of weeks, after which main into the playoffs, to have the ability to set up a number of the issues that we would like,” McVay mentioned of particular groups.
And so on.
It might be “arduous” for offensive lineman Kevin Dotson, who left the sport in opposition to the Seahawks due to an ankle damage, to be prepared for Monday night time’s sport, McVay mentioned. Receiver Davante Adams (hamstring), who sat out in opposition to the Seahawks, is making progress towards returning however he can be monitored this week earlier than figuring out his standing for the sport in opposition to the Falcons, McVay mentioned. … Tight finish Tyler Higbee and offensive lineman Rob Havenstein will stay on injured reserve this week, McVay mentioned. “They’re not fairly prepared but,” he mentioned.
