Most observers expected the Rams to make a change at special teams coordinator following the season. The unit under Chase Blackburn had struggled throughout the year and, with the punt return for a touchdown allowed on Thursday against the Seattle Seahawks, had cost the 11-4 Rams three games.
But head coach Sean McVay made a departure from his usual mode of operation, firing Blackburn over the weekend. It was the first in-season coaching change that McVay has made in his nine-year tenure with the Rams, and that timing was revealing about what the head coach believes his team is capable of this winter.
“What it really boiled down to was the confidence that I have in this football team and where I think we can head and where I think the areas of improvement are needed,” McVay said over Zoom Monday. “Through these 15 games, we learned a lot and man, I have so much confidence in this group. I’m so excited about the response from a disappointing outcome.”
McVay said he came to the decision to fire Blackburn soon after the Thursday night loss. He informed Blackburn Friday morning that his three-year tenure with the Rams would be coming to an end.
On Monday, McVay said that the need to make the change was a reflection of his own mistakes, saying that ultimately it was his responsibility to have the special teams ready for games. But that didn’t change the fact that he felt like the unit needed a new leader.
“It’s as simple as it really boils down to, just thought this was best for the direction of our special teams,” McVay said. “There’s been some things that we need to be better in some critical moments. … It was just what we thought was best for the collective and that’s sometimes the hard decisions that I’m tasked with.”
McVay felt like, with two weeks in the season, the timing would allow the special teams to get a good grip on whatever changes there might be unit to unit ahead of the playoffs. And by dismissing Blackburn on Friday, he gave special teams assistant Ben Kotwica time to prepare for his first week in charge of the group.
The Rams also are bringing in former Eagles and 49ers assistant Matt Harper to help on special teams, but Kotwica will run the show, with some help and collaboration from McVay.
“I know his capacity, I know his accountability, I know the core beliefs that he has,” McVay said. “This late in the year, you’re not naive to you’re going to keep a lot of the foundational things, but I think there are some things that we want to have reflected in our style of play and the way that we go about our approach that I think will be improved.”
Injury report
McVay said that right guard Kevin Dotson (ankle) will have a difficult time playing Monday against the Atlanta Falcons (6-9), but he did not go so far as to rule out the starting lineman.
Meanwhile, receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) is improving after missing Thursday’s game.
“Davante is making really good progress with his hamstring and we’ll see what that looks like as the week progresses,” McVay said.
Tight end Tyler Higbee (ankle) and right tackle Rob Havenstein (ankle/knee) need more time to heal before they are activated from injured reserve and they won’t play against Atlanta, McVay said.