Insider reveals whether Rams’ Raheem Morris fits the Raiders’ needs
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Sean Payton and Raheem Morris on August 26, 2023 in Denver.
Are the Las Vegas Raiders about to retire from the Rams House?
Now that the Raiders released Josh McDaniels on Halloween Tuesday night, the Los Angeles Rams could be the team the Raiders face, according to an insider.
Tashan Reed of The Athletic announced its list of qualified candidates for this opening on Wednesday, November 1st. Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris is indeed one of the names to keep an eye on.
Why Morris fits the Raiders
Reed began by noting that Morris had shown improvement compared to his first term as head coach.
“His resume is even more impressive,” Reed began. “He compiled a 17-31 record in his three-year tenure as head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2009 to 2011, but he redeemed himself and did more than enough to earn a second chance.” The Rams’ defense has has waned since their Super Bowl victory. But it remains a solid group despite losing a lot of its personnel.”
Morris’ willingness has played his part in keeping the Rams in contention in 2023. However, Morris’ unit gave up 43 points to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8 on Sunday, October 29th. But overall, he gave the Rams defense the following highlights:
- The Rams held the Philadelphia Eagles to 23 points – the fewest points for an Eagles win this season.
- Aside from the Dallas loss, every Rams loss has been decided by a margin of nine points or less.
- The Rams have allowed eight touchdown passes in their first eight games, good for third in the NFL.
There’s more to Morris’ work this season that increases his chances of becoming a head coach again. Morris has experience calling plays on both sides of the football. He was a wide receiver coach and passing game coordinator and ran the defense as a coordinator.
Additionally, Morris has established himself as a high-energy but player-friendly coach with two Super Bowl rings. Aaron Donald and former Rams cornerback Jalen Ramsey are two notable Morris players who have talked a lot about “Ra.” Overall, Reed believes Morris has prepared himself for another head coaching job.
“The 47-year-old has experience directing both offensive and defensive plays, has an infectious personality and appears ready for another opportunity as a head coach,” Reed said.
Who else thinks Morris is a good fit for the Raiders?
Reed isn’t the only analyst who sees Morris as a fit for the Raiders. Blaine Grisak from SB Nation is another Morris supporter.
“Morris has been a popular name in head coaching hiring over the past few years. Just last season, he was a finalist for the Indianapolis Colts job before ultimately being beaten out by Shane Steichen,” Grisak wrote. “Although the Rams defense was inconsistent overall given the lack of talent, they showed some good moments. Given Morris’ reputation, it’s hard to imagine the Raiders not giving the Rams’ defensive coordinator some level of consideration.”
Grisak added that the Raiders need a coach of character rather than a household name. Morris “would fit that description,” he says.
However, he points out that the Raiders would have wanted “splash” hires. Because McDaniels was a multiple Super Bowl winner, he was considered a “splash” player when he was hired in 2022. The man he replaced, Jon Gruden, was another in this category as a former champion. Morris’ record as a head coach could convince the Raiders to look elsewhere.
But with his own struggles and reputation as a player-coach, Morris’ name is on the rise as a Raiders possibility.
Lorenzo Reyna covers the Los Angeles Rams and Alabama Crimson Tide for Heavy.com. His NFL, college and high school football coverage has been featured on the Pro Football Network, Santa Maria Times, Daily Pilot, 24/7 Sports and Scout Media. More about Lorenzo Reyna
