The Los Angeles Rams appear to be breeding top football minds.
Rams head coach Sean McVay has earned a reputation for his acute memory of offensive play-calling and scheming.
But while L.A.'s offense is not quite the juggernaut it was in 2018, the defense has been prolific. As a result, defensive coordinator Brandon Staley is generating head coaching buzz.
Staley was asked about the level of interest around the league. He stated it was “humbling” to be included in such conversations, but also noted his focus is on the Rams' final games, per Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times.
Rams cornerback Darious Williams had even higher praise for Staley:
Article Continues BelowAsked if Staley had the makings of a head coach, cornerback Darious Williams said, “Oh, hell yeah.”
Why?
“The dude’s a genius,” Williams said.
It had previously been reported Staley was actually one of the key persons involved in helping the Rams scheme for their Week 14 showdown with the New England Patriots.
Los Angeles proceeded to throw the Pats for a loop, asserting its will with a dominant ground game. The Rams racked up nearly 200 yards rushing and controlled the clock, cruising to a 24-3 victory.
Of course, Staley's defense was pretty good, just as it has been all year.
The Rams rank third in defense-adjusted value over averaged (DVOA), per Football Outsiders. Los Angeles is obviously fortunate to have a game-changer like Aaron Donald up front and a star cornerback in Jalen Ramsey. Still, team personnel are highly complimentary of Staley, and the Rams assistant could very well be a head coach in the near future, if not next year.