TheLos Angeles Rams have returned as one of the NFL’s top teams, with a great offense under the control of Matthew Stafford and with a defense that is one of the most effective in the league. But looking ahead to the 2026 NFL season, the franchise could lose an important piece of the puzzle, defensive coordinator Chris Shula.
The offense is the face of the team; it is thanks to this unit that the Rams have had success in recent years. Their identity and pretty much how the fans, or not-so-fans of the teams, remember them, but this year, the defensive effort has a lot to do with the success, thanks to Shula’s work.
Since taking over as the defense, Chris Shula has maximized the talent that the Rams have on the team. He has them playing as a consistent and disruptive unit, mainly with young guys in the secondary, one of the main issues in a lot of teams in the NFL.
The Rams also have one of the top 10 defenses in rushing success rate and dropback EPA, which could be mistaken for a great defensive line or backers, but is also a signal that the opposing receivers are all well covered, leading to pressure rush time and sacks.
His defensive schemes lead to sacks and pressures with a heavy blitzing team, something that helps when a team wants to control a game and off-course gets great field position for Sttaford and his boys.
Chris Shula, 38, has done his work and, thanks to that, has climbed the ladder in Sean McVay’s staff, winning the coordinator’s job when Raheem Morris got his head coaching position with the Atlanta Falcons. Since he got the defensive role, the LA defense has looked like a dominant one in the NFL and has gotten 10 points or less in five games this season vs good offensive teams.
What can be the long-term effect for the Rams?
Shula is expected to be interviewed for head coaching roles as the NFL teams are already planning the next season. Last year, he already received some attention but chose to remain with the Rams. If the team gets and wins the Super Bowl, the coach will be a strong candidate for a move, and this will change the Los Angeles franchise for next year.
McVay’s staff would lose a key piece of the success, but also Mathew Sttaford could be affected thanks to the impact that the defense can lose, it`s not the same to score only 21 to 28 points and having a more balanced offensive effort, that start playing in shootouts every week against teams. More if we take into account that the star QB is not a youngster anymore.
While a lot of lights are focused on Chris Shula, the coordinator has one job: to allow the Rams to go on a deep run into the Playoffs with the goal of the journey being Levi’s Stadium, home of their archrivals, San Francisco, and play for Super Bowl XL.
This is just another example of how difficult it is to win every year in the NFL; every season is a challenge, losing key people in the chase for the Lombardi Trophy.
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