Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Rams defensive coordinator Chris Shula took the reins this year for a unit whose two previous bosses parlayed it into head coaching jobs. But Shula knew not to try to be Raheem Morris or Brendan Staley.
When reporters asked him on Friday what was the best piece of advice he’d gotten in the past year, the answer was simple — be yourself.
“I think it was in the OTAs because we were back in the (California Lutheran University) building,” Shula said. “Jason Garrett was there watching and hanging out and he stopped me in the hallway and just said, ‘Hey, Sean (McVay) hired you to be you.’ Don’t try to be anyone else and be the best version of yourself. That’s what I try to tell myself. Just be the best version of yourself.” From me: “Sean has entrusted me with this mission, do the best you can do, and don’t try to be anyone else.”
It worked, culminating in an elaborate game plan Monday night that stifled the Vikings offense from the start and tied a postseason record with nine total sacks.
The challenge intensifies on Sunday, as the Rams face another crack in an offense that tore through Los Angeles’ defense in Week 12, punctuated by Saquon Barkley’s 255-yard scoring drive.
“It was tough,” Shula said of the 37-20 loss. “The NFL is a mediocre league. You’re only a week away from mediocrity, and that was a mediocre night. The game got away from us a little bit at the end. We’ve had some games like that unfortunately this year and I always say, ‘Just put your face in it.’ “Fan, make the corrections we need to make moving forward and let’s do that as coaches and players. We’re going to try to put them in better positions and the players need to make the plays they’re supposed to make. That’s all you do. Just get it right.” Moving forward and hopefully you play better next week.
If they do, they will likely earn a spot in the NFC Championship. And you might get an interview or two with Shula on the slow-moving training circuit.
Shula, 38, arrived in Los Angeles with McVay in 2017 and worked his way to the position he holds now. He spent two years before that as a defensive quality control coach with the Chargers, and before that, five years at the college level.
