Rams DC implementing grandfather Don Shula's football philosophy

Chris Shula's been on the Los Angeles Rams staff since Sean McVay was hired as head coach back in 2017. Shula now replaces former defensive coordinator Raheem Morris, as Morris is heading to be the head coach of the Atlanta Falcons.

Chris Shula is the grandson of Pro Football Hall of Fame head coach Don Shula, who led the Miami Dolphins to Super Bowl victories in 1972 and 1973, including a perfect 17-0 season in 1972. Chris Shula isn't shying away from the family connection, he's utilizing some of what he learned from his grandfather, who passed away in 2020 at 90 years old.  

“I’d like to think he would think I did it the right way,” Chris Shula said, per The Orange County Register. “I just focus on building relationships with the coaches and the players, working as hard as I can to provide clarity for the players so that they can play their best. I’d like to think he’d be proud of a lot of the lessons I learned from him, the discipline, the accountability that you have that you show to your players by being prepared, by leaving no stone unturned in your preparation so that they go out and they can feel confident when they take the field.”

Shula's going to shape his defensive philosophy around something Don Shula told a reporter long after he retired.

"My defensive philosophy is it's about the players," Don Shula said. "It goes back to I remember somebody asked my grandpa this question, how has the game changed since he was coaching. He had been retired a bunch of years now at this point. And to me it's a simple game it's relentless pursuit of the ball, it's getting off blocks, it's tackling, and it's taking the ball away. Defense hasn't changed over the course of time and that's what this defense is gonna be about."

Shula, 37, will be taking over a defense that has plenty of room for improvement after a less-than-stellar output last season. The Rams ranked No. 24 in sacks, No. 24 in interceptions, No. 20 in total defense, No. 20 in passing defense, No. 12 in rushing defense, No. 15 in red zone defense, and No. 18 in third-down defense. 

If the Rams are going to make another Super Bowl push, Shula's defense has to be part of the turnaround.