The Rams hired former Saints head coach Jim Haslett to be their defensive coordinator. Haslett, whose verbal feud with the Rams during the 2000 and ’01 seasons were well publicized, was fired by the Saints after six seasons with the team. He will employ a 4-3 defense, with, as head coach Scott Linehan put it, “flavors” of 3-4.
Haslett was 45-51 with the Saints and was 3-13 this past season, however this was a team without any home games because of Hurricane Katrina. In 2000, Haslett was the NFL Coach of the Year after leading New Orleans to a 10-6 record in his first season with the Saints. That year, they knocked the Rams out of the playoffs in wild-card game in New Orleans. That proved to be Haslett’s best season there.
The Rams also hired former Lions quarterbacks coach Greg Olson to be the offensive coordinator. Olson was the QB coach in Detroit in 2004 and 2005. He held the same position with the Bears in 2003 and the 49ers in 2001. Olson’s title as offensive coordinator may not carry the same weight is it might on other teams—head coach Scott Linehan will call the plays.