Ryan, Knox Head Ram List for Next Coach : NFL: Team is quietly considering candidates to succeed Robinson.
The Rams’ unofficial search for a coach to replace John Robinson has tentatively settled on two names and two scenarios, according to Rams sources involved in the process.
Former Philadelphia Eagle Coach Buddy Ryan and current Seattle Seahawk Coach Chuck Knox top the Rams’ wish list, with every other candidate only a faint possibility.
Former New York Giant Coach Bill Parcells remains in the picture, but he seems destined to end up with the cash-rich Green Bay Packers, several NFL sources say.
Former San Francisco 49er Coach Bill Walsh is also remotely involved, but a team source said his candidacy was “really only a distant possibility.”
Until a settlement is reached with Robinson and he announces his resignation, the Rams will not mount a public search, and so far have made no official inquiries after candidates.
But Rams’ officials are known to have made phone calls to Don Shula, Mike Ditka, Bud Carson and a handful of other NFL figures to ask about Ryan, and apparently are very serious in their consideration of bringing in Ryan and granting him full power--short of financial control--to reshape the team.
Although Ditka, Shula and Carson apparently emphasized Ryan’s prickly personality, they reportedly gave him unanimous praise for building the Eagles into a perennial playoff force.
Ryan, 57, is believed to be a finalist for the Indianapolis Colts’ job, but Ryan said he hasn’t been contacted by that team, either.
Knox, 59, is a viable alternative for totally different reasons than Ryan.
Knox, who is expected to resign or be fired by the Seahawks at the end of the season, is known for injecting stability into staggering franchises, as he did during his five-year run (1973-77) with the Rams. The team made the playoffs in each year of Knox’s stay.
“That’s a very interesting name,” said one Rams official of Knox. “He’s under contract now, but that is interesting.”
He would not, however, be given carte blanche personnel power by the Rams, who consider Knox a possible calming presence. Knox would probably only be brought in with the condition that he retain offensive coordinator Ernie Zampese and defensive coordinator Jeff Fisher.
Fisher, 33, would continue to be groomed as the heir to the head coaching job, with the understanding that he would be heavily involved in personnel matters and could take the reins by 1994 or ’95.
Interestingly, Robinson is known to have close ties with Seattle General Manager Tom Flores, and although there have been no contacts, Robinson is considered to be on Flores’ short list to replace Knox in Seattle should both men lose their current jobs.
Robinson, increasingly free with his words as his days as Ram coach dwindle, recently said that finding a successful head coach isn’t as easy as might be assumed.
“It isn’t being a coordinator, it’s not that job,” Robinson said of being a head coach. “It’s a very different job.
“It’s a complicated job. I don’t think people know--not many people that hire coaches know much about hiring coaches. I’m not talking about here, I’m just talking about whether it’s an athletic director or a president of a university or an owner, or in some cases the general manager, don’t know. Don’t know much about football, so they don’t know. . . .
“They look at what the stats are, offense is No. 1, let’s hire that guy. So it’s very confusing.”
So what should be the No. 1 quality a team, say the Rams, should look for in a coach?
“A leader,” Robinson said. “Somebody that can lead a group--not necessarily somebody with technical expertise.
“I think it has to be a leader, a guy who has whatever it takes to be a leader, and set a sense of direction.
“I think it’s overrated that the man has to have vast NFL experience. I think that’s an overrated point. I think he has to be at a place where he’s prepared to learn.”