NFL Rumors: St. Louis Rams Considering Brian Schottenheimer for OC Is a Mistake

All the negative press Brian Schottenheimer has gotten the past few seasons would make it a logical belief that he wouldn't be considered for an offensive coordinator job in the NFL this season, but that's exactly the opportunity the St. Louis Rams are reportedly giving him.

Now I know, nothing is definite and coaches get "considered" all the time, but this is a total joke. The Rams, after a 2-14 season, need to start clean, and it started with Jeff Fisher and continues with their new offensive coordinator.

And that can't be Schottenheimer.

During his time in New York, Schottenheimer was always saved by a solid rushing attack until running back Shonn Greene took the starting job last season. Since then, his inability to make good play calls has been truly exposed with a non-existent running game that ranked 22nd in the NFL in 2011.

The most important thing the offensive coordinator will need to do is work with a third-year quarterback in Sam Bradford and help him progress after a horrible sophomore campaign.

In that department, Schottenheimer failed miserably as well. Mark Sanchez's career has seen its ups and downs with the down coming in what should have been his breakout season as a quarterback.

Instead, the third-year expectation of consistent play never happened for Sanchez, as he often found himself handcuffed with quick slants and short pass plays that limited his chance to throw down field.

Anyone who's watched the Rams knows that's the thing their offense needs to change most.

It will be essential to have an offensive coordinator who allows Bradford to flourish and not hold him back with a more conservative approach. Sanchez barely, if at all, improved from his second year, making it abundantly clear that Schottenheimer's system wasn't helping.

With the addition of Brandon Lloyd into the receiving core (who they need to re-sign, of course), the Rams have a threat to throw down field that they need to utilize next season. Drafting another receiver, ideally Justin Blackmon of Oklahoma State, would further enhance the balance of short and long passes in Bradford's repertoire.

It's as simple as can be that this match doesn't work. Schottenheimer has done nothing to deserve the control of a young team's offense because of such a poor track record. Not to mention, his problem with players on his own team.

This is a move the Rams must not make.