Frank Cignetti Named Rams OC: Latest Details, Comments and Reaction

The St. Louis Rams opted to go with an in-house option to find their new offensive coordinator, promoting quarterbacks coach Frank Cignetti to the position.   

Myles Simmons reported the news Thursday for the Rams' official website, adding that tight ends coach Rob Boras has also risen in the ranks, taking over as assistant head coach/offense.

NFL Network's Albert Breer shed some light on the roles Cignetti and Boras will play:

Previous play-caller Brian Schottenheimer left for the college ranks, now serving as the offensive coordinator at Georgia.

This St. Louis staff strategy seems to be a move out of the Dallas Cowboys' playbook. Bill Callahan focuses on Dallas' running game and former Rams head coach Scott Linehan is the passing game coordinator.

Cignetti represents continuity on offense, something St. Louis has lacked in recent years, particularly since Sam Bradford was tasked with being the franchise quarterback.

Maintaining consistency in that regard is key at this point. Bradford's future is up in the air after two left ACL tears, while Shaun Hill is an unrestricted free agent and Austin Davis is restricted.

The NFC West is among the toughest divisions in pro football, and lacking offense has held St. Louis back from taking the proverbial next step.

In this millennium, Cignetti has had experience in his new position only in college, with Fresno State, North Carolina, California, Pittsburgh and Rutgers. It will be interesting to see if Cignetti can retain his status as Rams offensive coordinator for longer than he held his more recent college gigs.

St. Louis has to figure out a solution under center if Cignetti is meant to have any chance at succeeding in calling plays for the first time in the NFL.    

That may not come for another year, and if Cignetti can't overcome the circumstances, it could mean the Rams undergo a coaching change should they miss the playoffs for a fourth straight year under Jeff Fisher.