Josh McDaniels: Why He and Sam Bradford Are a Good Fit

Josh McDaniels has found his new home in St. Louis, and Sam Bradford will be better with him.

Think about it for a moment, if you will. McDaniels came to the humbling decision that he wasn't ready for head-coaching responsibilities after he was let go in Denver. An 8-8 year followed by the turmoil of a 3-9 record can do that.

What the Rams now have on their staff is an established offensive coach with a darn good pedigree.

Consider first that this hire kept him away from the division rivals, and that's a good thing for Steve Spagnuolo and the entire Rams organization.

Next, you cannot dismiss McDaniels' credentials. He was a graduate assistant under Nick Saban at Michigan State and then found his way to New England. He was on the Patriots staff for all three of their Super Bowl victories. When Charlie Weis left for Notre Dame, Bill Belichick didn't name an offensive coordinator, but McDaniels called the plays for the 2005 season.

He did well enough to become the official OC the following season.

So one would think, if this guy was good enough to be the offensive coordinator for Tom Brady, then he sure as sugar is good enough for the Rams.

The fact that he's a young guy can only help Sam Bradford. The two can relate, and McDaniels' favorite area of expertise is the passing game, and that's more good news for Bradford.

Fits like a golf glove.

This is a "sizzle" hire for the Rams, a hire that will bring some talk around town and some excitement for Bradford and the rest of the offense.

Bradford is at that stage where he needs sound coaching if he's going to take his game to the next level and fulfill the expectations that come with being the No. 1 overall pick in the draft.

Josh isn't joshing about Bradford. "Sam's an extremely talented player," said his new coach. "He's a very accurate guy. Does a lot of things in the pocket well. Does things out of the pocket well."

Of course, it doesn't take years of NFL coaching experience to make statements like that. It simply coach-speak, but what else would he say?

McDaniels can now concern himself with one facet of football. He was obviously overwhelmed in Denver. Now he can go back to what he was good enough doing that it got him hired in the first place.

Some have expressed doubts about the hire, but all they have to do is understand that McDaniels is NOT the head coach in St. Louis.

He's there to develop a young quarterback, not worry about the defensive game plan or the draft or the litany of lard that fattens the thought process of head coaches.

He's there to make a young quarterback better, there to put some pop in the offense.

And that's a good fit.