The Los Angeles Rams have to consider a future without one of their top coaching assistants
WOODLAND HILLS, Ca. Los Angeles Rams assistant head coach/ passing game coordinator Aubrey Pleasant is one of several candidates that Arizona Cardinals head coach and former Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur is bringing in to interview for his vacant defensive coordinator job.
If the Rams must replace Pleasant, who has been invaluable in creating defensive back production from limited resources, here are three candidates who could inject some excitement within the organization, filling is for some of the many roles/ hats Pleasant wears on a weekly basis.
Adegoke, the Texans’ safeties coach, is one of the NFL’s next rising coaching stars, beginning his career in 2019 after wrapping up his collegiate playing career with Mississippi State in 2018.
The Texans have flouished under Adegoke and their phenominal defensive staff. Calen Bullock has looked great, Jimmie Ward is having a career resurgence, and Jalen Pitre has been the perfect complementary piece for Houston’s star-studded cornerbacks. Adegoke has future defensive coordinator written all over him and the Rams would be the perfect launching pad for head coaching ambitions.
Perkins, the Jaguars’ defensive backs coach, put together an incredible secondary in Jacksonville, despite a revolving door of pieces. Perkins, who is Jaguars defensive coordinator’s Anthony Campanile no. 2 guy according to sources.
Perkins has the resume, the film, and the experience to not just replace Pleasant’s impact on the secondary but also as assistant head coach. Pleasant is Chris Shula’s right hand, providing complementary coverages for what Shula wants to run. Seems like a perfect fit. Plus, Perkins spent 2024 in Green Bay so if Sean McVay needs references, he can call his dear friend Matt LaFleur if he doesn’t want to call Liam Coen for an accurate review.
Coniglio, the Rams’ outside linebackers coach, wouldn’t be an instant replacement for Pleasant due to Pleasant’s influence on the defensive secondary. However, I see Coniglio as a coach who could take over for Pleasant’s assistant head coaching role while expanding his influence on the defense.
The Rams still have Mike Harris and Chris Beake to coordinate the secondary while Sean McVay, defensive coordinator Chris Shula, and Coniglio, all teammates from the University of Miami of Ohio, would have the continuity to maintain the standards Pleasant helps keep in place. Plus, the Rams could hire another secondary coach that could only focus on the position group.
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