Rams make coaching change right before the playoffs. Is this a wise decision?

RC Nazemi

•
Rams make coaching change right before the playoffs. Is this a wise decision? image

Credit: Kirby Lee - Imagn Images

The Los Angeles Rams have been riding high all season. For the majority of this year, they've been atop the NFC West and the NFC as a whole. 

This last Thursday, however, they lost what many are calling the game of the year in a pivotal overtime matchup against their division rivals, the Seattle Seahawks. 

More: A week of insanity bleeds into the NFL's game of the year between Seahawks and Rams

That loss not only removed them from their place on the mountaintop of the conference but also made the organization take a long look in the mirror to see how they can correct their mistakes before the playoffs. 

It took only two days for Los Angeles to not only recognize one key issue in all four of their losses this season, but in a shocking turn, act on it as well. 

Rams fire special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn

In a surprising move, Los Angeles announced today that they have decided to part ways with their special teams coordinator, Chase Blackburn. 

Not only is this a major move based on how close the playoffs are, but this is also the first time in the Sean McVay era that the Rams have fired a coach in-season. 

The Rams looked back and decided that crucial special teams errors could be traced back to each one of their losses this season, and couldn't ignore it much longer. 

The most recent mistake came against Seattle on Thursday night, when in the 4th quarter of a game that should've been wrapped up, the Rams punt team allowed the newest Seahawk, Rashid Shaheed, to return a punt 58 yards for a TD. 

The margin for error narrows significantly in the playoffs, and the Rams decided they wanted one less variable to be unstable. We'll see if and how much this move affects their special teams units. 

More NFL News: 

Contributing Writer