Part 5/10:
Shifting focus to defense, Chris Shula, the Rams' defensive coordinator, has emerged as a top candidate. His unit ranks as the second-best scoring defense in the NFL, allowing less than 17.5 points per game. Shula’s schemes utilize a versatile 3-3-5 personnel group and innovative pressure mechanisms that don't rely heavily on blitzing—yet they manufacture effective pressure and force turnovers.
Shula's coaching pedigree is notable: he's been with the Rams since 2017, played college football at Miami University as a linebacker—a background similar to Kubiak—and is the grandson of Don Shula, the legendary Hall of Fame coach, and son of Dave Shula, a former Bengals head coach. His familial football lineage underscores a deep strategic understanding and leadership presence.