The Green Bay Packers have reportedly hired former St. Louis Rams running backs coach Ben Sirmans for the same position.
Sirmans replaces Sam Gash, who was with the Packers for two seasons before being dismissed early in the week. The Sirmans’ move comes a day after the Packers hired new tight ends coach Brian Angelichio.
Sirmans was among five coaches the Rams let go after a 7-9 season.
He was with the team for four seasons. Prior to that, Sirmans coached running backs at the collegiate level going back to 1996.
Sirmans fits the same mold as Angelichio. He’s been able to make something out of nothing.
In 2015, rookie Todd Gurley ran for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns in 13 games. And yes, he was somewhat expected to have that impact. What wasn’t expected is what happened the previous two seasons.
In 2014, the Rams were led in rushing by rookie third-round pick Tre Mason, who ran for 765 yards in 12 games. In 2013, they were led by Zac Stacy, a fifth-round pick, who ran for 973 yards and seven touchdowns in 14 games.
These two hires by the Packers make the firings look less bad. In other words, it’s not as if Sam Gash and Jerry Fontenot did their jobs badly. It was that there were two more successful coaches available.
At least Fontenot can, in part, blame Ted Thompson. Had Thompson provided the Packers with a decent tight end, they wouldn’t need a coach who can turn garbage into gold and Fontenot would still have his job.