According to a recent report, the Los Angeles Rams have hired Bubba Ventrone as their new special teams coordinator.
The Los Angeles Rams NFL season came to an unfortunate end when they lost 31-27 to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship. Naturally, fans and experts alike are looking at ways they can improve for the next season to once again be named Super Bowl Champions.
The most significant place for improvement is easily special teams. While the Rams had the best offense in the NFL and a solid defense, their special teams was one of the worst in the league.
This was especially evident in the NFC Championship when returner Xavier Smith muffed two punts, one of which led to a touchdown by the Seahawks.
Fortunately, it looks like the Rams are taking a step in the right direction.
According to a report from Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston, the Rams have hired former Cleveland Browns special teams coordinator Raymond "Bubba" Ventrone.
Ventrone will be taking over from Chase Blackburn after he was fired from the position in Week 16. Afterward, Ben Kotwica filled in as the interim special teams coordinator. There has been no word regarding where Kotwica and Blackburn will end up.
Ventrone began his NFL career as a defensive back on the practice squad for the New England Patriots (2005-2006) and New York Jets (2007). He would go on to play for the Patriots (2007-2008), Browns (2009-2012), and San Francisco 49ers (2013-2014).
As a player, Ventrone recorded 64 combined tackles (55 solo), two quarterback hits, one forced fumble, and two fumbles recovered across 97 games.
In 2015, Ventrone made the transition to coaching, starting as a special teams assistant coach for the Patriots. He would be part of the staff that won Super Bowl LI over the Atlanta Falcons.
In 2018, Ventrone began his five year tenure as the special teams coordinator for the Indianapolis Colts. During his time in Indianapolis, Ventrone had the Colts consistently ranked as one of the best special team units in the league.
In 2023, Ventrone joined the Browns, where he was much less successful, with Cleveland always ranked near the bottom during his tenure. However, whether that is his fault or the fault of the organization as a whole remains to be seen.
Now, Ventrone is taking over in Los Angeles, who is already ranked as one of the worst special team units in the NFL. Needless to say, Ventrone has nowhere to go but up with the Rams.