Turf Show Times
Who will be the new faces on the Rams schedule to open the season?
The teams on the Rams’ 2024 schedule will look familiar but some of the players and coaches will be different. Who are the most important new faces on L.A.’s schedule in the first five weeks?
One year after he was one of the hottest head coach interview candidates, Slowik was let go from his position as the Texans offensive coordinator after a disappointing 2024 season. The Texans didn’t necessarily fall off of a cliff from 2023, but the context of the previous season was that they were pretty good (13th in scoring, 12th in yards, fewest turnovers) with a rookie quarterback.
But C.J. Stroud showed no progress and even took a step back last season.
The Texans went the extreme route, firing Slowik before he got another day with Stroud and hiring off of the Sean McVay tree: Nick Caley will be the offensive coordinator in 2025 after a two-year stint with the Rams. Stroud says he buys into Caley “the person” because “he has the most juice I’ve ever seen in my life”.
Caley had spent the previous eight seasons working for Bill Belichick in New England.
Houston has also overhauled their receiving corps, another disappointment from last season, by trading for Christian Kirk and drafting two day two picks who were teammates in college:
They’ve also acquired Braxton Berrios and Justin Watson.
Elsewhere on offense, the Texans had to add Cam Robinson as a replacement at left tackle for the injured Laremy Tunsil; signed Nick Chubb to spell Joe Mixon at running back; signed Laken Tomlinson to compete as the new left guard; signed safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson in free agency; added defensive line veterans Sheldon Rankins and Darrell Taylor.
Other new tackles on the team include second round pick Aireontae Ersery and veteran Trent Brown.
In spite of a 3-14 season, the Titans didn’t make any major coaching changes because they expect big things from Brian Callahan, who was just hired last year. However, Callahan could be on the hot seat if the Titans look as bad as they did in 2024, so they’ve turned a corner at quarterback by drafting Cam Ward to replace Will Levis and Mason Rudolph; that duo combined for 21 interceptions last season compared to 22 touchdowns.
There has to be some question if Ward will be ready to step in from Week 1 and lead an NFL offense, but it seems like Callahan is going to start him anyway.
The Titans have added former Rams receiver Van Jefferson and former Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett to complement Calvin Ridley, and signed two new starters on the offensive line in tackle Dan Moore Jr....
