Los Angeles Rams Are Betting Big On Mike Waufle

A lot of people must be scratching their heads at why the Los Angeles Rams are collecting so many failed defensive linemen. Simple. They have a secret weapon.

His name is Mike Waufle. The teams’ defensive line coach since Jeff Fisher took over the team in 2012, he brings with him quite the reputation in NFL circles. Aside from being an ex-member of the United States Marine Corps, he has built a long and illustrious history as a developer and teacher of top pass rushers in pro football.

The Rams’ own website lists out some of his impressive accomplishments.

"“Waufle was defensive line coach at the University of California at Berkeley for six years before moving to nearby Oakland. While an assistant at Cal, Waufle was also recruiting coordinator. Waufle helped develop a number of NFL defensive linemen, including two first rounders in 1996 — Duane Clemons and Regan Upshaw — during his coaching career at Cal. Waufle was defensive line coach at Oregon State from 1990-91 and at UCLA in 1989.Waufle served in the same capacity with the Raiders from 1998-03. He helped Oakland earn three AFC West titles during his first stint with the Raiders, a run that included a 2002 AFC Championship and trip to Super Bowl XXXVII. DT Darrell Russell made two Pro Bowls (1998, ’99) during Waufle’s first tenure with the Raiders. From 2004-09, Waufle served as defensive line coach with the New York Giants and helped guide some of the NFL’s top pass rushers. The Giants led the NFL in sacks in 2007, and their defensive line sacked Tom Brady five times in Super Bowl XLII to help lead New York to a world championship. Three different defensive ends – Osi Umenyiora (2005, ’07), Michael Strahan (2005) and Justin Tuck (2008) – went to the Pro Bowl under Waufle’s watch. On Sept. 30, 2007, Waufle’s Giants tied the NFL single-game record as they recorded 12 sacks in a win over the Philadelphia Eagles.”"

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Not much has changed since. Waufle has worked his same magic with the Rams, turning Robert Quinn and now Aaron Donald into All-Pro stars. So it is into these capable hands that Fisher and GM Les Snead have dropped two former 1st round draft picks in hopes he might reverse the way both their careers have gone.

Quinton Coples was the 16th overall pick of the New York Jets in 2012. Viewed as a physical freak of nature at 6’6″, 290 lbs he had the look of a player that could dominate. His three years with the Jets were hardly dominant. Granted, they weren’t terrible with 16.5 sacks in three years but they were well below expectations. With a new regime arriving under Todd Bowles he was traded to Miami midway through last season, didn’t play much and was released this off-season.

Then there is Dominique Easley. A former 1st round of New England in 2014, he arrived with history of knee problems that continued to dog him through his two seasons there. He had just three sacks in that span and the Patriots released him in April. His reputation as a great interior pass rusher at Florida, along with rumors he wasn’t happy in New England, compelled the Rams to put him under the direction of Waufle.

If the 61-year old can mold those two and get them to play to their potential, an already great defensive front becomes a frightening one.

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