<
>

Aaron Kromer likely joining Rams as offensive line coach

LOS ANGELES -- The Los Angeles Rams are expected to bring Aaron Kromer in as their new offensive line coach, a source confirmed to ESPN on Tuesday. The development, which is not yet official, was first reported by USA Today.

Kromer would replace Paul Boudreau, who has been an NFL offensive line coach for 30 consecutive years and spent the last five seasons with the Rams. The Rams used seven draft picks on offensive linemen from 2014 to '15, but have been unable get it right up front. Greg Robinson, the No. 2 overall pick in 2014, has struggled mightily at left tackle, while right tackle Rob Havenstein, a second-round pick in 2015, struggled in his second NFL season.

Kromer has spent 11 years as an offensive line coach for four NFL teams, including the Oakland Raiders (2002 to '04), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2006 to '07), New Orleans Saints (2009 to '12) and Buffalo Bills (2015 to '16). Kromer also was offensive coordinator for the Chicago Bears from 2013 to '14 and served as the Saints' interim coach for the first six games of 2012, when the Saints were penalized in the infamous bounty scandal.

Kromer, 49, began his stint with the Bills by serving his own six-game suspension for allegedly getting into a physical altercation with a minor. Kromer's son, Zachery, was accused of placing his hands on another boy during the incident, but both charges were dropped after an amicable resolution.

In Kromer's two years as offensive line coach, the Bills led the NFL with 5.06 rushing yards per carry. As offensive coordinator in Chicago, the Bears had the second-highest scoring offense in the NFL in 2013 before falling to 23rd in points by 2014. And during his four-year stint as offensive line coach with the Saints, Kromer coached five players who went to a combined 10 Pro Bowls.

Behind the Rams' offensive line in 2016, Todd Gurley averaged only 3.18 rushing yards per carry, the second-worst rate in the NFL, and Jared Goff was sacked 25 times over his last six games. New head coach Sean McVay will call the Rams' offensive plays this season and has agreed to hire former Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator Greg Olson as his quarterbacks coach. Skip Peete will return as running backs coach, but wide receivers coach Mike Groh recently accepted a job with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Kromer coached under Jon Gruden, one of McVay's key mentors, in Oakland and Tampa Bay. The Rams reportedly were considering Kromer for their head coaching position before they settled on Jeff Fisher in 2012.

Kromer currently is with the Rams' contingent in Mobile, Alabama, for the Senior Bowl, according to USA Today.