Defensive coordinators play big role in Rams-49ers rivalry

By JOSH DUBOW
AP Pro Football Writer

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The play-calling head coaches get lots of the attention around the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers. But the success that Sean McVay and Kyle Shanahan have had as coaches in Los Angeles and San Francisco has had as much to do with the play of their defenses. Those performances have made the coordinators of the two units among the more prominent candidates for head coaching jobs soon. But before the coaching carousel starts up again there are more immediate focuses with the two coordinators and teams vying for NFC West supremacy heading into Monday night’s showdown between the Rams and 49ers.