Jimmy Lake, our guy from the University of Washington, is officially the LA Rams’ new defensive backs coordinator AND pass game coordinator! And get this: one of the Rams’ newest cornerbacks, Trent McDuffie, knows exactly what he’s getting into. Why? Because Lake was McDuffie’s coach for three years when he was rocking the purple and gold for the Huskies. Talk about a full-circle moment!
Our Guy Lake’s Husky Roots and What He Built
Lake first coached McDuffie as the Huskies’ defensive coordinator in 2019, then took over as head coach in 2020 and 2021. And McDuffie wasn’t just some player; he was a standout. In 2019, his freshman year, Lake’s defense was stout, holding opposing offenses to just 19.4 points per game. That’s crazy impressive when you consider they’d lost NINE defensive starters from the previous season! Then, in 2021, McDuffie really broke out, earning All-Pac-12 First Team honors. So yeah, Lake knows how to get the best out of his guys, especially his corners. It’s not just talent, it’s the teaching!
McDuffie’s Honest Take on His Old Coach
McDuffie is absolutely buzzing about Lake joining him in LA. He didn’t hold back, saying Lake is “going to truly pour into this DB room, which I love.” That’s the kind of dedication you want from a coach! McDuffie went on to say that back in college, Coach Lake was the one who “taught me how to play corner, taught me how to see the football field from a coach’s perspective.” That insight is priceless. He knows Lake is going to bring “a lot of great things to this DB room that is young, that is hungry, that wants to get better.” McDuffie called him a “perfectionist,” and honestly, for a young secondary looking to tighten things up, you NEED a coach who’s going to obsess over the details day in and day out. It’s all about that grind, baby!
From Cheney to the NFL’s Big Stage
Lake’s journey to this NFL gig has been a long one, winding through multiple stops. After coaching defensive backs at his alma mater, Eastern Washington, from 2000 to 2003, he spent a year with the Huskies. Then it was on to Montana State, where his defense dominated the Big Sky conference, allowing a ridiculous 165.6 passing yards per game. The NFL noticed, snagging him for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as an assistant DB coach, working under Monte Kiffin for two years. He even spent time with the infamous 0-16 Detroit Lions as their DB coach, and later returned to Tampa working with Raheem Morris in Morris’ first head coaching position for two years. After ten years in college ball, including two at Boise State and another stint with Washington, this dude has seen it all, learned from some greats, and put in the work. It’s pretty cool to see a former UW coach make it back to the big leagues, especially with a guy like McDuffie who clearly trusts him completely. This Rams secondary could be something special with those two reunited!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Turf Show Times.
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