Reports: Rams fire coach Blake Williams; father Gregg also expected to go

The St. Louis Rams have fired linebackers coach Blake Williams, son of suspended defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, Yahoo! Sports’ Michael Silver is reporting. Blake has been telling other coaches that Gregg Williams will also be “gone,” according to Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer, although Gregg has yet to be reinstated.

Blake Williams, 27, served as the team’s de facto defensive coordinator in his father’s absence, including taking over play-calling responsibilities on game days. He previously coached under his father in Washington, Jacksonville and New Orleans.

Blake’s “brusque, tactless style” played a role in his firing, according to Silver.

According to a high-placed Rams source, linebackers coach Blake Williams has been fired, Y! Sports has learned…—
Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) January 02, 2013

Blake Williams, according to the source, was fired in part because of a brusque, tactless style in dealing with colleagues and players…—
Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) January 02, 2013

Gregg Williams, the central figure in the Saints’ bounty program, remains under indefinite suspension. According to Silver, head coach Jeff Fisher has not yet decided on what to do after Gregg is reinstated.

Fisher and Williams have a close relationship that dates back to their days on the Houston Oilers coaching staff together in the 1990s.

Gregg Williams, suspended indefinitely for his role in the Saints' pay-for-injure/performance scandal, has not yet been reinstated…—
Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) January 02, 2013

…thus Rams coach Jeff Fisher has not communicated with Gregg Williams and has not yet decided what will happen after his reinstatement…—
Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) January 02, 2013

In Fisher’s first year at the helm, the Rams improved from 2-14 last season to 7-8-1 this season. Their defense in particular made significant improvements, allowing 21.8 points per game compared to 25.4 in 2011 and recording a league-high 52.0 sacks.