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Mike Westhoff and the late Gunther Cunningham have won the 2019 Paul “Dr. Z” Zimmerman Award from the Professional Football Writers of America.Cunningham spent 33 of his 35 NFL seasons as an assistant coach http://www.seattleseahawksteamonline.com/cody-barton-jersey , renowned for his feared defensive units in Kansas City over two stints and nine seasons as the Chiefs‘ defensive coordinator. Westhoff spent 32 seasons as an NFL assistant coach and is regarded as a special teams pioneer.The Dr. Z Award is given for lifetime achievement as an assistant coach in the NFL and is named for Zimmerman, who covered the NFL for 29 years as Sports Illustrated’s pro football writer.Cunningham, born in Germany, was a three-year linebacker and placekicker at Oregon (1966-68), and started his coaching career with the Ducks as a defensive line coach (1969-71). He also was a college assistant at Arkansas, Stanford, and California. His first pro job was with the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1981 as defensive line and linebackers coach. In 1982, he entered the NFL with the same jobs for the Baltimore Colts.Cunningham spent six seasons with the San Diego Chargers, then four with the Los Angeles Raiders (1991-94) for four seasons, including two as defensive coordinator (1992-93). He was hired by the Chiefs in 1995 as defensive coordinator and worked with linebacker Derrick Thomas during his Hall of Fame career. After four seasons as D-coordinator, Cunningham became Chiefs head coach for two seasons (1999-2000) http://www.seattleseahawksteamonline.com/phil-haynes-jersey , going 16-16. Then the Titans hired him as assistant head coach and linebackers coach before the Chiefs rehired Cunningham for a second stint as defensive coordinator from 2004-08. He also worked for the Lions.Westhoff played linebacker or one year at Wyoming and then spent three seasons at Wichita State (1967-69) as a center and linebacker. He began coaching as a graduate assistantand freshman coach at Indiana, also worked for Dayton, Indiana State, Northwestern and TCU (1981). In 1982, Westhoff got his first NFL job with the Baltimore Colts as an offensive line, tight ends and special teams coach, and he worked for the franchise for three seasons. After one season (1985) with the USFL’s Arizona Outlaws as offensive line coach, he returned to the NFL with the Dolphins. Westhoff spent 15 seasons there as special teams coach: His punt and kickoff coverage units were top ranked for four seasons, and he was voted NFL special teams coach of the year by his peers in 2000.A survivor of bone cancer, Westhoff moved to the New York Jets, where he spent 12 seasons as special teams coordinator; he was also assistant head coach for two seasons (2004-05). The Jets’ kickoff coverage and return units combined to rank first in the NFL in both 2001 and 2002.Westhoff retired after the 2012 season http://www.tampabaybuccaneersteamonline.com/mike-edwards-jersey , but was lured back into the NFL in midseason 2017 by New Orleans to oversee the Saints‘ special teams units, and he coached with the Saints through the 2018 season.Other 2019 nominees for the Dr. Z Award were the late offensive line coach Bobb McKittrick; current Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator and defensive line coach Rod Marinelli; and current Jacksonville Jaguars running backs coach Terry Robiskie. Ask any coach who won a preseason game and they’ll tell you the team that didn’t suffer any injuries.Despite the scoreboard reading 33-7 in favor of the Baltimore Ravens, the Los Angeles Rams came away from the Thursday night preseason opener a winner.Head coach Sean McVay stuck to his game plan and sat all 22 starters in hopes of carrying a healthy roster at least one more week, something several teams around the league like the Washington Redskins and Indianapolis Colts wished they could boast. McVay said during a conference call Friday afternoon the Rams came away with no significant injuries, but they are waiting to hear test results on wide receiver Josh Reynolds‘ ankle and cornerback Kevin Peterson‘s knee.With that in mind, McVay was questioned whether it would be possible starters would not see a single snap during the course of the preseason. The 32-year-old said it was unlikely they would receive no playing time, but couldn’t completely rule it out.“You don’t want to play scared but you want to balance doing it in a smart way,” McVay said. “There’s going to be good dialogue within our coaching staff on how we want to approach the next week.”The Rams face an awkward situation ahead of taking on the Oakland Raiders in the second week of the preseason Saturday, August 18. LA and Oakland will also square off in the regular season opener just three weeks later, which McVay said will impact his decision heading into PWK2.“It’s not out of the question how we would approach the Oakland game,” McVay said about holding starters out again. “You get a better feel as you accumulate the experience.”While none of the starting 22 were on the field http://www.tampabaybuccaneersteamonline.com/matt-gay-jersey , the Rams did have a plethora of players see action Thursday. After having a night to review the tape, the second-year head coach said while he was overall pleased, they would need to return to the basics moving forward in practice. After signaling out running backs Justin Davis and John Kelly, along with rookie lineman Joseph Noteboom as the offensive standouts, McVay centered his critiques on this unit.“Performing some of the elementary, fundamental techniques that lead to good football,” McVay emphasized would be areas of focus in practice heading into next week. “On offense, let’s use the right protection calls, make sure we’re going to the right people and let’s throw and catch. Just executing where it’s sound, crisp football is what you’re going to see.”Backup quarterback Sean Mannion is one of many who will need to apply these principles. The fourth-year slinger got the start and completed only three of 13 passes for 16 yards, with an interception. He was also sacked twice and had several passes deflected at the line of scrimmage. It’s necessary to note Mannion was playing without a single starter http://www.tennesseetitansteamonline.com/a.j.-brown-jersey , but even his play caller noticed something off about his approach.“Sean made some throws and did some things that were uncharacteristic of him… a perfect storm of things that didn’t work out for him,” McVay said.Loaded with valuable teaching points and, more importantly, a full slate of health, McVay and the Rams will trade the L on the scoreboard with the moral W any week of the preseason.<em>The Rams will be back in action at the University of California, Irvine for open training camp Saturday at 3:00p.</em>