It will be up to St. Louis’ executive vice president/player personnel Billy Devaney to identify and interview the Rams’ head coaching candidates.

But it should not be hard to figure out some of the names on Devaney’s list. He went through this same exercise at this time last year with the Falcons after Bobby Petrino abandoned Atlanta.

Devaney interviewed Titans defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz, Ravens defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, Jaguars defensive coordinator Mike Smith, Colts assistant head coach Jim Caldwell. He also sought interviews with former Steelers coach Bill Cowher and USC coach Pete Carroll.

Smith got the Falcons job, Caldwell was promised the Colts job once Tony Dungy retires, and the Rams are not expected to be able to afford Cowher or Carroll.

This leaves, logically, Schwartz and Ryan as two of the leading candidates for the job. The team is also expected to interview interim coach Jim Haslett, amongst others. But there’s a feeling around the league that, ultimately, Schwartz will wind up as the Rams coach and Ryan is very much in the running.