As Jeff Fisher takes his time to determine where he wants to go next, the St. Louis Rams continue to explore other possibilities.

That group of candidates now includes Carolina Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski as the Rams have gone through the formal process of seeking permission to talk to him, according to the Associated Press.

Chudzinski had an interview last week for the Jacksonville Jaguars job that went to Mike Mularkey. He’ll get a second crack at the process now. The Panthers very much want to retain his services after the breakout rookie season quarterback Cam Newton experienced.

The Miami Dolphins are also waiting to hear from Fisher. The Rams sought a meeting with Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator Jay Gruden, but he opted to stay put. The Rams will also interview Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen and they’ve previously spoken to Arizona Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton.

With a young quarterback in place in Sam Bradford, it would seem to make sense to go with an offensive-oriented head coach if the Rams cannot land a proven leader like Fisher. We’ll see which direction this heads.

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Brad Biggs covers the Bears for the Chicago Tribune