Rams' Mike LaFleur A 'Home Run Hire,' Coach Martz Says
Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay is still calling the shots on offense, but he'll have a new right-hand man this season in offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur.
The former New York Jets coordinator joined the Rams in January to replace previous offensive coordinator Liam Coen, who left to accept the same position at Kentucky. LaFleur has also spent time as an assistant with the Cleveland Browns, Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers and worked with current 49ers coach Sean McVay for many years.
McVay has called plays since becoming the Rams' coach in 2017, but has always had another offensive mind to work with. LaFleur is the latest to take on this role, and his knowledge of Shanahan's system, which has been very successful recently, makes him a great choice. According to former Rams coach Mike Martz, who is now an analyst for The 33rd Team, L.A. made a "home run hire" in LaFleur.
"Perhaps, he’s bringing in a guy with some different ideas about how things can be addressed," Martz writes. "LaFleur will be another set of eyes for McVay, and that’s healthy for him. It will help revitalize him because there’s a lot of pressure when you’re the main guy putting it all in there week in and week out. It wears you down. I think that was the case with him to some extent.
"Even though their backgrounds are vastly different regarding offensive systems, their focus and how they approach the game are probably similar."
If LaFleur, whose older brother Matt LaFleur was also a previous Rams offensive coordinator, can keep McVay fresh, it's a huge benefit for the Rams. Rumors of McVay's retirement have swirled over the last two years, so not putting so much pressure on him is a great idea.
Martz coached the then-St. Louis Rams from 2000 to 2005. In that time, he guided the Rams to a 53-32 record and an appearance in Super Bowl XXXVI.
LaFleur will play a key role in the Rams' offensive success this season, and if Martz' analysis is accurate, the unit will be in good hands.
You can follow Jonathan Alfano on Twitter @JonAlfano_News
Want the latest in breaking news and insider information on the Rams? Click Here
Want to join in on the discussion? Click here to become a member of the Ram Digest message board community today!
Follow Ram Digest on Twitter and Facebook.
Want even more L.A. Rams news? Check out the SI.com team page here.
