Rams Coach Sean McVay Praises 'Super Smart' OC Mike LaFleur
During the offseason, following offensive coordinator Liam Coen's decision to return to Kentucky, the Los Angeles Rams appointed Mike LaFleur as his replacement. Rams head coach Sean McVay has expressed his admiration for LaFleur upon his hiring and has maintained a positive outlook on the team's new offensive coordinator.
"Mike sees the game through a great lens. He's super smart. You can feel when you've led and you've been in the situations that he's been in, whether it be in San Francisco, Atlanta prior to that, even Cleveland or with the Jets," McVay said. "He's got a great ability to understand the game from an all-22 perspective. He's a great communicator. He and Matthew established a real quick rapport. Mike's a hard guy not to like."
LaFleur's coaching journey in the NFL started in 2014 as an intern with the Cleveland Browns, where he learned under the guidance of Kyle Shanahan. He continued to follow Shanahan's path as they moved from Cleveland to Atlanta and eventually to San Francisco.
In 2017, LaFleur was appointed as the passing game coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers. The fruitful collaboration between LaFleur and Shanahan lasted from 2014 to 2020. In 2021, LaFleur took on the offensive coordinator role for the New York Jets.
LaFleur and the Jets decided to part ways this offseason after facing significant challenges in igniting the team's offense. In the most recent season, the Jets struggled, ranking 29th in the league with an average of 17.4 points per game and 25th in yards per game with an average of 318.2 yards.
As LaFleur endeavors to revitalize his coaching career, he will also look to assist McVay in reinvigorating the Rams' offense. The team encountered significant struggles in the 2022 season, ranking 27th in the league with an average of only 18.1 points per game.
And while the talent in offensive personnel in Los Angeles has slightly dipped, there is still reason for optimism for the Rams - particularly given McVay's belief in LaFleur's talents and the chemistry he has already displayed since joining the franchise.
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