The Los Angeles Rams Lean On A Well-Known Name To Bolster An Offense Which Was Far From Super

The Los Angeles Rams are turning to a familiar name to resurrect an offense which stumbled in the aftermath of winning Super Bowl 56.

Mike LaFleur, the former New York Jets offensive coordinator, will assume a similar position with the Rams.

LaFleur’s brother, Matt, was also an offensive assistant on L.A. coach Sean McVay’s staff before becoming the head coach of the Green Bay Packers in 2018.

The opening with the Rams arose when Liam Coen exited at the end of the season, returning as Kentucky’s offensive coordinator after one year with L.A.

Like McVay did with Coen, and his predecessor, current Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, he will continue to call the offensive plays.

Not only is LaFleur linked with McVay through his brother, but he’s part of the San Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan’s tree, and there are few coaches McVay admires more than Shanahan.

After being under Shanahan’s tutelage for eight seasons, Mike LaFleur focused on the passing game for two years in N.Y., and that aspect of the Jets’ offense was challenged. So Jets coach Robert Saleh replaced LaFleur with Nathaniel Hackett, after he was dismissed as the Denver Broncos’ head coach.

The Jets, who had little continuity a quarterback, nosedived in the season’s second half and especially in the final three games when they scored a combined 15 points.

The final rankings showed the Jets ranked No. 29 in points scored and points scored per drive.

With the Rams, LaFleur will have a veteran Pro Bowl quarterback in Matthew Stafford, an ascending running back again in Cam Akers and one of the best wide receivers in the NFL in Cooper Kupp.

But all three of those players were compromised by injuries, or in Akers’ case, his attitude which cost him two games while being in McVay’s doghouse. Overall, the Rams’ 16 passing touchdowns were better than only two other teams last season.

The Rams, who are coming off a 5-12 season, still have plenty of questions about the makeup, and the efficiency, of their offensive line and at tight end.