While fans of the Los Angeles Rams were discussing the team's draft choices and how they fit within the vision for the 2026 NFL season, their divisional rival was putting together something special. The Arizona Cardinals, who are led by former Rams offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur, have a strategic advantage over the NFC West and were clearly exercising it on draft night.
LaFleur is one of the few men in the NFL to have been both an assistant of Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay. On top of that, he knows how both coaches think on both sides of the football. Not only does LaFleur have a complete understanding of their offensive schemes, but he also understands how they view defensive ideologies and the reasons behind their hires with defensive coordinators.
He understands Chris Shula's scheme inside and out. He's worked and collaborated with him for three years. Raheem Morris, who is the current 49ers defensive coordinator, is Shula's mentor from Morris' time as Rams defensive coordinator. Shanahan's first-ever defensive coordinator was Robert Saleh, who is LaFleur's brother's best friend and the guy who gave LaFleur his first NFL play-calling job – just to illustrate LaFleur's advantage.
However, it gets better. Not only does LaFleur know all that, but he also knows how to use the Shanahan offense to counter the Shula defense, and he knows which elements of the McVay offense successfully attack Shanahan-styled defenses. Morris will have his say, but Shanahan has certain rules Morris must play by, rules that LaFleur knows. Then, he knows which of those elements work against Mike Macdonald and Seattle.
I promise you, LaFleur played a bigger role in the Rams' offensive game plan than one thinks, and his influence on 13 personnel has not been recognized enough. All I'm going to say is this: The one time we know LaFleur was relaying play calls last season was during the Rams' trip to Arizona when McVay was sick. The Cardinals were bad, but the offense was clicking like no other. It was arguably the team's second-most complete game, next to the Tampa Bay blowout. Stafford was untouchable, and the team ran for 249 yards. The Rams put up 45 points and 530 yards. LaFleur knows football.
And that's why he's dangerous. His offense will be a Shanahan-based run scheme that uses McVay's mirroring of the run and pass with wide receivers and tight ends, and it will be successful. Why? Because he went out and got the one weapon McVay never replaced and Shanahan never had until recently: a dual-threat running back.
Notre Dame's Jeremiyah Love has drawn comparisons to Todd Gurley for his abilities as a running back and receiver. McVay's offense was at its best when Gurley was healthy, and Shanahan's offense didn't peak until they added Christian McCaffrey. Yes, the Rams do have Kyren Williams, but he's grossly underutilized as a pass catcher, as he's needed to be a personal protector for Matthew Stafford.
A Shanahan offense, which has occasionally torched the Rams' defense, especially when at full strength, requires an offensive line made up of one dominant left tackle and three maulers on the inside – a lineman who can execute the Shanahan zone-blocking scheme, allowing for one-cut backs to navigate holes and openings, while using the run to set up play-action.
LaFleur added a mauler in the draft with Chase Bisontis. In 2024, it was Saquon Barkley. In 2025, it was Bijan Robinson and Kenneth Walker III. This might be the year the Rams' run defense stays consistent, but for two straight years, LaFleur has watched the Rams struggle to contain the run in the second half of the season. Now, he has his ace in Love and lineman in Bisontis.
LaFleur also has other pieces in place. His defense will be the same as last year, which played well when they could play confidently – which was admittedly rare. He also has an offense that will give them the confidence to play loose. On top of what he's adding, he already has that tackle in Paris Johnson Jr., two stud wide receivers who also have tormented the Rams on multiple occasions in Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson, plus the ultimate weapon everyone is ignoring.
LaFleur has the best tight end in football. Trey McBride, in an offense that barely looked above functional, finished second in the NFL to Puka Nacua in receptions, sixth in receiving yards, and second to Davante Adams for touchdowns, tied with four other players. Those are all league-highs for tight ends, except for touchdowns, as McBride was tied with Dallas Goedert.
So, LaFleur has an intellectual advantage, his version of George Kittle and Nacua already on the roster and under contract for several years, his dual-threat running back, and a defense that's ready to roll. The Rams might not be sleeping on the Cardinals, but the league is.
The Rams didn't add a coverage linebacker in the draft. What do tight ends and running backs attack? I'm just saying, LaFleur was in Seattle, and I think he believes he could've beaten both teams in the NFC Championship Game. Now, he's assembling the team to do so.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Mike LaFleur, Cardinals are assembling team to attack Rams' weaknesses
