Mike LaFleur wore a postgame smile Sunday that was seldom seen when he referred to as MetLife Stadium his full-time house.
The Rams offensive coordinator punctuated a profitable cross-country return by celebrating quietly along with his household within the bowels of the stadium after a 19-9 victory in opposition to the Jets.
LaFleur was fired as Jets offensive coordinator after the 2022 season — reportedly at proprietor Woody Johnson’s behest — however wound up making a right away semi-lateral transfer to the Rams, the place he doesn’t name performs however is a part of a successful tradition established by Sean McVay.
Jets stars Garrett Wilson and Breece Corridor had been rookies throughout LaFleur’s second of two seasons making an attempt to develop quarterback Zach Wilson and each made some extent to meet up with their former coach on the sector.
“My rookie year, looking back on it, it was a special time and I might’ve taken it for granted,” Wilson mentioned. “I love him. To see how he is helping out that offense and watching them today with their plan to run the ball and the way they executed, I’m happy for him. I hope it continues to take place throughout the playoffs because I really do appreciate him.”
Wilson and Corridor have remained in common contact with LaFleur.
The Jets had been close to the underside of the NFL, averaging 17.8 factors per sport throughout LaFleur’s two years calling performs on head coach Robert Saleh’s employees.
Since Saleh changed LaFleur, the Jets are averaging 17.5 factors beneath each Nathaniel Hackett and the demoted Hackett’s in-season substitute Todd Downing regardless of swapping in Aaron Rodgers for Wilson.
It’s not at all times in regards to the numbers, nevertheless. Wilson clarified that he perhaps took for “granted” a few of the relationships that he made early in his profession.
The Rams solely had 242 yards of offense in opposition to the Jets however had the clear sideline benefit.
“I look around and there’s not too many familiar faces from [2022],” Wilson mentioned. “That’s how it goes when you don’t win games. Just those relationships and the way that we could talk to each other and the way certain things were.”
McVay calls performs for the Rams — as many offensive-minded head coaches across the league do — however LaFleur has a key position in game-planning.
McVay’s teaching tree — a department of the bountiful Shanahan teaching tree — is changing into a go-to for normal managers seeking to rent.
Corridor had the most effective season of his three-year profession beneath LaFleur.
“We have a group chat with Garrett where we are always joking around,” Corridor mentioned. “He’ll just text us and ask us how we are doing every now and again. It’s cool to maintain a relationship with a guy we were only with for one year but was one of the pivotal guys in our careers to give us confidence and trust to put the ball in our hands.”
