Mike LaFleur's Eye-Opening Answers to Media Questions at Owners' Meetings
photo credit: Getty Images
By Walter Mitchell
Tomorrow morning on the Red Rain Podcast, we are going to discuss each and every one of these statements delivered by the Cardinals' new head coach at the owners' meetings in Phoenix, as quoted by ESPN's Josh Weinfuss.
New Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur had some interesting things to stay during his 30-minute session at the NFL's annual meeting today in Phoenix.
He was asked about the divorce from Kyler Murray right off the top and said, "sometimes it's just time for the change for both sides." "Again, wish him the best. Never going to wish ill will on anybody," LaFleur said.
He said he likes where the Cardinals are at in terms of quarterbacks but if the Cardinals can find a QB to add to the room "to try to improve it," they will. But on Arizona's two current quarterbacks - Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew - LaFleur said: "You got a lot of guys that played a lot of football. And I've never worked with either one of them. I've known Gardner for a long time. I've known of Jacoby for a long time. I've always felt like both in their own way would be good fits in this system. So, it'll be fun to get working with them starting next week."
LaFleur said he's told Brissett that he's always thought Brissett would be a "good fit for this system." "You guys see how big he is back there. His stature, the play action game. I think he does a good job of getting the ball out of his hands when there is some trouble with the pockets. So, it'll be fun."
LaFleur said he couldn't confirm the joint practices with the Packers in August because "I'm waiting on the league in terms of all that stuff, but when that gets done, yeah, we go up there." - LaFleur said the joint practices will break up the monotony and heat of camp because they'll take place after Arizona returns to Tempe after camp breaks in Glendale. "I love joint practices because [the guys] get to hit somebody else, you get to see somewhat of a different scheme," LaFleur said.
LaFleur said he loves the idea of starting training camp earlier because the Cardinals are playing in the Hall of Fame game. "I mean, we get extra days, so for Year 1, and we'll be smart with that. Again, but per the rules that we get, we'll have these guys in and we'll get ready for that preseason game zero," LaFleur said.
LaFleur said he's already installed the "bulk" of his offense and feels "really good with where we're at."
LaFleur said the additions to the offensive line this offseason has made the Cardinals more experienced and has made it so that Arizona doesn't feel like it needs to reach in the draft on an offensive lineman. "Now, if there's a guy to improve our roster -- tackle guards and whatever it is -- like I was just saying from the quarterback position, every position we're trying to improve, but on paper, I mean, you got a bunch of veterans that have played this game, they've played it at a high level, they know how to play and they're men and I'm excited about It," LaFleur said.
LaFleur had heard from his friends with the Falcons that new Cardinals running back Tyler Allgeier was "one of the coolest guys they've ever coached." And it took LaFleur about 3 minutes, he said, to realize they were right.
LaFleur wouldn't get into details on the status of injured Cardinals like James Conner, Walter Nolen and Trey Benson. "I'm not going to give you the exact like, 'Hey, they're going to be back this day,'" LaFleur said. "They're trending well and they're all, I see all three of them basically every single day."
LaFleur said the addition of adding senior defensive assistant Teryl Austin will be a "great asset for [defensive coordinator] Nick [Rallis] to bounce stuff off of."
As an offensive coach, LaFleur said he still understands the need to be part of the defensive planning. "I understand that my handprints got to be all around this thing," he said. "Right now, I'm more focused on just kind of learning their defense with them and then building relationships with the rest of those defensive players because I love defensive players."
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Note (from Mitch): Mike LaFleur indicated that the team has not made any defensive installs just yet.
Replying to
-always started from the ground up under McVay, so starting from scratch in AZ isn’t a new concept to LaFleur
-learned “urgency” for both coaches and players from McVay as a head coach
-on OLine: “our line on paper right now has played a lot of football”
-on RBs: come in all shapes and sizes and just cares about whether or not they produce
-isn’t doing defensive installs but is working closely with DC Nick Rallis daily as he learns this defense
Asked Mike LaFleur about Kendrick Bourne and the #AZCardinals coach spent nearly five minutes raving about the wide receiver.
LaFleur knew "it clicked" for after he ran a curl route during 49ers rookie minicamp in 2017.
"He had the talent. The energy he has. The toughness. He's fearless over the middle. I am a sucker for hands. This guy has absolute mitts... You knew right away."
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Short videos: (great watches!)
"Jacoby knows how to play football."
QB Priority #1: "Toughness"
"He (Jacoby Brissett) just looks the part back there."
"That guy (Gardner Minshew) is a maniac."
"I'm excited to work with him (Marvin Harrison Jr.) because he wants to be worked with."
"We don't have to reach for an offensive lineman in this draft."
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We would like to hear your comments and reactions to Mike LaFleur's statements and would like to include a handful of them on the show.
Which of these statements, if any, surprised you the most?
Which of these statements, if any, encouraged you the most?
Which of these statements, of any, disappointed you the most?
How many of you are happy with all of Mike LaFleur's answers?
Going to be a fun podcast that will provide some insights into the draft, camp and what will be a season of reclamation and growth of a young ascending squad.
ReplyDeleteNo surprises
ReplyDeleteEncouraging - LaFleur doesn't sound like an idiot
Discouraging - AZ Media still asking about Kyler and a bunch of softball questions.
Happy - As much as one can be with a staged show.
I thought his comments on QB's have to be tough in the pocket and not flinch was a little Freudian slip.He expounded on guys that can sit in there and work within pressure was interesting.
ReplyDelete