Mike LaFleur's Timing Pass and Ball Control Offense Through 6 Games

By Walter Mitchell

The story of this year's passing offenses is how mightily some of the best passers in the league are struggling now that defenses are committing more often to manufacturing QB pressures with their all-out pass rushes and how playing zones in coverage behind the rush are no longer in vogue. Instead, defenses are now enamored with playing sticky man-coverage with safety brackets on the top WRs. 

Enter Mike LaFleur.

In theory, his timing pass oriented offense is a smart scheme, given how difficult it is for QBs to buy time in the pocket and how sticky the coverage is downfield. 

In practice, however, what Mike LaFleur is learning is his receivers need to be able to sell their routes and make precise cuts at thew top of them, knowing that the ball is going to be thrown just as the receiver is making his break --- and now adjust to the fact that that well prepared opponents come into games feeling very familiar with the play caller's tendencies. 

Obvious Pass Routes

Versus the Giants and Lions, the Cardinals' #1 routes were so obvious that the DCs were able to switch their best cover CB (Devonte Banks and Roger McCreary) to the obvious receiver. If the Rams' best CB Trent McDuffie wasn't out for the last week's game, it likely could have been a similar scenario. 

Obvious Rushing Plays

Warren Sharp

@SharpFootball

·

1h

% of rushes gaining a yard or less this season: 41.6% - Green Bay Packers 37.6% - Las Vegas Raiders 36.6% - Philadelphia Eagles 35.7% - Arizona Cardinals 34.2% - Minnesota Vikings 33.1% - Kansas City Chiefs 33.1% - Houston Texans 32.9% - New York Jets 32.8% - Tennessee Titans 32.7% - Denver Broncos 32.3% - Cleveland Browns 32.1% - New England Patriots 32.0% - Dallas Cowboys 31.4% - Los Angeles Chargers 31.3% - Carolina Panthers 31.1% - New York Giants 31.1% - Indianapolis Colts 30.9% - Seattle Seahawks 30.7% - Buffalo Bills 30.6% - Chicago Bears 29.7% - Washington Commanders 29.2% - Pittsburgh Steelers 29.2% - New Orleans Saints 28.1% - Baltimore Ravens 27.7% - Detroit Lions 26.9% - Miami Dolphins 26.3% - Cincinnati Bengals 26.1% - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 25.6% - San Francisco 49ers 24.6% - Jacksonville Jaguars 24.3% - Los Angeles Rams 23.2% - Atlanta Falcons

Mike LaFeur told the media this week how he wants to establish ball control through consistently productive running plays and precisely timed passes. 

The one running play that Mike LaFleur has used best to the team's advantage is the "Pin and Pull" off-tackle play, as ran to perfection versus the Rams on this 31-yard scamper by Bam Knight:

https://x.com/NFL/status/2111919375993463209/video/1

Notice the outstanding blocks that Jayden Williams, Hjalte Froholt and Elijah Higgins made on this play. 

See this again from the 20-20 view:

https://x.com/AZCardinals/status/2111920103315190144?s=20

The Cardinals rushed for 120 yards on 35 carries for an average of 3.4 yards per rush. The problem was besides this 31-yard run from Bam Knight, the Cardinals rushed 34 times for 89 yards at an average of 2.61 per carry. Bam Knight's other runs were 14 carries for 49 yards at a 2.62 average. Tyoler Allgeier, who ran as hard and tough as he could, rushed 18 times for 38 yards for a 2.1 average. 

Despite the low average on 34 of the Cardinals' 35 rushing plays, the offense was able to control the time of possession to the tune of 34:52 to 25:08, effectively keeping the ball out of the hands of the Rams' vaunted offense --- by virtue of sustaining 6 scoring drives --- albeit with Chand Ryland's 6/6 field goals making the difference in the outcome. 

The game winner from 43 yards:

https://x.com/NFL/status/2111955558043689458?s=20

Here is the NFL's Special Team Player of Week 6:

Running Game Adjustments

1. Run the "Pin and Pull" off-tackle play more frequently with the speedier RBs, particularly in the red zone.

2. Mix in some sweeps, quick tosses and draws. 

3. Run stronger quick traps up the middle.

4. Occasionally add in an end-around.

In other words, stretch the field more often and when running inside and A and B gaps, get after the blocks on quick traps. 

Obvious Passing Plays:

1

Jordan Schultz

@Schultz_Report

·

Oct 4

Deonte Banks 96 yard pick six to close it out for the Giants. Wow.

https://x.com/Schultz_Report/status/2106840090857312341?s=20

Notice how Deonte Banks stops Michael Wilson in his tracks on "inside leverage" --- if this is an "option" route, Wilson could have won on a simple fade to the outside.

2

NFL

@NFL

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Oct 18

Quentin Lake INT! AZvsLAR on FOX/FOX One Stream on

@NFLPlus

https://x.com/NFL/status/2111912949191413894?s=20

Lake was able to leverage Trey McBride in a way that knocked him off at the top his route )notice how Trey rounded off his route instead of making his cut on a straight line.  When the receiver rounds off his route it gives the defender a clear path at the football. 

Note: This interception is not Jacoby Brissett's fault. Jacoby threw the ball right where Trey McBride was supposed to be at the exact time he had to throw it. Mike LaFleur took the blame for the play call as being "too predictable" in an acknowledgement that Lake knew the out pass was coming and was able to mess up Trey's route and the precise timing of the play.

For fans who continue to blame Jacoby for this interception, you have yet to understand Mike LaFleur's timing pass offense. This was a called play, and Jacoby did what he was asked to do. 

3

nkemjika (Kemi)

@kemindolo

·

4h

This would be a Jacoby Miss read. He had time. This is his biggest issue. He doesn’t trust the protection so it’s first read and go. Figure out a way to slow his process.

https://x.com/kemindolo/status/2112825090283077807/video/1

Walter B J Mitchell

@WBJMItch

This is what a timing pass-oriented offense looks like. The QB's key is to throw the pass just as the receiver is making his break on the top of the route.

The problem here is that Kendrick Bourne doesn't get enough separation (it's not a good, sharp route) and CB Jalen Watson while shading outside the whole time is in a good position to jump the route.

Jacoby saw how close Watson was and threw it way out of bounds. That was smart. The thing is, the QB on timing routes has to commit to throwing at the top of the route.

What Bourne needed to do was make a stutter step fake at the top of his route so as to buy the extra second of time that would have Watson concerned about defending the slant, then it also would have created much better spacing on the route (LaFleur's route calls have spacing issues, as was the case here with what needed up being such a tight space with a CB having a clear path to the football).

The big adjustment that Mike LaFleur can make is to start calling "choice routes" --- where the receiver runs his route away from wherever his route is being leveraged. On this play, Bourne could have easily won on the slant (look at the crow hop Watson took toward the outside at the top of the route). It's like Watson knew the route and sat on it the whole time. Just as over the past two weeks, Devonte Banks and Roger McCreary knew the routes and were leveraging them left and right to great success.

Cardinals Central

@CoveringCards

There’s two problems here: 1) Yes, too predictable. They run quick outs on short yardage plays very often. LaFleur needs to improve 2) Jacoby is first read or bust. Simply can’t make plays outside of what is specifically called. Winning QBs make things happen. He does not.

Walter B J Mitchell

@WBJMItch

1. True 2. False. Those are timing pass play calls where it is Jacoby's job to pass precisely when the #1 option is making his break. There is no reading involved. Just trusting. That's why Mike LaFleur has been taking ownership of the results.

Pass Game Adjustments:

1. Run "choice routes" --- away from leverage.

2. With Trey McBride and Michael Wilson, run them on mesh routes (inside crossers) and counter corner routes where they start running a crosser and then stop and run 45-degree corner routes away from their defenders and the Cover 2 safeties.

3. Do what Kurt Warner always did when Fitz and Q were getting double teamed: exploit the opponents' other CBs and LBs by timing up passes to the 3rd and 4th WRs and 2nd and 3rd TEs.

The great news --- versus the Lions in Week 5 the Cardinals got two bootleg/waggle play action TDs to TE3 Teagan Quitoriano running corner routes.

https://x.com/NFL/status/2109383967963279750?s=20

Then in Week 6, as we highlighted on this week's Red Rain Podcast, the passing stat of the game for the Cardinals in the 18-16 win over the Rams, after struggling versus double teams on Trey McBride and Michael Wilson versus the Lions was:

McBride/Wilson: 11 catches on 16 targets for 85 yards (7.7 ave per catch)

Bourne/Brooks/Higgins/Knight/Allgeier: 14 on 18 for 133 yards (10.1 ave)

Which includes the most clutch pass of the game:

NFL

@NFL

·

Oct 18

BRISSETT TO BROOKS PAST MIDFIELD AZvsLAR on FOX/FOX One Stream on

@NFLPlus

https://x.com/NFL/status/2111954645187010869?s=20

Plus:

Reggie Virgil's sneak ability to separate

Simi Fehoko's red zone TD prowess

Jeremiyah Love's speed and RAC ability in the passing game

Where Mike LaFleur's Offense is Good and Where It Needs Improvement

Warren Sharp

@SharpFootball

% of pass attempts dropped this season: 8.4% - Green Bay Packers <HUGE GAP> 6.2% - Tennessee Titans 5.6% - New York Jets 5.5% - Los Angeles Chargers 5.4% - Baltimore Ravens 5.2% - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4.7% - New Orleans Saints 4.7% - Pittsburgh Steelers 4.5% - Seattle Seahawks 4.5% - Dallas Cowboys 4.4% - Los Angeles Rams 4.3% - Jacksonville Jaguars 4.1% - Las Vegas Raiders 3.8% - Miami Dolphins 3.8% - Kansas City Chiefs 3.7% - Denver Broncos 3.6% - Atlanta Falcons 3.6% - Minnesota Vikings 3.5% - Buffalo Bills 3.4% - Cleveland Browns 3.3% - New York Giants 3.2% - Indianapolis Colts 3.2% - New England Patriots 3.1% - Detroit Lions 3.0% - Washington Commanders 2.9% - San Francisco 49ers 2.6% - Cincinnati Bengals 2.6% - Arizona Cardinals ✅ 2.5% - Philadelphia Eagles 2.3% - Houston Texans 2.0% - Carolina Panthers 1.9% - Chicago Bears

Walter B J Mitchell

@WBJMItch

One of the main reasons why Trey McBride and Michael Wilson emerged as the NFL's most productive TE/WR tandem in 2025 with 2,245 yards and 18 TDs was that Jacoby Brissett was #2 in the league in "catchable passes." Jacoby accomplished this despite being pressured 367 times, hit 110 times and sacked 43 times.

Quote

PFF

@PFF

·

Oct 20

Most targets without a drop this season Trey McBride 61 Michael Wilson 54 Puka Nacua 52

✅

Mike LaFleur preaches pre-snap discipline. ✅

Warren Sharp

@SharpFootball

·

5h

yards before contact per rush this season: 2.14 - Buffalo Bills 1.88 - Los Angeles Rams 1.88 - San Francisco 49ers 1.77 - Miami Dolphins 1.70 - Washington Commanders 1.66 - Chicago Bears 1.63 - Kansas City Chiefs 1.63 - Minnesota Vikings 1.63 - Carolina Panthers 1.61 - Detroit Lions 1.48 - Baltimore Ravens 1.30 - Houston Texans 1.22 - Pittsburgh Steelers 1.19 - Cincinnati Bengals 1.18 - Denver Broncos 1.15 - Indianapolis Colts 1.11 - Dallas Cowboys 1.10 - Philadelphia Eagles 1.04 - Seattle Seahawks 1.02 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1.02 - New York Giants 1.01 - Arizona Cardinals ͢--- needs improvement 0.97 - New Orleans Saints 0.96 - New England Patriots 0.94 - Atlanta Falcons 0.78 - Los Angeles Chargers 0.78 - Tennessee Titans 0.76 - Green Bay Packers 0.75 - New York Jets 0.62 - Jacksonville Jaguars 0.49 - Las Vegas Raiders 0.31 - Cleveland Browns

Warren Sharp

@SharpFootball

·

10h

average yards to go on 3rd down this season: 5.3 - San Francisco 49ers 5.6 - Kansas City Chiefs 5.9 - Dallas Cowboys 6.0 - Cincinnati Bengals 6.2 - New England Patriots 6.3 - Indianapolis Colts 6.4 - Arizona Cardinals ✅ 6.4 - Chicago Bears 6.6 - Los Angeles Rams 6.7 - Denver Broncos 6.8 - Buffalo Bills 6.9 - Pittsburgh Steelers 6.9 - New Orleans Saints 7.0 - Detroit Lions 7.0 - Carolina Panthers 7.1 - Las Vegas Raiders 7.1 - Houston Texans 7.2 - New York Jets 7.2 - Atlanta Falcons 7.3 - Jacksonville Jaguars 7.5 - Minnesota Vikings 7.6 - Green Bay Packers 7.7 - Cleveland Browns 7.8 - Baltimore Ravens 7.8 - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 7.8 - Miami Dolphins 7.9 - New York Giants 8.0 - Seattle Seahawks 8.0 - Los Angeles Chargers 8.1 - Tennessee Titans 8.1 - Washington Commanders 8.4 - Philadelphia Eagles

Needs Adjusting - Motion i✅ But much more Play Action Needed

Very good negative play rate ✅

Worst Explosive play rate --- needs improvement

Walter B J Mitchell

@WBJMItch

Versus Rams defensive interior of Aaron Donald, Poonah Ford and Kobie Turner in Cardinals' 18-16 win: LG Isaac Seulmalo - 72.8 C Hjalte Froholdt - 69.2 RG Jon Gaines II - 78.1 Three of the Cardinals top five game grades. 0 sacks. ✅

Warren Sharp

@SharpFootball

% of drives ending in a punt this season: 51.6% - Philadelphia Eagles 49.1% - Tennessee Titans 48.5% - Denver Broncos 44.6% - Minnesota Vikings 44.3% - Cleveland Browns 42.4% - Arizona Cardinals ✅ 42.2% - New York Jets 40.6% - Washington Commanders 39.1% - Tampa Bay Buccaneers 38.8% - Baltimore Ravens 37.3% - Green Bay Packers 36.8% - New Orleans Saints 36.6% - Los Angeles Chargers 36.2% - Miami Dolphins 36.1% - Pittsburgh Steelers 35.8% - Detroit Lions 35.4% - Houston Texans 33.8% - New York Giants 33.8% - Seattle Seahawks 33.3% - San Francisco 49ers 32.8% - Las Vegas Raiders 32.7% - Cincinnati Bengals 32.2% - Jacksonville Jaguars 31.0% - Carolina Panthers 30.9% - Atlanta Falcons 28.8% - Los Angeles Rams 28.6% - New England Patriots

25.5% - Kansas City Chiefs

25.0% - Chicago Bears

23.6% - Dallas Cowboys

22.7% - Indianapolis Colts 19.0% - Buffalo Bills

Rank	Team	Average Time of Possession	Possession Percentage
1	Chicago Bears	36:01	60.0%
2	Minnesota Vikings	33:37	56.0%
3	New York Giants	32:14	53.7%
4	Arizona Cardinals ✅	32:05	53.5%
5	Indianapolis Colts	32:01	51.9%
6	Jacksonville Jaguars	31:29	51.1%
7	New England Patriots	31:17	50.8%
8	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	31:15	50.8%
9	Cincinnati Bengals	30:58	50.5%
10	Los Angeles Rams	30:46	50.2%

Amazing to think that the Cardinals' offense. despite a subpar running game and so-so passing game through 6 games is doing a top 5 job in controlling the football. Imagine then what this offense is capable of if and when it starts clicking on all cylinders.

Upper half at +2 ✅

PFF Team Offense Grades and Rankings Through 6 Games

Arizona Cardinals

Overall: 75.4 --- 10th

Passing: 73.2 --- 10th

Pass Blocking --- 66.0 --- 15th

Receiving: 72.6 --- 15th

Rushing: 77.5 --- 9th

Run Blocking: 63.9 --- 14th

Red Rain Question: How are you feeling about the Cardinals offense thus far?