Mike LaFleur already making rookie mistakes in first major hire as Cards HC

The Los Angeles Rams lost offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur to the Arizona Cardinals, who hired him as their next head coach. Of course, LaFleur has to sit and observe as head coach Sean McVay calls the offensive plays. But on the one occasion when he subbed in for an ill McVay, LaFleur optimized this offense's potential.

After a taste of sweet success calling plays, the new Cardinals head coach has claimed that role in his new offense. Perhaps that limited the attractiveness to potential offensive coordinators. Perhaps he was not looking for rivals. Whatever the reason, Cards' fans have to feel underwhelmed with the latest news of hiring Nathaniel Hackett as the new Arizona offensive coordinator.

Why am I raining on Hackett's parade? Except for some quality seasons with the Green Bay Packers led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers, his career has been unimpressive. It could be that LaFleur wants a friendly advocate in the building to bolster his maiden season as head coach.

But it seems like a bold strategy with more risk than reward.

Cardinals offense has difficult decisions ahead

The first item on the Cardinals to-do list is deciding on the quarterback. Kyler Murray is a very expensive player to sit on the bench. But the Denver Broncos shed veteran quarterback Russell Wilson with dramatically successful results. Could the Cards repeat that formula?

It all depends on the offense. And as offensive coordinator, Nathanial Hackett will play a large role in that success. So how have his offenses performed over time? Let's check it out:

• 2013 Buffalo Bills OC | 19th
• 2014 Buffalo Bills OC | 26th
• 2016 Jacksonville Jaguars OC | 23rd
• 2017 Jacksonville Jaguars OC | 6th
• 2018 Jacksonville Jaguars OC | 27th
• 2019 Green Bay Packers OC | 18th
• 2020 Green Bay Packers OC | 5th
• 2021 Green Bay Packers OC | 10th
• 2022 Denver Broncos OC | 21st
• 2023 New York Jets OC | 31st
• 2024 New York Jets OC | 24th

Just as history is not an ironclad predictor of the future, so too history is not an ironclad reason to sound the alarms. But the data table does provide compelling evidence that the Cardinals offense is not going to flourish with Hackett at or near the helm. It's simply that he's only managed to lead an offense to the top 50 percent in the NFL 22 percent of the time.

Those are not promising odds.

Of course, bad news for the Cardinals is by default good news for the Rams. And with so many talented offensive positional coaches on staff, LaFleur's offensive coordinator hiring is a bit baffling.

Rookie mistake? Probably. But it's enough to give fans a chance to catch their breath. After losing a talented offensive coordinator, LA needed to catch a break. Looks like they just did.

Thank you, Mike LaFleur.

As always, thanks for reading.