Familiar look isn’t big deal to LaFleur

Ex-Falcons assistant has little advice for defense in his role with Rams.

THOUSAND OAKS, CALIF. — Matt LaFleur knows the Falcons well after spending the previous two seasons as their quarterbacks coach before joining the Los Angeles Rams.

But the first-year offensive coordinator can only do so much to help the Rams’ defensive staff ahead of its playoff game against the Falcons tonight. LaFleur has been available to the defensive coaching staff this week, but doesn’t believe he can offer much that cannot be gleaned from the usual film study.

“Sure, there are some things that they ask me about in terms of some of the scheme — I can’t really get into those specific questions — that I’ll share with them, but I kind of leave them alone,” LaFleur said Thursday. “If they have a question, I’m here for them and I’ll try to do the best I can, but it’s not like I’m sitting there studying their tape.”

Instead, LaFleur’s knowledge of Atlanta’s personnel and scheme have him focused on trying to make sure the Rams (11-5) can match the Falcons (10-6) score for score if it comes to that.

Atlanta averaged 22.1 points per game, down 12 points from last season when it led the NFL in scoring and won the NFC title before losing the Super Bowl to New England in crushing fashion. However, the Falcons are 10-0 this season when scoring at least 20 points.

The Rams went from last in scoring last season to averaging a league-leading 29.9 points per game while winning their first NFC West title since 2003.

La F leur sees similarities between the two teams in terms of the quality of the overall offensive personnel.

Both achieve balance between the run and pass.

The Rams ride running back Todd Gurley, while the Falcons share the load on the ground between Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman. Julio Jones had 35 percent of Atlanta’s receiving yards, compared with a Los Angeles passing offense with its top four options all averaging between 39.5 and 65.1 yards receiving per game.

“I feel both of us have two of the more elite groups in this league, so there’s going to be a lot of explosive weaponry on the offensive side of the ball, that’s for sure,” LaFleur said.

The biggest contrast comes in the experience level of the two quarterbacks, LaFleur said. Jared Goff will be making his first postseason start and 23rd overall for the Rams. Falcons stalwart Matt Ryan has 164 career starts between the regular season and playoffs.

Despite working with Goff and Ryan at different points in their careers, LaFleur sees a similar resolve in each.

“Both of them have battled through adversity,” LaFleur said. “You look at Matt in 2015, some might say he struggled. And then he rebounds and he’s the league MVP. Same goes for Jared. I know his rookie year didn’t go as well for him. And then you look at him this year. I think he has handled himself and has shown improvement on a weekly basis. The mindset, the mentality that those guys have is very similar.”