There is a lot of mystery regarding new Arizona Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur and offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett.
As a first-year head coach, fans will wonder what kind of offense LaFleur will run with Arizona.
While it’s early in LaFleur’s first offseason, it appears that the players are loving their new system, according to Tyler Drake of Arizona Sports.
The Cardinals hired LaFleur this offseason after firing Jonathan Gannon.
LaFleur was previously the offensive coordinator with the Los Angeles Rams under Sean McVay. Because of this connection, Cardinals fans were excited about the possibilities of this new Cardinals offense.
It appears the players are just as excited.
What Do the Players Think About the New Arizona Cardinals Offense?
LaFleur has many new toys to play with as the Cardinals’ coach.
From tight end Trey McBride to wide receivers Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson and No. 3 overall pick Jeremiyah Love, this Cardinals offense has the potential to do some damage in 2026.
But the players have to buy into the new offense first. And that’s exactly what they’ve done.
“I love the philosophy that they have for the offense,” offensive lineman Paris Johnson told Arizona Sports’ Cardinals Corner. “I believe that not only myself, but the guys across all units on the offense love what they’re bringing and the style of offense that comes with them. Not just the terminology and the reasons behind the identity that we’re going to now for our offense. I think just the energy in which they teach it and how fast we’re able to pick up the system.”
One question Cardinals fans may have about this new system would be how LaFleur’s vision will translate to how he uses his prized rookie.
“I’m fitting right in, run game-wise, pass game-wise, like everything,” Love said. “Football is universal. Like everything pretty much is the same, but it just looks differently.”
Another question that may be even more important is how the new system will affect the quarterbacks on the roster. It appears that it’s more of the same.
How Do the Quarterbacks Fit on the Team?
While quarterback Jacoby Brissett will likely be the Cardinals’ Week One starter, there are still questions about the future.
Brissett, in his age-34 season, is obviously not the long-term answer at the position.
However, third-round rookie Carson Beck could be. Like Love, Beck feels he fits well in this new system.
“There’s a lot of pure progressions and you’re reading across the field,” Beck said. “It’s not just pick a side, pick a side. You have every single different, play action and pure progression and full field read across the board, all these different reads and progressions that you can make.
“I think that’s something that I’ve been really comfortable with throughout my college career and is something that obviously gets translated at this level as well.”
One thing that LaFleur has been working on is pre-snap execution. The Cardinals have been one of the least disciplined teams in football over the past six years, and LaFleur intends to fix that.
“We’re going to operate better than anyone in the NFL,” LaFleur said Feb. 20. “And I really believe that because that takes no talent. That’s just setting foundations with our cadence, with our formations, with how we break the huddle.”
While LaFleur and his players obviously can’t divulge too much of the new system, it appears that Cardinals fans can rest easy knowing there shouldn’t be major hiccups learning the new offense, as well as a newfound emphasis on getting rid of pre-snap penalties.
Cardinals Players Offer ‘Early Read’ on Mike LaFleur’s Offense