One of the major changes the Los Angeles Rams
made this offseason to their coaching staff was the promotion of assistant Nate Scheelhaase to the team's vacant offensive coordinator role. Occupied by Mike LaFleur over the last three seasons, Scheelhaase is expected to help the team maintain its league-leading standards, standards LaFleur helped implement, and according to the team's best playmaker, Scheelhaase is already getting the job done.During a recent presser, Nacua was asked about reading defenses and how that skill has evolved over the course of his professional career. In his response, Nacua spoke about how it's the way Scheelhaase teaches that gives him the ultimate edge.
“I'd say the game has definitely slowed down," Nacua said. "I
can still vividly remember my first pass from Matthew Stafford in Seattle in 2023. Just sprinting full speed in there and him being like, ‘Yo, slow down.’ So I think the game has definitely slowed down, but then also having communication. I think as somebody said just recently, having Coach Nate Scheelhaase move into the offensive coordinator position, some of the things that he is communicating, some of the changes in our offense are things that he's said in our receiver room.
"So being on the same page with him and then, obviously, being on the same page as Matthew. There are a lot of times where the defense feels like they're in the best position and then No. 9 finds a way to create holes that aren't really there. It's always fun to be on the same pages and we continue to work."
Scheelhaase worked closely with the receivers over his first two seasons in Los Angeles and has been continually praised for his teaching ability, along with his tactical ideas and contributions. With a close relationship, Scheelhaase could be preparing Nacua for his best season yet.
This article originally appeared on Rams Wire: Puka Nacua credits Rams' new OC for helping slow the game down
