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Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods are 1st and 2nd in key receiving stat since 2019
They’ve done an excellent job helping Jared Goff the last two years.
theramswire.usatoday.com
When the Los Angeles Rams extended Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp this year, hardly anyone thought twice about questioning the decision. And there’s a reason for that.
Since they became teammates in 2017, they’ve been as consistent and reliable as any wide receiver tandem in the NFL. They have a knack for creating big plays, too, even if they’re not the fastest or most athletic guys in football.
They’re not considered deep threats, but where they gain big yardage is after the catch. According to Pro Football Focus, no wide receivers have gained more yardage after the catch than Kupp and Woods, who rank first and second in that department since 2019.
View: https://twitter.com/pff_fantasy/status/1331464142746771456?s=21
Jared Goff trusts both wideouts immensely and it’s easy to see why. When he puts the ball in the right spot, there’s a good chance Kupp and Woods will gain yardage after the catch – often turning a short gain into a big one.
Just look at Monday against the Bucs, for instance. Kupp broke at least 4 tackles and was elusive in the open field, while Woods turned a short screen into a 35-yard gain to set up a field goal before the half.
You can bet Goff is thrilled to have both of his wideouts signed long-term, continuing this connection for the foreseeable future.
Rams defense has been insanely good vs. deep passes this season
They rank first in most categories against the deep pass.
theramswire.usatoday.com
There are a lot of areas where the Rams have improved defensively this season. They’re better against the run, have generated pressure at a high rate and are playing excellent coverage at all levels of the field.
But unquestionably, their biggest improvement has come on deep passes. The Rams have been excellent when it comes to limiting big plays, allowing very few deep completions down the field. In fact, it’s hard to believe how good they’ve been against passes 20-plus yards downfield.
On Monday night, Tom Brady was 0-for-6 on deep passes, throwing two interceptions to Jordan Fuller. On the year, the Rams have allowed just five deep completions on 34 attempts, according to Next Gen Stats.
That’s good for an NFL-best 14.7% completion rate, which is just the start of it. The Rams are also tied for first with five interceptions on such throws, they’ve allowed a league-low 5.1 yards per attempt, have given up an 8.7 passer rating on deep throws and quarterbacks’ completion percentage over expectation is -16.4% – also best in the NFL.
View: https://twitter.com/nextgenstats/status/1331099050586877954?s=21
If the Rams continue to take away deep shots down the field, they’re going to be really tough to beat. Teams are going to have to dink and dunk their way toward the end zone, which isn’t easy against a defense that has aggressive cornerbacks and safeties who know how to hit.
With the Seahawks and Cardinals still on the schedule, the Rams will need to be at their best taking away deep passes because those are two of the better teams in that department.
