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By Jourdan Rodrigue and Rich Hammond May 28, 2020
8
You know that great meme that has circulated after “The Last Dance” documentary, of Michael Jordan looking at a tablet with his eyebrows raised and his lips pursed in pleasant surprise? That’s how Rams fans should feel as they consider their receiving corps in 2020.
This could be something, like, really something.
A healthy Cooper Kupp is coming off of his first 1,000-yard season. Veteran Robert Woods is coming off his second — in a row. Josh Reynolds is a little unproven, but with great upside, and provides the situational longer-yards-per-catch factor. And second-round draft pick Van Jefferson offers the do-it-all route-running ability to complement any of these guys very nicely, even as a rookie.
Look, we know it’s a little pointless to do an actual depth chart among the top four guys, because they all will factor in importantly and in complement — and this doesn’t even include pass-catching tight ends (we’ll cover them next week), or guys who can catch out of the backfield. But here’s one anyway:
Projected depth chart: Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, Van Jefferson, Josh Reynolds, Nsimba Webster, Earnest Edwards, Greg Dortch, Trishton Jackson, Easop Winston, J.J. Koski, Brandon Polk.
Rich Hammond: The big receiver news of the offseason was the Rams’ trade of Brandin Cooks to Houston, after just one year of the massive five-year contract extension he signed in 2018. This has been seen two ways. Either the Rams made a huge mistake by signing Cooks in the first place, or they were smart to get out of the contract now and get a pretty good return. How did you see it from afar?
Jourdan Rodrigue: I think to me it was a little of both — they realized it wouldn’t be a productive fit for them and the contract was really questionable, so they corrected that quickly while also trying to maximize a return. It just happens sometimes! Certainly Cooks may have felt hindered by the two concussions he suffered in 2019 and multiple in previous years, too.
And as far as the trade itself, I liked what they ended up doing with that No. 57 pick…
Rich: I agree, it’s a combination. What made sense in 2018 didn’t make sense in 2020. That’s just how it goes sometimes. That doesn’t necessarily mean the Rams made a mistake in 2018. Then, they had a dominant offensive line and the most-respected run game in the NFL. Cooks’ skill set as a downfield burner fit perfectly, because Jared Goff had time to execute a play-action game and defenses had to constantly eye Todd Gurley. That changed in 2019, and not for the better. The throws to Cooks just weren’t there, and quite frankly he’s just not as versatile as some of the Rams’ other receivers. Couple that with a concerning injury history, and it made sense.
And yes, Jefferson is an intriguing player. I like the skill set. I’m just wondering where he fits this year, alongside Kupp, Woods and Reynolds, especially if the Rams go to more two-tight-end sets. It makes more sense looking ahead to 2021, but what is Jefferson’s path to the field — and a regular role — in 2020?
Jourdan: I’m so glad you asked — I’ll pay you later — because you know I love talking about complementary receivers (I don’t have a lot going on in my life).
The initial idea of Cooks was a good one: Stretch the field and, as they say, “take the top off” a defense because it had to respect his speed downfield. But it didn’t quite work out like that, because like you said, Gurley’s ability was not able to hold defenses accountable, and what should’ve been two weaponous layers — Cooks downfield, and Gurley helping set up the play-action — each didn’t pan out.
We already know that the longer downfield throws have a low probability success rate — it’s best to use them in moderation, and at the right time. And we saw Sean McVay move more toward getting his multiple tight ends involved, which can tell you something important: The Rams discovered that setting up various layers in the shorter and intermediate portions of the field can have a successful effect on the overall operation of the offense. Meanwhile, a guy like Reynolds can still “take the top off” when needed — and having a guy like that is important, but it’s not the only thing!
Josh Reynolds has totaled 61 catches in three seasons with the Rams. (Kyle Terada / USA Today)
Which is a long way of getting to Jefferson, of course. Jefferson is what I like to call a “technician” because of his ability to run a full route tree, and run it well. He’s got an early advantage in terms of getting on the field because of his extreme attention to detail, his work while at Florida against one of the first-round corners in this draft class (CJ Henderson) and because he knows how to practice and prepare as a coach’s son. This was a great pick. Jefferson is quick, but uses that quickness not as his main weapon, but instead as a tool in his variability. That’s the sign of a 10-year receiver.
Still, he has to work in complement with the other guys on the roster. That’s going to be a main offensive project this spring and summer, I think — figuring out how to work Jefferson in with Woods, Kupp and Reynolds. Lucky for Jefferson — and for most of those guys — it seems like they all are versatile enough to sort of orbit around the center on the field from play to play, and set up the layers McVay wants.
Rich: Many people don’t know this, but that’s actually the first line on your resume: expert on complementary receivers.
I agree that McVay seems to be going for a group here that’s somewhat interchangeable, at least with Kupp, Woods and Jefferson. They’re far from identical, when it comes to body type, foot speed, skill set, etc., but each is versatile enough to do pretty much anything in the Rams’ offense (I’m less certain about Reynolds, but he should get an opportunity to prove himself). Kupp can do anything. He will catch a 6-yard slant in traffic on one play, then beat you deep on the next. Woods is strong on the outside, but when Kupp tore up his knee in 2018, Woods slid inside and the offense didn’t suffer. We’ll see if Jefferson can do the same type of thing.
I push back against the narrative that the Rams no longer have a deep threat in the absence of Cooks. Last season, Kupp had three catches of 50 yards or more. Cooks had two, total, in 2018 and 2019. Kupp can get behind a defense. So can Woods, who was a track star in high school in Gardena. If the line can give Goff time, and if he can make good decisions, there will be some plays to be made down the field.
What all of this means for Reynolds, I’m not sure. McVay has been talking him up during the offseason, and he certainly has had his moments, but Reynolds needs to go out and prove that he must have a role in this offense. He’s lanky and athletic, but the every-down consistency needs to be there.
Jourdan: And speaking of Kupp, who has been doing a lot in the community this offseason, by the way, he’s due for a contract soon. I would assume he will get his money, though with Jalen Ramsey also due, some creativity is needed within the current cap limitations. With “limitations” being the polite word. Ramsey could very well even re-set the stagnant cornerback market. I thought it was interesting that he mentioned he would not hold out of training camp without a deal, and I’d wonder whether Kupp is in that same mindset (he probably is). Sometimes these things are just all about timing. In the Rams’ case, it would have to be about either restructuring others, or cuts, as well as timing. What’s your sense?
Rich: Yeah, at the risk of sounding like the cranky old man, I find it somewhat interesting that we now almost assume a player will hold out entering the final year of his contract unless we’re told otherwise. I didn’t think Ramsey would hold out and I don’t think Kupp will.
That said, I think the Rams are facing a decision soon. As you said, their “limitations” create some big decisions. Kupp is going to be due a big contract. Reynolds also is entering his final year. Woods is signed through 2021, but that final season includes a cap hit of almost $10.2 million, and the Rams could get out of it with a dead-cap penalty of only $1.2 million.
Woods turns 29 during next offseason, so there’s every reason to think he will remain productive and sign another strong contract. Can the Rams afford to keep both him and Kupp in the long term? They helped themselves by getting free of Cooks’ large salary, but I’m not sure. To me, Kupp remains the priority.
Jourdan: And that’s a good point — managing personnel with not just the immediate year in mind — and we get a few more clues about what the future may hold from the Jefferson draft pick, I think.
The Rams could’ve well gone with a different type of receiver — a situational or gadget guy, considering they have a full room already. But they went with Jefferson, who can fill a number of roles — and in that sense they have not tied one hand behind their backs as they figure out whether or not to keep some of these receivers beyond this season.
You know that great meme that has circulated after “The Last Dance” documentary, of Michael Jordan looking at a tablet with his eyebrows raised and his lips pursed in pleasant surprise? That’s how Rams fans should feel as they consider their receiving corps in 2020.
This could be something, like, really something.
A healthy Cooper Kupp is coming off of his first 1,000-yard season. Veteran Robert Woods is coming off his second — in a row. Josh Reynolds is a little unproven, but with great upside, and provides the situational longer-yards-per-catch factor. And second-round draft pick Van Jefferson offers the do-it-all route-running ability to complement any of these guys very nicely, even as a rookie.
Look, we know it’s a little pointless to do an actual depth chart among the top four guys, because they all will factor in importantly and in complement — and this doesn’t even include pass-catching tight ends (we’ll cover them next week), or guys who can catch out of the backfield. But here’s one anyway:
Projected depth chart: Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, Van Jefferson, Josh Reynolds, Nsimba Webster, Earnest Edwards, Greg Dortch, Trishton Jackson, Easop Winston, J.J. Koski, Brandon Polk.
Rich Hammond: The big receiver news of the offseason was the Rams’ trade of Brandin Cooks to Houston, after just one year of the massive five-year contract extension he signed in 2018. This has been seen two ways. Either the Rams made a huge mistake by signing Cooks in the first place, or they were smart to get out of the contract now and get a pretty good return. How did you see it from afar?
Jourdan Rodrigue: I think to me it was a little of both — they realized it wouldn’t be a productive fit for them and the contract was really questionable, so they corrected that quickly while also trying to maximize a return. It just happens sometimes! Certainly Cooks may have felt hindered by the two concussions he suffered in 2019 and multiple in previous years, too.
And as far as the trade itself, I liked what they ended up doing with that No. 57 pick…
Rich: I agree, it’s a combination. What made sense in 2018 didn’t make sense in 2020. That’s just how it goes sometimes. That doesn’t necessarily mean the Rams made a mistake in 2018. Then, they had a dominant offensive line and the most-respected run game in the NFL. Cooks’ skill set as a downfield burner fit perfectly, because Jared Goff had time to execute a play-action game and defenses had to constantly eye Todd Gurley. That changed in 2019, and not for the better. The throws to Cooks just weren’t there, and quite frankly he’s just not as versatile as some of the Rams’ other receivers. Couple that with a concerning injury history, and it made sense.
And yes, Jefferson is an intriguing player. I like the skill set. I’m just wondering where he fits this year, alongside Kupp, Woods and Reynolds, especially if the Rams go to more two-tight-end sets. It makes more sense looking ahead to 2021, but what is Jefferson’s path to the field — and a regular role — in 2020?
Jourdan: I’m so glad you asked — I’ll pay you later — because you know I love talking about complementary receivers (I don’t have a lot going on in my life).
The initial idea of Cooks was a good one: Stretch the field and, as they say, “take the top off” a defense because it had to respect his speed downfield. But it didn’t quite work out like that, because like you said, Gurley’s ability was not able to hold defenses accountable, and what should’ve been two weaponous layers — Cooks downfield, and Gurley helping set up the play-action — each didn’t pan out.
We already know that the longer downfield throws have a low probability success rate — it’s best to use them in moderation, and at the right time. And we saw Sean McVay move more toward getting his multiple tight ends involved, which can tell you something important: The Rams discovered that setting up various layers in the shorter and intermediate portions of the field can have a successful effect on the overall operation of the offense. Meanwhile, a guy like Reynolds can still “take the top off” when needed — and having a guy like that is important, but it’s not the only thing!
Josh Reynolds has totaled 61 catches in three seasons with the Rams. (Kyle Terada / USA Today)
Which is a long way of getting to Jefferson, of course. Jefferson is what I like to call a “technician” because of his ability to run a full route tree, and run it well. He’s got an early advantage in terms of getting on the field because of his extreme attention to detail, his work while at Florida against one of the first-round corners in this draft class (CJ Henderson) and because he knows how to practice and prepare as a coach’s son. This was a great pick. Jefferson is quick, but uses that quickness not as his main weapon, but instead as a tool in his variability. That’s the sign of a 10-year receiver.
Still, he has to work in complement with the other guys on the roster. That’s going to be a main offensive project this spring and summer, I think — figuring out how to work Jefferson in with Woods, Kupp and Reynolds. Lucky for Jefferson — and for most of those guys — it seems like they all are versatile enough to sort of orbit around the center on the field from play to play, and set up the layers McVay wants.
Rich: Many people don’t know this, but that’s actually the first line on your resume: expert on complementary receivers.
I agree that McVay seems to be going for a group here that’s somewhat interchangeable, at least with Kupp, Woods and Jefferson. They’re far from identical, when it comes to body type, foot speed, skill set, etc., but each is versatile enough to do pretty much anything in the Rams’ offense (I’m less certain about Reynolds, but he should get an opportunity to prove himself). Kupp can do anything. He will catch a 6-yard slant in traffic on one play, then beat you deep on the next. Woods is strong on the outside, but when Kupp tore up his knee in 2018, Woods slid inside and the offense didn’t suffer. We’ll see if Jefferson can do the same type of thing.
I push back against the narrative that the Rams no longer have a deep threat in the absence of Cooks. Last season, Kupp had three catches of 50 yards or more. Cooks had two, total, in 2018 and 2019. Kupp can get behind a defense. So can Woods, who was a track star in high school in Gardena. If the line can give Goff time, and if he can make good decisions, there will be some plays to be made down the field.
What all of this means for Reynolds, I’m not sure. McVay has been talking him up during the offseason, and he certainly has had his moments, but Reynolds needs to go out and prove that he must have a role in this offense. He’s lanky and athletic, but the every-down consistency needs to be there.
Jourdan: And speaking of Kupp, who has been doing a lot in the community this offseason, by the way, he’s due for a contract soon. I would assume he will get his money, though with Jalen Ramsey also due, some creativity is needed within the current cap limitations. With “limitations” being the polite word. Ramsey could very well even re-set the stagnant cornerback market. I thought it was interesting that he mentioned he would not hold out of training camp without a deal, and I’d wonder whether Kupp is in that same mindset (he probably is). Sometimes these things are just all about timing. In the Rams’ case, it would have to be about either restructuring others, or cuts, as well as timing. What’s your sense?
Rich: Yeah, at the risk of sounding like the cranky old man, I find it somewhat interesting that we now almost assume a player will hold out entering the final year of his contract unless we’re told otherwise. I didn’t think Ramsey would hold out and I don’t think Kupp will.
That said, I think the Rams are facing a decision soon. As you said, their “limitations” create some big decisions. Kupp is going to be due a big contract. Reynolds also is entering his final year. Woods is signed through 2021, but that final season includes a cap hit of almost $10.2 million, and the Rams could get out of it with a dead-cap penalty of only $1.2 million.
Woods turns 29 during next offseason, so there’s every reason to think he will remain productive and sign another strong contract. Can the Rams afford to keep both him and Kupp in the long term? They helped themselves by getting free of Cooks’ large salary, but I’m not sure. To me, Kupp remains the priority.
Jourdan: And that’s a good point — managing personnel with not just the immediate year in mind — and we get a few more clues about what the future may hold from the Jefferson draft pick, I think.
The Rams could’ve well gone with a different type of receiver — a situational or gadget guy, considering they have a full room already. But they went with Jefferson, who can fill a number of roles — and in that sense they have not tied one hand behind their backs as they figure out whether or not to keep some of these receivers beyond this season.
