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https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2018/11/08/nfl-los-angeles-rams-robert-woods-wide-receiver/
Robert Woods has become one of the most underrated WRs in the NFL
By: Cameron DaSilva
Much is made about the playmakers the Los Angeles Rams have on offense. Jared Goff is playing like a Pro Bowler, Todd Gurley might be the league’s MVP and Brandin Cooks is having a great first season in L.A. Cooper Kupp is still a fan favorite after a historic rookie year, too.
The player who always seems to get overlooked in the Rams’ offense is Robert Woods – the eldest of L.A.’s wide receivers. Even as the oldest receiver in L.A., Woods is only 26 years old and just now hitting his prime. That’s great news for the Rams, who got a bargain by signing him to a five-year, $34 million deal through 2021.
After a year and a half in Los Angeles, Woods has become one of the most underrated wideouts in the NFL. He may not put up eye-popping numbers or make highlight-reel, one-handed catches, but week in and week out, there aren’t many more consistent wide receivers.
Very quietly, he’s emerged as Pro Football Focus’ fifth-ranked receiver this season.
View: https://twitter.com/PFF/status/1060257336453926912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1060257336453926912&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheramswire.usatoday.com%2F2018%2F11%2F08%2Fnfl-los-angeles-rams-robert-woods-wide-receiver%2F
Consider this, too: Only 18 times in NFL history has a player put together a streak of eight or more games with at least five catches and 70 yards. Woods is among them, owning the only active streak of eight or more such games. By catching five passes for 70 yards on Sunday, he would tie the franchise record of nine held by Isaac Bruce.
You don’t get to this point by simply being average. Many of the receivers on that list are either Hall of Famers or likely to be inducted in the future: Antonio Brown, Marvin Harrison, Jerry Rice, Julio Jones, Reggie Wayne, Calvin Johnson, Odell Beckham Jr. and Michael Irvin, among others.
Many fans may not realize just how reliable and valuable Woods is, but rest assured, his teammates do. Todd Gurley said “Woods is my fullback, technically” because of the job he does blocking for not only running backs, but his fellow wide receivers downfield.
Jared Goff said Woods has some of the best hands of any receiver he’s played with.
“He’s got some of the best hands I’ve ever played with. It’s comparable to anyone I’ve ever played with,” Goff said last month. “If you guys watch most of his catches nowadays, it’s all out in front of his body – all with his hands. He makes some miraculous catches as well with his hands. He’s just become a guy that I can really trust with any route, any sort of cut, anything. He’s a guy that I really have a lot of faith in.”
Woods has showed off his strong hands on a number of occasions. He only has two drops this season and makes difficult catches in traffic more often than probably any Rams receiver, plucking the ball out of the air rather than letting it get into his body. Along the sideline, he’s even better.
Look at this catch he made last week against the Saints on a perfectly thrown pass from Goff.
Goff has full trust in Woods, too.
Last year in a shootout against the 49ers, Woods ran an out-and-up along the far sideline. He got enough separation from the defender to give Goff the confidence to make the throw. Even though it was underthrown slightly, Woods turned and made a great play to stay inbounds.
He can make catches deep downfield, too, as he did in the playoffs last season…
View: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/949835670666686464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E949835670666686464&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheramswire.usatoday.com%2F2018%2F11%2F08%2Fnfl-los-angeles-rams-robert-woods-wide-receiver%2F
… and against the Texans on this record-breaking 94-yard touchdown.
View: https://twitter.com/RamsNFL/status/929848853867536384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E929848853867536384&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheramswire.usatoday.com%2F2018%2F11%2F08%2Fnfl-los-angeles-rams-robert-woods-wide-receiver%2F
In the open field, he shows off the speed and quickness as a former track star. That was on full display against the Giants last year, taking a screen pass on third-and-33 to the house from 52 yards out…untouched.
View: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/927248679211220992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E927248679211220992&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheramswire.usatoday.com%2F2018%2F11%2F08%2Fnfl-los-angeles-rams-robert-woods-wide-receiver%2F
One of Woods’ best attributes is his versatility. Not only can he run just about any route in the tree, but he can line up wherever the coaching staff needs him to. He typically plays the Z receiver role to the right of the offensive formation with Cooks on the other side and Kupp in the slot.
However, when Kupp went down with his knee injury, Woods became the Rams’ primary slot receiver. Pass game coordinator Shane Waldron commended Woods for taking over Kupp’s role in the offense.
“I think it was another great week of Robert Woods stepping in and really stepping up in a role where those receivers have done such a good job of understanding the entire offense,” he said last month. “So a guy like Cooper goes down, a great player for us, Robert is able to slide over and Josh (Reynolds) steps right up and we’re able to continue on with our game-plan the way we thought we could attack those guys throughout the game.”
Here’s an example of a classic route from the slot by Woods. A subtle jab-step inside opens up the defender and sets up the out route, making for an easy completion and a first down.
There are countless examples of Woods’ versatility both as an outside receiver and a slot target. He doesn’t garner the majority of the attention in L.A.’s receiving corps, but he’s highly valuable and an important part of the offense.
The offense didn’t miss a beat after Kupp went down and it’s partly because Woods was able to kick inside and play the slot. He may not be a Pro Bowler or break the internet for a spectacular leaping catch, but he does all the right things for the Rams – from route running to blocking.
Robert Woods has become one of the most underrated WRs in the NFL
By: Cameron DaSilva
Much is made about the playmakers the Los Angeles Rams have on offense. Jared Goff is playing like a Pro Bowler, Todd Gurley might be the league’s MVP and Brandin Cooks is having a great first season in L.A. Cooper Kupp is still a fan favorite after a historic rookie year, too.
The player who always seems to get overlooked in the Rams’ offense is Robert Woods – the eldest of L.A.’s wide receivers. Even as the oldest receiver in L.A., Woods is only 26 years old and just now hitting his prime. That’s great news for the Rams, who got a bargain by signing him to a five-year, $34 million deal through 2021.
After a year and a half in Los Angeles, Woods has become one of the most underrated wideouts in the NFL. He may not put up eye-popping numbers or make highlight-reel, one-handed catches, but week in and week out, there aren’t many more consistent wide receivers.
Very quietly, he’s emerged as Pro Football Focus’ fifth-ranked receiver this season.
View: https://twitter.com/PFF/status/1060257336453926912?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1060257336453926912&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheramswire.usatoday.com%2F2018%2F11%2F08%2Fnfl-los-angeles-rams-robert-woods-wide-receiver%2F
Consider this, too: Only 18 times in NFL history has a player put together a streak of eight or more games with at least five catches and 70 yards. Woods is among them, owning the only active streak of eight or more such games. By catching five passes for 70 yards on Sunday, he would tie the franchise record of nine held by Isaac Bruce.
You don’t get to this point by simply being average. Many of the receivers on that list are either Hall of Famers or likely to be inducted in the future: Antonio Brown, Marvin Harrison, Jerry Rice, Julio Jones, Reggie Wayne, Calvin Johnson, Odell Beckham Jr. and Michael Irvin, among others.
Many fans may not realize just how reliable and valuable Woods is, but rest assured, his teammates do. Todd Gurley said “Woods is my fullback, technically” because of the job he does blocking for not only running backs, but his fellow wide receivers downfield.
Jared Goff said Woods has some of the best hands of any receiver he’s played with.
“He’s got some of the best hands I’ve ever played with. It’s comparable to anyone I’ve ever played with,” Goff said last month. “If you guys watch most of his catches nowadays, it’s all out in front of his body – all with his hands. He makes some miraculous catches as well with his hands. He’s just become a guy that I can really trust with any route, any sort of cut, anything. He’s a guy that I really have a lot of faith in.”
Woods has showed off his strong hands on a number of occasions. He only has two drops this season and makes difficult catches in traffic more often than probably any Rams receiver, plucking the ball out of the air rather than letting it get into his body. Along the sideline, he’s even better.
Look at this catch he made last week against the Saints on a perfectly thrown pass from Goff.
Goff has full trust in Woods, too.
Last year in a shootout against the 49ers, Woods ran an out-and-up along the far sideline. He got enough separation from the defender to give Goff the confidence to make the throw. Even though it was underthrown slightly, Woods turned and made a great play to stay inbounds.
He can make catches deep downfield, too, as he did in the playoffs last season…
View: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/949835670666686464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E949835670666686464&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheramswire.usatoday.com%2F2018%2F11%2F08%2Fnfl-los-angeles-rams-robert-woods-wide-receiver%2F
… and against the Texans on this record-breaking 94-yard touchdown.
View: https://twitter.com/RamsNFL/status/929848853867536384?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E929848853867536384&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheramswire.usatoday.com%2F2018%2F11%2F08%2Fnfl-los-angeles-rams-robert-woods-wide-receiver%2F
In the open field, he shows off the speed and quickness as a former track star. That was on full display against the Giants last year, taking a screen pass on third-and-33 to the house from 52 yards out…untouched.
View: https://twitter.com/NFL/status/927248679211220992?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E927248679211220992&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheramswire.usatoday.com%2F2018%2F11%2F08%2Fnfl-los-angeles-rams-robert-woods-wide-receiver%2F
One of Woods’ best attributes is his versatility. Not only can he run just about any route in the tree, but he can line up wherever the coaching staff needs him to. He typically plays the Z receiver role to the right of the offensive formation with Cooks on the other side and Kupp in the slot.
However, when Kupp went down with his knee injury, Woods became the Rams’ primary slot receiver. Pass game coordinator Shane Waldron commended Woods for taking over Kupp’s role in the offense.
“I think it was another great week of Robert Woods stepping in and really stepping up in a role where those receivers have done such a good job of understanding the entire offense,” he said last month. “So a guy like Cooper goes down, a great player for us, Robert is able to slide over and Josh (Reynolds) steps right up and we’re able to continue on with our game-plan the way we thought we could attack those guys throughout the game.”
Here’s an example of a classic route from the slot by Woods. A subtle jab-step inside opens up the defender and sets up the out route, making for an easy completion and a first down.
There are countless examples of Woods’ versatility both as an outside receiver and a slot target. He doesn’t garner the majority of the attention in L.A.’s receiving corps, but he’s highly valuable and an important part of the offense.
The offense didn’t miss a beat after Kupp went down and it’s partly because Woods was able to kick inside and play the slot. He may not be a Pro Bowler or break the internet for a spectacular leaping catch, but he does all the right things for the Rams – from route running to blocking.
