Will Cooper Kupp's "Knees" be dependable?

[Merlin]

While both of them are tremendous possession receivers, they both also have deep speed, especially Woods who's slightly faster than Kupp. Kupp, otoh, is slightly shiftier.

On a play with a blown coverage most players can get open deep. But some guys are below that threshold where the fast types separate themselves. Neither Woody nor Kupp are deep speed types so yeah I'm good disagreeing there.

Also Jefferson factors in to this and IMO he is little bit higher on that list. Just in terms of ability I think he's got it. But even he's not a guy who a DB lines up with extra cushion for. That's what we lack in this wideout group IMO.

But it's a tough conversation to have because I don't want to be on one side bagging on them. And I feel like I'm doing that. I love both those guys so hopefully they keep them and then add a guy like Brown (instant plug-in player) or a speed merchant like Wallace (DBs will give that MFer extra cushion day one in this offense) or an underrated slot tweener type midrounds like Rodgers.

 

[MistahTroupe]

I honestly don't see The Rams making a move from Woods or Kupp as both are and have been center pieces in The Rams success and production.

Having said that.....The factor that i feel goes into question along with health dependability is Team Chemistry. Woods and Kupp had good chemistry with Goff, at the current time there is no telling how the team will gel and how the team chemistry will be with Stafford at the helm of QB.

All signs by all account appear and should be postiive, but if going into next season there are questions with in regards to the dependability or health of either of our WR's / TE's (Woods, Kupp, Reynolds, Everett, then it goes with out question that the team should and would make a move to strengthen the position for the upcoming season.

Its anyone's guess how that will happen as they still do have talent on roster with ( Webster, Jefferson, Reynolds?, Higbee, Mudnt,Hopkins), and with the draft and FA approaching it would make sense as I have mentioned in another post that The Rams would make a run and have interest at one of the Lions WR's as top priority in FA so Stafford has a buddy and go to guy he can rely on and is familiar with while getting accustomed to the new players on the team with The Rams.

- MT

 

[dieterbrock]

I disagree with your characterization of both Woods and Kupp.

While both of them are tremendous possession receivers, they both also have deep speed, especially Woods who's slightly faster than Kupp. Kupp, otoh, is slightly shiftier.

The issue was the reduction of the offense. Now, whether that was Goff's issues or McVay's hyperfocus on efficiency or any number of factors, I don't know and won't speculate here. But that change in offensive philosophy from "make them defend every blade of grass" to "we just need to execute and be efficient" radically changed the roles of our wideouts.

Basically, we could have had Tyreek Hill and the number of explosive plays wouldn't have increased all that much because it's not like McVay can't and hasn't schemed every WR as well as both our starting TEs deep.

With Stafford in the building, we're good with Woods, Kupp and Jefferson.

I would be upset if we walked away from any of them at this point.

This is one of those posts I wish I could leave a high five, a cheers and a thread winner
Woods didnt forget how to go deep:

And neither did Kupp:

 

[El Chapo Jr]

I have said basically since the Stafford trade I had a bad feeling one of them would get moved. I hope not but we will see. I could see woods or coop for or on a Orlando Brown trade. I've said that all along. And NFL network keeps repeating that while Baltimore wants to keep him they also know it wouldn't be anything near a tunsil trade possibly a 2nd or 3rd. If that's the case then either or receiver is an overpayment. However Havenstein and a pick I'd do on a heartbeat.

Highly doubt we'll make the trade for Orlando Brown as their LT Stanley just had another surgery and will probably take it super easy during training camp. That'll make Baltimore want even more in return since they'd value him as more insurance in case Stanley has any set backs.

 

[Mackeyser]

I have said basically since the Stafford trade I had a bad feeling one of them would get moved. I hope not but we will see. I could see woods or coop for or on a Orlando Brown trade. I've said that all along. And NFL network keeps repeating that while Baltimore wants to keep him they also know it wouldn't be anything near a tunsil trade possibly a 2nd or 3rd. If that's the case then either or receiver is an overpayment. However Havenstein and a pick I'd do on a heartbeat.

oh, I agree with all of that.

I just don't think we need a deep threat beyond replacing Reynolds with a speedster, but I'd be just as okay with a 50/50 WR/TE hybrid, too seeing as we struggled most in the red zone.

But yeah, Brown for Hav and a pick? half a heartbeat...

 

[nighttrain]

very deep draft for wide receivers. I see Rams trading for a vet and drafting another WR for the deep threat role, didn't give what we did to get Stafford and then plan to dink and dunk done the field
train

 

[thirteen28]

This is one of those posts I wish I could leave a high five, a cheers and a thread winner
Woods didnt forget how to go deep:

And neither did Kupp:

My thoughts as well. Give the QB enough time and scheme it right, and both Kupp and Woods can kill you deep, as amply demonstrated by those two plays. Both of them have caught plenty of passes for chunk plays as well.

They may not blow anyone away with straight line speed, but that's not the only thing needed to get open. If it were otherwise, Tavon Austin would have been the greatest deep threat the Rams ever had.

People forget that Isaac Bruce was a 4.5 40 guy, yet nobody seemed to let that stop them from thinking he was a deep threat.

I'd rather them stick with Woods, Kupp, and VJ and invest a draft pick in a burner.

 

[Shuie3225]

This is one of those posts I wish I could leave a high five, a cheers and a thread winner
Woods didnt forget how to go deep:

And neither did Kupp:

Woods can go deep, but Kupp matched up vs a LB doesn't prove anything other than McVay is amazing at scheming. It's not the same as a WR lining up outside vs a CB and being able to consistently win on deep routes. Kupp is great after the catch and attacking the ball in the air. We need more overall speed and I wouldn't be surprised if one of these two are traded.

 

[PhillyRam]

I mentioned this in the locked thread, so will repeat here.

I would move Kupp if possible. Especially if you feel you can get Golladay. You can structure a new deal to be cheap this yr while shedding like $10-11M for Kupp.

I worry how long he will be 100%. To his credit he fights fir every yard, but that also gets him in trouble injury wise.

Give me a couple #3's and the cap room. Then sign Golladay. This also allows you to avoid drafting a WR high again or even mid rounds. Can take a flyer on a return guy late, but that's it.

Gives you two possession guys in Woods & Jefferson, and both can get sneaky deep. Then Golladay as the HR guy.

Also Triston Jackson has a shot to be the #4 this yr. They kept him active all yr for a reason. They must have thought he could have gotten claimed so they never tried to put him on the PS.

So you essentially in the end you gain two quality picks this yr. The 3rd for Kupp, and the pick you don't need to spend on a deep threat. That can be used on OL or edge etc... Plus you get a #3 next yr.

 

[payote75]

Highly doubt we'll make the trade for Orlando Brown as their LT Stanley just had another surgery and will probably take it super easy during training camp. That'll make Baltimore want even more in return since they'd value him as more insurance in case Stanley has any set backs.

I am just going by NFL network but if Staley cannot play LT then yes but otherwise the dude is a RT and they keep saying Baltimore will not get what they think. While they are under no obligation to trade him well we see what that means these days lol.

 

[payote75]

oh, I agree with all of that.

I just don't think we need a deep threat beyond replacing Reynolds with a speedster, but I'd be just as okay with a 50/50 WR/TE hybrid, too seeing as we struggled most in the red zone.

But yeah, Brown for Hav and a pick? half a heartbeat...

I also watched YouTube vids on eskridge ...he really does remind me of tyreek hill. If you haven't watched them check it out. He is small hence hill but that same speed and also a bit nasty. He plays bigger than his 5'9 that's for sure. If you watch or watched let me know what you think.

 

[dieterbrock]

Woods can go deep, but Kupp matched up vs a LB doesn't prove anything other than McVay is amazing at scheming. It's not the same as a WR lining up outside vs a CB and being able to consistently win on deep routes. Kupp is great after the catch and attacking the ball in the air. We need more overall speed and I wouldn't be surprised if one of these two are traded.

He can get deep, whether by scheme or not. To @Mackeyser point, they chose to not run routes like this. Whatever the reason, the game plan changed and the quick strike potential went with it. It wasnt Woods or Kupp unable to get deep or Goff becoming afraid to throw long

 

[dieterbrock]

I mentioned this in the locked thread, so will repeat here.

I would move Kupp if possible. Especially if you feel you can get Golladay. You can structure a new deal to be cheap this yr while shedding like $10-11M for Kupp.

I worry how long he will be 100%. To his credit he fights fir every yard, but that also gets him in trouble injury wise.

Give me a couple #3's and the cap room. Then sign Golladay. This also allows you to avoid drafting a WR high again or even mid rounds. Can take a flyer on a return guy late, but that's it.

Gives you two possession guys in Woods & Jefferson, and both can get sneaky deep. Then Golladay as the HR guy.

Also Triston Jackson has a shot to be the #4 this yr. They kept him active all yr for a reason. They must have thought he could have gotten claimed so they never tried to put him on the PS.

So you essentially in the end you gain two quality picks this yr. The 3rd for Kupp, and the pick you don't need to spend on a deep threat. That can be used on OL or edge etc... Plus you get a #3 next yr.

Golladay has been hurt as much, if not more, than Kupp.
You trade Kupp, that's 4.5 mill dead money, then sign Golladay for 15 mill and you're up to close to 20 mill, and no guarantee any increase in performance

 

[PhillyRam]

Golladay has been hurt as much, if not more, than Kupp.
You trade Kupp, that's 4.5 mill dead money, then sign Golladay for 15 mill and you're up to close to 20 mill, and no guarantee any increase in performance

Well, his yr 1 cap hit could be very low in how they structure it. And hey, if not Golladay, maybe another proven deep threat. In either case I would consider moving Kupp. He, Woods, & Jefferson are just duplication of the same skill set.

 

[Mackeyser]

Well, his yr 1 cap hit could be very low in how they structure it. And hey, if not Golladay, maybe another proven deep threat. In either case I would consider moving Kupp. He, Woods, & Jefferson are just duplication of the same skill set.

Only two receivers I'd trade Kupp for... Allen Robinson and Chris Godwin... and Robinson just got tagged...

With Brady lobbying to trade for Odell Beckham, Jr, it looks like the Bucs are gonna move on from Godwin.

That said, if we're gonna add anyone, I'd rather they restructure everyone and go get Corey Linsley and Trent Williams. I'd personally invest in the OL.

It's said that defense wins championships. I disagree slightly. Winning the LOS wins championships. A team that controls the LOS, especially late in the season, is the most dangerous team.

But yeah, I'm not really thinking we need to trade our exceptional receivers for different receivers. Again... Godwin would be the exception...

 

[dieterbrock]

Well, his yr 1 cap hit could be very low in how they structure it. And hey, if not Golladay, maybe another proven deep threat. In either case I would consider moving Kupp. He, Woods, & Jefferson are just duplication of the same skill set.

That gets repeated a lot, but I dont know that its true. Woods has gotten deep, and Jefferson? We dont know what he is capable of yet, he was one of the faster WR at the combine last year. Sure, I would love to add a deep threat to Woods and Kupp, but not at the expense of one of them

 

[PhillyRam]

That gets repeated a lot, but I dont know that its true. Woods has gotten deep, and Jefferson? We dont know what he is capable of yet, he was one of the faster WR at the combine last year. Sure, I would love to add a deep threat to Woods and Kupp, but not at the expense of one of them

Jefferson is not that quick twitch, get off the line, eat up yards guythat scares a secondary. Sure, maybe his top speed, once he gets going, is good, but that's way different than an explosive downfield threat.

And yeah, ocasionaly these guys will get over the top, but again not the same as a consistent feared deep threat. Boy Wonder himself said they lack that. Why won't you believe him?

 

[dieterbrock]

Jefferson is not that quick twitch, get off the line, eat up yards guythat scares a secondary. Sure, maybe his top speed, once he gets going, is good, but that's way different than an explosive downfield threat.

And yeah, ocasionaly these guys will get over the top, but again not the same as a consistent feared deep threat. Boy Wonder himself said they lack that. Why won't you believe him?

Because he didnt say that
McVay says they missed a lot of opportunities downfield. And then he replaced the QB. Seems to me he thinks they can throw the ball downfield if they, you know, throw it downfield

 

[PhillyRam]

Because he didnt say that
McVay says they missed a lot of opportunities downfield. And then he replaced the QB. Seems to me he thinks they can throw the ball downfield if they, you know, throw it downfield

He explicitly said they lack what Brandin Cooks brought them.

 

[dieterbrock]

He explicitly said they lack what Brandin Cooks brought them.

Is Jefferson the seasoned veteran player that Cooks was?? Yeah, that was missing.
But he also thinks Jefferson is a star in the making, and can get deep.
“He’s just got a great feel for the game. I think he’s wired to separate. He’s got all those intangible traits and characteristics that you’re looking for and he’s really taken everything in,”

Sean McVay believes Van Jefferson 'is going to be a real star' for the Rams

Van Jefferson has played sparingly this season, but Sean McVay is confident the rookie will become a star for the Rams.

theramswire.usatoday.com