Tag: Cooper Kupp

Cooper Kupp used to text Zac Taylor at midnight with ideas for Rams offense

Zac Taylor called Cooper Kupp one of the smartest players he’s been around and would get midnight texts from the WR about the Rams offense

Cooper Kupp put together one of the best seasons ever by a wide receiver – and he continues to dominate during the postseason with another 25 catches, 386 yards and four touchdowns in the Rams’ three wins. He didn’t become the best wideout in football because of his athletic gifts, however.

He’s simply one of the smartest players in the league, which is something everyone from Sean McVay to Jalen Ramsey has said. And now, Zac Taylor is saying the exact same thing.

Taylor, who was the Rams’ assistant WRs coach in 2017 and QBs coach in 2018, spoke highly of Kupp ahead of Super Bowl LVI. He called Kupp one of the smartest players he’s been around and said the wideout used to text him at midnight with ideas about how to improve the Rams offense.

“He’s one of the smartest players I’ve ever been around at any position,” Taylor said, via the Bengals’ team site. He really approaches the game like a quarterback to be quite honest with you. … I threw to him at his private workout at Eastern Washington. (I) split time with his backup quarterback and we missed one throw on a back-end line, hammer route. I overthrew him and that was the only incompletion of the day.

“Coop’s a big-picture thinker. So he really understands the structure of the defenses, the nuances of the route running. He cares about the run game as well. There’s oftentimes he would screenshot pictures of defenses with run thoughts. You would wake up the next morning to a midnight text from Cooper Kupp with thoughts on things that could help the offense.”

Taylor worked closely with Kupp in 2017 when Kupp was just a rookie. He knows the wide receiver’s game well, but Kupp has become a significantly better player in the four seasons since.

Taylor and the Bengals now have the difficult task of trying to slow down Kupp in Super Bowl LVI, which no team has managed to do this season. And with Odell Beckham Jr. on the outside, that challenge becomes even tougher.

Needless to say, Taylor and his coaching staff have their hands full with preparing for this potent Rams offense.

[listicle id=664250]

Cooper Kupp was available for Washington

Cooper Kupp’s grandfather once played in Washington. Imagine if Washington had selected him in 2017? Washington is one of 31 NFL which regrets passing on Kupp.

The fastest corners in the NFL simply can’t cover him.

He gets open several times every game and makes big catch after big catch.

Cooper Kupp was drafted in the 2017 NFL draft in the third round —No. 69  overall. This past season, Kupp caught 145 passes for 1,947 yards. That is not a typo: 145 receptions, 1,947 yards.

Washington had finished 2016 at 8-7-1 and was picked No. 17 overall in the NFL draft. Washington made a good, solid selection in round 1 with Jonathan Allen.

In round two and selecting at No. 49 overall, Washington took DE Ryan Anderson (Alabama).  Cooper Kupp was available and Washington was not the only team who had no idea what Kupp would become.

However, former Washington offensive coordinator Sean McVay was involved in his first NFL draft as a head coach with the Los Angeles Rams. McVay said when he interviewed Kupp, he stood out as mature and like a coach. Hey, what were other coaches and scouts listening to when they interviewed Kupp?

I wonder, seeing Kupp played at Eastern Washington, how many of the other 31 teams even considered him worthy enough to interview him?

Were they not impressed that Kupp used to train by making single-handed catches of tennis balls flying at high speeds out of a ball machine? Did it occur to coaches that if a guy can catch a much smaller tennis ball at high speed, he is not going to have much trouble with a larger and slower football?

Did teams bother to find out that Kupp’s dad Craig Kupp had actually made it to the NFL? Craig was a quarterback. My, I wonder how much that influenced his son to sound like a coach as early as age 22? Craig had been drafted in the 5th round — No. 135 — in 1990 by the N.Y. Giants, and made the Cardinals roster in 1991.

If that’s not enough, Cooper Kupp’s grandfather (Jake) also played in the NFL (1964-75). What’s more, Jake actually was a Washington Redskin in the 1966 season, a tight end who caught four passes. He played guard the rest of his career but had a long enough career that he was obviously aware of much of the business and a very good athlete.

So back to Cooper Kupp who was passed over by Washington and many other NFL experts in that 2017 draft. Kupp is accustomed to being passed over by other “experts.” He was not even offered a college scholarship until after the completion of his high school senior season. No major conference colleges were interested.

When he ran a 4.62 40 at the NFL Combine did most coaches and scouts judge him too slow? Interestingly enough his times in the three-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle were outstanding.

McVay was only age 31 during his initial draft. Yet he knew enough to know that a wide receiver that is lightning quick in changing directions and running 20 yards is going to be able to run great pass routes.

Did I mention that Kupp caught 145 passes this season?

 

Cooper Kupp and an injured Robert Woods shared an incredible moment after NFC title game

“This is deeper than football.”

The Los Angeles Rams lost one of their key players in mid-November when wide receiver Robert Woods tore his ACL in a Friday practice and was quickly ruled out for the rest of the season.

The nine-year NFL veteran, who has been with the Rams since 2017, cheered on his teammates the rest of the year, including last Sunday when Los Angeles rallied back to beat the San Francisco 49ers to earn a trip to Super Bowl 56.

Moments after the game Woods and Cooper Kupp, who had a MVP-type season, shared an emotional moment that NFL Films was able to catch with their mics.

Check this out:

Man, how awesome was that?

Twitter had reactions:

CeeDee Lamb to play in his first Pro Bowl

Another Sooner is announced as a Pro Bowler as CeeDee Lamb joins Trent Williams, Kyler Murray, Mark Andrews, Joe Mixon, and Orlando Brown.

After his best season as a pro to date, former Sooners star CeeDee Lamb will be a Pro Bowler. The Dallas Cowboys wide receiver becomes the sixth Sooner to make the Pro Bowl this year.

The dynamic receiver will join an NFC receiving unit that includes San Francisco receiver Deebo Samuel, Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson, and Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans (who will be filling in for injured Green Bay mega star Davante Adams).

Following the Pro Bowl, it’ll be rest and back to work for Lamb, who could be taking on a much bigger role next year for the Cowboys. Dallas has some interesting roster decisions to make with wide receivers Michael Gallup and Amari Cooper. Gallup will be an unrestricted free agent and though it appears that Cooper will be back, he carries a significant cap hit.

Lamb’s rapport with quarterback Dak Prescott grew this year but drops and miscommunication spoiled what could’ve been an even more special season statistically for the former Sooner. CeeDee Lamb is still scratching the surface of what he can be and this season and Pro Bowl selection are just a taste of what he’s destined to become.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. Let us know your thoughts, comment on this story below. Join the conversation today.

Super Bowl 56: Best value bets for Super Bowl MVP between Bengals-Rams

Which MVP candidates give you the most bang for your buck?

Betting on Super Bowl MVP isn’t always about picking the player most favored to win — almost always a quarterback. Odds for the favorites aren’t usually great and require larger wagers for smaller payouts.

Unless you’re so sure one of the favorites will win the award, the best strategy is often finding players with the best combination of odds and opportunity. Someone with a track record of getting it done and a realistic chance of changing the game, but whose odds also make it worth the gamble. These are called value picks.

Looking at past Super Bowl MVP’s, non-quarterbacks to win it in the last 20 years have almost exclusively been wide receivers and linebackers. Keeping that in mind, below are the five players from the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams with the best value odds to win MVP of Super Bowl LVI.

Odds provided via Tipico

[listicle id=1412834]

Super Bowl 56: Players with the best odds to win Super Bowl MVP in Bengals-Rams

The quarterbacks are a given. See who else is favored to walk away with the MVP award.

Odds have arrived for who will win Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl LVI between the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams (-4.5 at Tipico), and to no one’s surprise they favor the quarterbacks.

QBs have dominated the award from the beginning, when Bart Starr was MVP of the first two Super Bowls and quarterbacks won the next two, as well. In the last 15 years, eight different quarterbacks have won Super Bowl MVP, and two of them — Tom Brady and Eli Manning — have more than one.

There’s still a glimmer of hope for a couple other positions, however. Of the four non-QB MVP’s in the last 15 years, two were wide receivers and two were linebackers. Quarterbacks might be the safest bet but they aren’t exactly a lock.

Here’s a look at odds for the two passers and the players with the next-best odds to win the award and take that much-coveted trip to Disney World.

Odds provided via Tipico

Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb officially named to Pro Bowl as replacement for Cooper Kupp

Lamb led the Cowboys in receptions and receiving yards; now he’ll fill in for the league leader in both categories in the all-star contest. | From @ToddBrock24f7

CeeDee Lamb can now officially make his plans for Las Vegas.

The Cowboys’ second-year receiver has been named to the 2022 Pro Bowl in an alternate role. Lamb will be taking the roster spot of Los Angeles Rams star Cooper Kupp, who will be otherwise occupied preparing for Super Bowl LVI.

Lamb’s nod was expected late last week, but the Cowboys traditionally do not announce which of their players have been selected as alternates for the league’s annual all-star game. USA Today did report in late December, though, that defensive end Randy Gregory was also named an alternate.

Lamb led the Cowboys’ top-ranked offense in receptions and receiving yards in 2021. Now he’ll fill in for Kupp, who led the league in both categories.

A promotion for someone was guaranteed, since both teams in the conference championship game featured a receiver with a Pro Bowl invite. (Deebo Samuel was so honored for the 49ers.)

The 22-year-old Oklahoma product will join an NFC receiving corps that includes Samuel, Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson, and Tampa Bay’s Mike Evans (who will be filling in for injured Green Bay superstar Davante Adams).

Five other Cowboys players got the Pro Bowl call: Micah Parsons, Trevon Diggs, Zack Martin, Tyron Smith, and Bryan Anger. The game will be played February 6 at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

[listicle id=692622]

[listicle id=692589]

[listicle id=691108]

[lawrence-newsletter]

Watch: Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods share emotional moment after Rams beat 49ers

Cooper Kupp embraced Robert Woods after the Rams’ win over the 49ers, sharing an emotional moment on the field at SoFi Stadium

When the Los Angeles Rams made a run to the Super Bowl three years ago, they did so without Cooper Kupp. He tore his ACL late in the season and was forced to miss the rest of the year – including Super Bowl LIII.

This year, it’s Robert Woods who the Rams will be missing in the big game. Woods tore his ACL in November and he’s been out ever since. He won’t be on the field in Super Bowl LVI, which is heartbreaking for the veteran receiver.

If anyone knows what it’s like to miss a big game, it’s Kupp. He and Woods shared an emotional moment after the Rams’ 20-17 win over the 49ers in the NFC title game. It’s great to see Woods on the field celebrating with his teammates, but he would’ve loved to be out there and playing a part in the victory.

Super Cooper Kupp powers Rams to victory over 49ers, Super Bowl berth

The Rams toppled the 49ers with a fourth-quarter rally to gain a Super Bowl berth

The Los Angeles Rams are going to the Super Bowl. They are going to be the road team on their home field, SoFi Stadium, on Feb. 13 but that’s all right by them.

Matt Gay kicked a 30-yard field goal to give the Rams a 20-17 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday.

The Rams were down 10 entering the fourth quarter. They got a touchdown and two field goals to score 13 points and take a three-point lead.

The largest deficit to comeback in championship game history before the Rams’ rally was 9 points when the Seattle Seahawks clipped the Packers.

Gay’s field goal was the difference but the star of the game was Cooper Kupp.

The incomparable wide receiver caught 11 passes for 142 yards and two touchdowns.

Jimmy Garoppolo threw an interception while under pressure by Aaron Donald in the waning minutes. It was an ill-advised throw and wound up in the arms of Travin Howard.

 

Rams rally to tie 49ers with 10 fourth-quarter points

The Rams are rallying and have tied the NFC Championship Game at SoFi Stadium

Another NFL playoff game this postseason appears headed to a frantic finish.

The Los Angeles Rams have scored 10 points in the fourth quarter to tie the San Francisco 49ers at 17-17 in the NFC Championship Game at SoFi Stadium on Sunday.

Down by 10, Matthew Stafford connected with Cooper Kupp for their second TD of the game to bring the Rams within three points.

Kupp had another hand in the game-tying drive, forcing his way through the San Francisco defense for a key first down.

Matt Gay connected on a field goal from 40 yards and the game was tied midway though the fourth quarter.