Tag: Cooper Kupp

Cooper Kupp has 2nd-highest grade of any WR on third down since 2019

Cooper Kupp has caught more passes for more yards on third down than any other down.

Cooper Kupp has been a stud since coming into the NFL as a third-round pick in 2017. He’s totaled 3,570 yards and 24 touchdowns in four seasons, averaging 892.5 yards and six touchdowns per year despite missing 10 games.

Kupp has made a name for himself as a security blanket for Jared Goff, always finding holes in the zone and getting open when the quarterback is under duress. In fact, he’s earned the nickname “Third and Kupp” because of how good he is on that crucial down.

The numbers are there to back it up, too. According to Pro Football Focus, Kupp has the second-highest grade of any wide receiver on third down since 2019, behind only the great Davante Adams.

Looking at Kupp’s splits during his career, it’s easy to see how good he is on third down. He’s caught 95 passes for 1,393 yards and 13 touchdowns for an average of 10.0 yards per target, which are all his highest totals of any down played. He’s also picked up 75 first downs on third down, 25 more than on second down and more than double his total on first down (37).

It’s no wonder Goff looked Kupp’s way so often throughout the last four seasons and that’s likely to continue next season with Matthew Stafford under center.

Purdue WR Rondale Moore says he studies Cooper Kupp

Rondale Moore could be a first-round pick in April as one of the top receivers in the draft.

Cooper Kupp came into the NFL as a third-round pick but based on the hype surrounding him, you’d have thought he was taken in Round 1. The hype was warranted, too, because he already has 3,570 career receiving yards and 24 touchdowns in four seasons, all while missing 10 games since 2017.

He’s become a player that other wide receivers and cornerbacks respect, and someone younger prospects watch to improve their own skill sets. Purdue wide receiver Rondale Moore, who’s a potential first-round pick this year, said Kupp is one of the wideouts he studies.

He mentioned Kupp along with Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen, Julio Jones and Tyreek Hill as receivers he watches film of.

“Kupp, love the way he plays with tempo,” Moore said on the “2 for 1 Drafts” podcast.

Kupp can run just about every route in the book, which is an area where Moore is trying to improve. Kupp does it despite not being the fastest or most athletic receiver, too, using technique, head fakes and changing speeds to set defenders up in the secondary.

Kupp is a good player for Moore to study because every receiver can benefit from studying the way he runs routes.

Cooper Kupp bids farewell to Jared Goff with heartfelt Instagram post

Cooper Kupp shared a heartfelt message for Jared Goff on Instagram, saying goodbye to his quarterback.

Over the last four seasons, Cooper Kupp became Jared Goff’s favorite target. Since the two paired up in 2017, Kupp has caught 288 passes for 3,570 yards and 24 touchdowns.

But next season, the two will no longer be playing for the same team. Over the weekend, the Rams agreed to trade Goff and three draft picks to the Lions in exchange for Matthew Stafford. It was a blockbuster trade in every sense of the word, as the two teams swapped former No. 1 overall picks a the most important position in football. Kupp will now transition from being Goff’s teammate to catching passes from the rocket-armed Stafford.

But before the new partnership begins, he bid farewell to Goff with a heartfelt Instagram post on Tuesday. Kupp says he owes Goff ” a debt of gratitude for any success” he had on the field.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKzR1l7sWxA/

Kupp will get the chance to reunite with Goff sometime next season when the Lions visit SoFi Stadium. The game doesn’t have a date or time yet, as the 2021 schedule hasn’t yet been revealed, but expect to see the two meet up on the field before and after the game.

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Watch: Cooper Kupp shares message endorsing Andrew Whitworth for Walter Payton Man of the Year

Cooper Kupp shared a moving message explaining why Andrew Whitworth should win Walter Payton Man of the Year.

The Los Angeles Rams selected Andrew Whitworth as their nominee for the Walter Payton Man of the Year, the third straight season Whitworth was chosen by his team. The winner will be revealed at the NFL Honors show next Saturday, the night before Super Bowl LV.

It’s a prestigious award that recognizes the work a player does not just on the field, but more importantly, off the gridiron. Whitworth is a big part of the community and is consistently helping those in need.

Before the winner is chosen, Cooper Kupp shared a moving message endorsing Whitworth for the award.

“I can’t tell you how incredible it has been just to follow that journey of your family, seeing you guys out in the community doing such incredible things and how it’s just inspired some of the guys that are around you and that know you to do the same. And also just as a teammate for the way you lead this team, for the way that you put your arm around guys, for the culture that you set in our locker room,” Kupp said.

The winner of the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award will receive a $250,000 donation to the charity of their choice, a trophy and a jersey patch to be worn in the future.

Rams 2020 awards: MVP, Rookies of the Year, Breakout Player and more

Handing out awards for the Rams’ top performers from the 2020 season, including Aaron Donald, Jalen Ramsey and Cam Akers.

The 2020 season didn’t end the way the Los Angeles Rams hoped, losing in the second round of the playoffs to the Green Bay Packers. But that doesn’t mean the season was a failure.

There’s a lot for the Rams to build on ahead of the 2021 season after getting key contributions from rookies, younger studs such as Darious Williams and Sebastian Joseph-Day, and improving immensely on defense.

To put a bow on the season for Los Angeles, we handed out individual awards for some of the top performers. Aaron Donald was predictably recognized, as were Cam Akers, Austin Corbett and Leonard Floyd.

Here are our 2020 end-of-season awards for the Rams.

Cooper Kupp reflects on Rams’ season, wants to be ‘a more complete player’ in 2021

Cooper Kupp will do what he can to come back “a more complete player” next season.

A strong season from Cooper Kupp ended in unfortunate fashion as he was forced to miss two of the Rams’ final three games – first due to COVID-19 and then because of a knee injury. Kupp finished the regular season with 92 catches for 974 yards and three touchdowns in 15 games played, which are still good numbers for the fourth-year receiver.

But with the Rams losing to the Packers in the divisional round, they exited the playoffs a few weeks before they wanted. And that has Kupp motivated to come back better than ever in 2021.

He shared a message for fans and his teammates on Instagram Thursday, thanking them for their support and effort. He can’t wait to see fans at SoFi Stadium soon and vows to work as hard as he can to “come back a more complete player.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKUJNHdsJEN/

Aaron Donald in, Cooper Kupp out for Rams against Packers

The Los Angeles Rams are hobbling into Green Bay for Saturday’s playoff game against the Packers. 

The Los Angeles Rams are hobbling into Green Bay for Saturday’s playoff game against the Packers.

All-Pro defensive lineman Aaron Donald might be active despite a rib injury, but Sean McVay’s team won’t have other key players available, especially on offense.

Quarterback John Wolford and edge rusher Terrell Lewis were ruled out on Thursday, and now receiver Cooper Kupp and left guard David Edwards are both inactive.

Wolford started the last two games in place of Jared Goff, who is dealing with a thumb injury but will start at quarterback against the Packers. Edwards is a starter at left guard, and Kupp, who hurt his knee in Seattle last week, led the team in catches with 92.

The Rams will also be without running back Darrell Henderson, who is on injured reserve. Together, Henderson and Kupp accounted for nearly 1,800 total yards and nine of the offense’s 39 touchdowns in 2020.

Without Kupp, the Rams may give more snaps to No. 3 receiver Josh Reynolds while also incorporating more of tight ends Tyler Higbee and Gerald Everett into the passing game.

Bobby Evans is likely to replace Edwards at left guard. The Rams will have veterans Andrew Whitworth and Rob Havenstein at offensive tackle.

With Wolford out, the Rams will have former Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles as the primary backup behind Goff.

The Packers will be without defensive lineman Kingsley Keke, a key pass-rushing reserve up front. The team elevated Brian Price from the practice squad to help preserve depth. The major injury for the Packers is at left tackle, where David Bakhtiari is on injured reserve. Billy Turner is expected to be his replacement once again.

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Rams inactives: Cooper Kupp, David Edwards out vs. Packers

The Rams will be down two starters against the Packers with Kupp and Edwards sidelined by injuries.

Injuries have plagued the Rams in the last month or so, with a number of key players either missing time or battling through pain. This week is no exception after Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp and David Edwards got hurt in the team’s wild-card win over the Seahawks.

Kupp and Edwards are both out for this game as they’ve been made inactive.

Kupp is dealing with bursitis in his knee, which popped up in the final plays of last week’s win. It’s a painful injury and after seeing him limp to the team plane Friday, it was easy to see he’s not healthy enough.

Edwards injured his ankle last week, as well, and was listed as questionable to play against the Packers. Evans filled in for him at left guard and played well in the win over Seattle. He’ll step in as the starter again today.

The Rams’ other inactives are John Wolford, Terrell Lewis, Brian Allen, Trishton Jackson and Bryce Perkins. That means Blake Bortles will back up Jared Goff as the only other active quarterback.

Fortunately, Donald and Goff are healthy enough to play today, as is Andrew Whitworth. All three players were on the injury report during the week but they’re playing, as expected.

Aaron Donald, Cooper Kupp both expected to play vs. Packers

Sean McVay shared some good news on Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp ahead of the divisional round.

Rams fans everywhere held their collective breath on Saturday afternoon when both Aaron Donald and Cooper Kupp left the game and were unable to return. They each were taken to the locker room at separate times, with Kupp suffering a knee injury in the final minutes and Donald injuring his ribs in the second half.

However, both players are trending in the right direction as of Sunday. Sean McVay provided an injury update on Donald and Kupp, as well as John Wolford and David Edwards, all of whom left the Rams’ win over the Seahawks.

Donald and Kupp are considered day-to-day but both are expected to play against the Packers in the divisional round on Saturday. That’s as good a bit of news as McVay could’ve shared, adding that the team will be smart with them throughout the week of practice.

Edwards was replaced by Bobby Evans at left guard for the majority of the game, and though the offensive line didn’t look terribly different, the hope is that Edwards can play next weekend. He’s been a stud at left guard all season and has done a good job in the running game.

Jared Goff replaced Wolford at quarterback, but he’s also dealing with an injury of his own just 13 days removed from thumb surgery.

The good, the bad, and the ugly from Seahawks’ Wild Card loss to Rams

The Seattle Seahawks disappointed with a 20-30 loss at Lumen Field – their first playoff defeat at home since 2004 – to the Rams on Sunday.

The Seattle Seahawks’ 2020 season came to a screeching halt on Super Wild Card Weekend with a 30-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams at Lumen Field, thanks to a putrid outing from Russell Wilson and the offense. Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer seemed to have no answer for the hard-hitting, speedy Rams defense, while Seattle’s defense looked progressively more exhausted and demoralized as the game clock ticked onward.

One last time, let’s take a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly from the Seahawks’ first home playoff loss since 2004.

THE GOOD

Carlos Dunlap: Seattle’s trade for Carlos Dunlap continued to pay great dividends in the pass rush, creating pressure on the quarterback from the very first snap and posting two pass breakups and three tackles. Dunlap has revolutionized the Seahawks’ pass rush since his arrival and is currently under contract through 2021 – after his performance this year, the team should place a high priority on locking him down for another few seasons.

Jason Myers: The Seahawks’ record-setting kicker grew his streak to 37 straight made field goals, booting a 50-yarder for the team’s first score of the game in the second quarter and a 52-yarder at the beginning of the third quarter. He also nearly forced a fumble on the kickoff following his second field goal, chasing down Rams returner Nsimba Webster and slamming him to the ground at the Los Angeles 41 to jar the ball loose. Although Webster was subsequently ruled down, Seahawks fans were undoubtedly cheered by the effort and toughness that Myers demonstrated in a key situation.

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