Tag: Tutu Atwell

Tutu Atwell has been ‘much better’ on punt returns, ‘work in progress’ on kickoffs

ST coordinator Joe DeCamillis sees improvement from Tutu Atwell on punt returns, but he’s still a “work in progress” as a kick returner

The Rams likely have their primary punt returner already on the roster after Brandon Powell excelled in that role last season, but Tutu Atwell is another player they like in that role. Though he struggled a bit on special teams last season, he’s working to improve as a return specialist in 2022.

Special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis said this week that he can see Atwell improving on punt returns, saying he’s looked “much better” and “much more comfortable.” However, Atwell is still a work in progress on kickoffs, where there will be plenty of competition.

“I would say on punt returns, much better. Much more comfortable, making better decisions. Kickoff return wise, still a work in progress,” DeCamillis said of Atwell. “We’ll see how that goes but we got a great competition there. There’s a lot of guys there. Ray Calais is coming back. (Kyren Williams) is not out here yet but he’s going to be in the mix. I think we got some guys to compete with Brandon for sure.”

Atwell returned 10 punts for 54 yards last season, with a long return of 17 yards. He wasn’t great on kickoffs, only gaining 87 yards on five attempts – an average of 17.4 yards per return.

It was actually on a punt return that Atwell injured his shoulder last season, causing him to miss the rest of the year after playing just eight games. If the Rams have plans for him on offense, keeping him off special teams and out of harm’s way might be the best option.

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Tutu Atwell looks like he got stronger for Year 2

Tutu Atwell showed up to Rams training camp looking bulked up for Year 2

Tutu Atwell’s rookie year did not go according to plan. He only played 10 offensive snaps and didn’t record a single reception or carry, and while playing special teams as a punt returner, he suffered a season-ending shoulder injury, causing him to miss the second half of the season.

But heading into Year 2, things are looking up – and jacked.

A photo shared from Rams training camp on Reddit shows Atwell looking bulked up for his second season, clearly putting in the work in the weight room. He’s still on the smaller side and always will be by NFL standards, but it’s great to see he put on some upper-body muscle.

Tutu at practice 👀 from LosAngelesRams

Atwell received high praise from the likes of Sean McVay, Cooper Kupp and Matthew Stafford, all complimenting the job he did during spring practices and throughout the offseason.

It’ll still be hard to carve out a role in the Rams’ crowded receiver room, but Atwell should be in line for more opportunities this year.

6 training camp battles to watch for the Rams

The Rams will begin training camp soon and there are plenty of position battles to keep an eye on.

Training camps are right around the corner in the NFL, which means we’ll soon have football on our television screens again. It seems like forever ago that the Los Angeles Rams defeated the Cincinnati Bengals in the Super Bowl, but the reigning champions have their sights set on defending their title in 2022.

Throughout the offseason, the Rams made a flurry of moves, most notably adding Allen Robinson and Bobby Wagner. While those two guys aren’t at risk of having limited playing time in the upcoming season, there will be a handful of position battles taking place at training camp for Los Angeles.

With mere days until training camp begins for the Rams, let’s take a look at six training camp battles that fans should keep close tabs on.

Matthew Stafford impressed with Tutu Atwell during Rams’ OTAs and minicamp

Matthew Stafford has been impressed with the job Tutu Atwell has done in OTAs and minicamp in Year 2 with the Rams

The Los Angeles Rams recently concluded their OTAs and are working through mandatory minicamp, and there is optimism surrounding Tutu Atwell ahead of his sophomore campaign. On Wednesday, Matthew Stafford talked about the progress Atwell has made so far this offseason.

“I think Tutu had a nice spring, made some plays,” Stafford said. “Spent a bunch of time working with Cooper, which I think is good for him.”

Besides spending more time with Cooper Kupp to get some pointers, Stafford sees Atwell moving around with more of a “purpose.”

“Everything he does seems to be that much more intentional. ‘Why are we out here? What are we doing this drill for? What are we doing that drill for?’ There’s a purpose behind all of it. As a second-year player and a developing player, he’s understanding that each thing is important and try to get something from each and every drill. Whether that’s catching routes on air or jogging through a jog-through. Whatever it is, trying to make sure he finds something to gain from each one of these. He’s been doing a really good job of that this spring and we’ll need him to continue to do that throughout the summer.”

When the Rams selected Atwell with the 57th overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft, many fans were scratching their heads at the selection. Following a rookie season — that ended prematurely due to injury — where he saw 37 total snaps (10 on offense, 27 on special teams), some are still questioning the decision to draft Atwell.

Earlier this month, Sean McVay and wide receivers coach, Eric Yarber, spoke highly of Atwell in his second offseason with the team. While Kupp, Allen Robinson, and Van Jefferson are the top three wideouts on the depth chart right now, there’s a chance we see more of Atwell in 2022 given Stafford’s comments.

Rams WRs coach speaks highly of Tutu Atwell’s progress: ‘It’s night and day’

Rams WRs coach Eric Yarber says Tutu Atwell is making big strides after a rough rookie year

Tutu Atwell didn’t contribute in the way he or the Rams hoped he would as a rookie last year. The second-round pick played just 10 offensive snaps and never recorded a touch, only working on special teams.

He suffered a season-ending shoulder injury after just eight games, sidelining him for the second half of the year. But now that he’s healthy, Atwell is looking to carve out a bigger role within the offense.

Rams wide receivers coach Eric Yarber echoed what Sean McVay said recently, coming away impressed with the progress Atwell has made in Year 2. He told Kevin Modesti of the OC Register that “it’s night and day” with Atwell’s development compared to his rookie year.

“He’s progressing very, very well mentally and physically. The game has slowed down for him. He knows his plays like the back of his hand,” Yarber said. “It’s almost like he took things for granted (last year). But now, he saw how Cooper and Robert Woods prepared and how it translated to on-the-field (success). I was going to suggest he do that anyway, but he did it before I even suggested it. That says a lot about how he’s serious about this and he wants to be a good pro.”

The Rams’ receiver group didn’t make it easy for Atwell to earn reps last year, playing behind Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods, Van Jefferson and DeSean Jackson. However, there may have been things Atwell could have done to improve his chances, too.

Yarber spoke about pressing Atwell on the importance of preparation, which has helped him get ready for the 2022 season.

“Last year, he thought he knew but he really didn’t,” Yarber said. “So you’ve got to press on him: ‘Hey, this is how you prepare. You’ve got to prepare like a pro. This is your livelihood. This is not you going to class and then going out there and using your athletic ability.’”

The Rams still have Kupp and Jefferson at wide receiver, and they also added Allen Robinson, so Atwell once again has an uphill climb to playing time. But Yarber expects him to contribute in the passing game and on special teams, and there’s also the possibility of running jet sweeps to get the ball in his hands.

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Watch: Tutu Atwell made a smooth toe-tapping catch in Rams OTAs

Tutu Atwell has shown good things during Rams OTAs, including this toe-tapping grab in the end zone

Could 2022 be the year Tutu Atwell breaks out and shows why the Los Angeles Rams drafted him in the second round? After a disappointing rookie season, Atwell has stood out to Sean McVay during OTAs and the Rams’ offseason workout program as a whole.

He’s coming back from a season-ending shoulder injury, but McVay says Atwell has looked good and “by no means is the book written” on him.

In practice on Wednesday, the Rams shared a clip of several receivers making catches in the corner of the end zone. Some were more difficult grabs than others, like Atwell’s toe-tapping snag for what would’ve been a touchdown.

Yes, it’s only OTAs and he caught the pass against air, not a cornerback. But it’s encouraging to see him go up aggressively and to show the awareness to come down inbounds.

Hopefully he’s able to stay healthy and provide the Rams a spark as a speedy deep threat on the outside.

Sean McVay says the book isn’t written on Tutu Atwell: ‘He’s looked really good this offseason’

Sean McVay says Tutu Atwell has looked “really good this offseason program,” and by no means is the book written on the 2nd-year WR.

Most Los Angeles Rams fans have set their expectations for Tutu Atwell on the lower side this year. After an underwhelming rookie season in which he caught zero passes and only played 10 offensive snaps, the former second-round pick failed to impress in Year 1.

Heading into 2022, he’s still buried on the depth chart behind Cooper Kupp, Allen Robinson and Van Jefferson, but his coach isn’t giving up on him yet. When asked about younger players who could step up next season, Sean McVay told us via Zoom that he’s been impressed by Atwell in the offseason program as he returns from a shoulder injury that ended his rookie year early.

“I think that’s to be determined,” McVay said of who might take on bigger roles. “I’ve been really encouraged with guys who were able to step up last year and play significant roles. But when you look at it, Tutu Atwell’s a guy that got injured. I think he’s looked really good this offseason program up to this point.”

By no means will Atwell be handed a role on offense. He’ll have to earn it because the Rams have great depth at wide receiver, and they still want to bring back Odell Beckham Jr., too. But McVay isn’t going to simply stick Atwell on the bench without attempting to manufacture opportunities for him.

Atwell was a big part of the Rams’ attempt to find a deep threat last offseason, and he could still be that guy after it didn’t work out with DeSean Jackson in 2021. McVay is still high on Atwell and isn’t closing the book on him yet.

“I still believe Tutu can be that guy,” McVay said. “And DeSean did some really good things for us. I didn’t do a good enough job of getting him involved as much as he could’ve been. But by no means is the book written on Tutu Atwell. He had the shoulder injury. He’s looked really good. He’s done a great job of responding the right way.”

Van Jefferson naturally became the Rams’ deep threat last season, leading the team with an average of 16 yards per catch. He was Matthew Stafford’s go-to target on shots down the field, which resulted in a bunch of big plays.

Atwell might be the fastest offensive player the Rams have, though, after running a 4.42 in the 40-yard dash last year. That type of speed can take the top off the defense and stretch the field vertically – if he can get a better grasp of playing the wide receiver position and contribute in other ways.

McVay joined Rams Wire via Zoom last week thanks to his partnership with Campbell’s Chunky Soup, with the two sides teaming up to help those suffering from the war in Ukraine. McVay and Campbell’s are making a donation of $50,000 to the American Red Cross in support of humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, a cause that’s very important to McVay and his fiancee, who’s from Ukraine.

For more information on how you can get involved, visit the American Red Cross website at www.RedCross.org.

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Tutu Atwell is hosting a junior football camp this summer

Tutu Atwell announced that he’s hosting a junior football camp this summer in Miami

Tutu Atwell hasn’t even been a pro for one full year yet but he’s already taking initiative in the community. He announced on Twitter Friday that he’ll be holding a junior football camp this summer.

The camp will be in Miami on Saturday, July 9 and includes a full day of activities. There’s a meet-and-greet to start the day off after registration, followed by the camp from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. It includes lunch and those interested can register on the camp’s website.

Atwell was drafted by the Rams in the second round last year, their top pick in the draft. He played eight games but he didn’t catch a pass on offense, only contributing on special teams as a returner.

The Rams hope he can carve out a bigger role in 2022 and he’ll certainly be working hard to do what he can to make that happen.

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Tutu Atwell ready to prove doubters wrong: ‘I love being counted out’

Tutu Atwell endured a rough rookie year with the Rams but he’s ready to prove his doubters wrong

The second Tutu Atwell was drafted by the Rams in the second round, he was going to have a hard time finding playing time as a rookie. The Rams already had Cooper Kupp, Robert Woods and Van Jefferson penciled in as their starting receivers, and DeSean Jackson came aboard as the fourth option.

That immediately left Atwell as WR5 before even taking the field for a single practice. For that reason, among others, Atwell has been counted out from the start, with many fans and analysts questioning the pick by the Rams.

After a difficult rookie year that ended early due to a shoulder injury, Atwell is ready to prove his doubters wrong. He shared a message for them on Twitter, saying he loves being counted out.

Atwell didn’t touch the ball on offense last season, only contributing on special teams. He returned 10 punts for 54 yards and five kickoffs for 87 yards, playing 27 total snaps on special teams and just 10 on offense.

Offensive coordinator Liam Coen has already spoken about the desire to get more out of Atwell in 2022, attempting to figure out where he fits best on offense. Speed is Atwell’s biggest asset, so hopefully the Rams can find ways to utilize it next season.

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Rams OC Liam Coen wants to find ways to utilize Tutu Atwell and Jacob Harris

Liam Coen likes the potential of Tutu Atwell and Jacob Harris, and hopes the Rams can get more out of them this year

Aside from a handful of players, the Los Angeles Rams didn’t get a whole lot out of their rookie class in 2021. Ernest Jones was the biggest contributor at linebacker, but the Rams’ top pick, Tutu Atwell, didn’t touch the ball on offense. Jacob Harris didn’t, either, and both rookies suffered season-ending injuries after nine games played.

Heading into 2022, new offensive coordinator Liam Coen wants to maximize the return of those two players. He’s well aware of Atwell’s speed and knows that can be an asset on offense. It’s just a matter of keeping him healthy and finding where he fits best.

“Being able to watch his skill set and obviously, he can run,” Coen said on the “Rams Revealed” podcast. “He can really stretch the field and it’s about keeping him healthy at this point and trying to really maximize his potential and find out where he fits. What is his niche going to be within this system? And trying to really dive into his development over this offseason. Definitely an explosive player that we need to be able to get some mileage out of.”

The Rams tried to get Atwell involved on special teams, having him return 10 punts and five kickoffs. But he didn’t look particularly comfortable in either role, and as a second-round pick, the Rams need him to be more than a return specialist.

Harris was viewed as much more of a project offensively, given his lack of experience playing football; he’s only been playing since his senior year of high school. He’s a big target, standing 6-foot-5, and his size on the outside can certainly be an asset.

After previously being viewed as a tight end, Harris is expected to play wideout for the Rams, which is already a deep position. But Coen sees him as potentially being a matchup problem for opposing defenders.

“Jacob Harris, I’ve watched so many clips of him,” Coen said. “I was actually sent some film from here of how dynamic he was in the offseason last year. His movement skills, his ability to stretch the field. He could absolutely be a matchup problem on some linebackers and safeties that way. Again, just about his health and really trying to dive into his development both on and off the field this offseason.”

There’s no lack of athletes on offense for the Rams, from Cooper Kupp to Allen Robinson, but they really hope that Atwell and Harris can contribute in meaningful ways this year, too.