When the Los Angeles Rams acquired Odell Beckham Jr. after he was released by the Cleveland Browns, there were a lot of questions about how much he had left and if he could still be a productive wide receiver.
He didn’t show much in his debut game in Week 10 with two catches for 18 yards, but since that game, he has proven to be a great pairing across from Cooper Kupp.
With the Rams, Beckham caught 27 passes for 305 yards with five touchdowns in seven starts and became a key target for Matthew Stafford in the NFC Championship Game as he hauled in nine catches for 113 yards against the San Francisco 49ers.
Beckham believes his success in L.A. after his forgettable experience in Cleveland is partly because the Rams have a culture that pushes him to succeed with a plan on how to get it done, via Myles Simmons Pro Football Talk:
“Being integrated into the plan,” Beckham said. “Taking me in, pushing me for excellence, the weight room — everything about this place is right and it’s done right. And it’s just been an incredible opportunity. And I feel like I’m just trying to make the most of it. And here we are playing in the Super Bowl, one game away from our dreams.”
While the Rams have built the culture needed for the star receiver to have success, Beckham has also put in the work needed for his turnaround.
Matthew Stafford recently said Beckham has “been working his tail off” and the two have been “communicating nonstop,” and that he has been receiving help on the practice field from Kupp.
Beckham also recognizes the work that has been put in and gives some of the credit to the team for giving him a confidence boost along the way:
“With the meetings, the extra work, just helping me to be prepared so I can go out there and play fast,” Beckham said. “You know, the very first game we played San Francisco at San Francisco. The first play of the game, the ball was thrown my way and it’s just been — they’ve instilled confidence into me. And I’m at a loss for words. I’m just trying to enjoy the moment.”
Beckham has shown he is a great fit for the Rams and as a free agent after the season, there should be a lot of interest in a reunion from both sides. But first, Beckham and the Rams have one more job to do as they prepare for Super Bowl LVI against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Stafford “proud” to be a member of Rams
The Rams made the blockbuster trade to acquire Stafford from the Detroit Lions on Jan. 30, 2021, hoping he would be the missing piece to take the team over the hump to win a Super Bowl.
Exactly one year to the day later, the Rams are one win away from that vision coming to fruition as Stafford led the Rams to an NFC Championship Game victory over the San Francisco 49ers to punch their ticket to Super Bowl LVI.
While this season was filled with ups and downs, particularly for Stafford, who led the league in interceptions, he expressed how proud he is to be a member of the organization after beating the 49ers.
“I’m just so proud of this group,” Stafford said. “We’ve had high expectations all year. Done nothing but do everything in our power to try and meet those. It’s a driven group we have in there. This game wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t easy in some spots, but we found a way to win the game. That’s what it’s all about. I’m just happy and proud to be a part of this group. And we got some more work left to do.”
