Los Angeles Rams wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods have been one of the most productive tandems in the league over the past four seasons.
Although the pair had spent the Jared Goff era sharing WR1 duties, the arrival of quarterback Matthew Stafford has shifted the balance in Kupp’s favor. He is now the go-to option in the passing game as he currently leads the league in receptions (46), targets (68) and touchdowns (7) heading into Week 7 of the 2021 NFL season.
Meanwhile, Woods has become a complementary option on offense with 353 yards and three touchdowns on 29 receptions. Despite the difference in numbers, his impact is not always accounted for in the stat sheet.
Even if Kupp is the most productive wideout in the league right now, he hails Woods as its most complete player, via J.B. Long of the team’s official website:
What he can do in terms of the top shelf stuff, what he does in the intermediate game, what he does underneath being able to get open, his ability to separate versus press (coverage), ability to eat up grass versus off coverage,” Kupp gushed on this week’s Rams Revealed podcast. “I don’t think there’s anyone in the league you can ask to do all the things he does in the pass game, and then understand all the stuff he has to do in the run game.”
Kupp elaborated on Woods’ role in the offense and all the things he is tasked with in certain packages:
“(Robert’s) used a lot of times as a fullback or (isolating) on safeties rolling down into the box; he’s sifting off of edges, being able to take shots off of our running backs,” Kupp said of his running mate. “He plays with an energy snap in and snap out, whether it’s the first snap, 70th snap, whatever it is… any opportunity to play for his guys. I just think the world of him and how he plays the game.”
There were some signs of early frustration from Woods following a slow start to the season. While head coach Sean McVay was not concerned about the impact it could have had on his demeanor, he did pledge to get the veteran more involved and it has since paid some major dividends.
Woods finally broke out with 12 receptions for 150 yards in Week 6 versus the Seattle Seahawks and he has now hauled in two touchdown passes in the last three games. Regardless, it is evident that the offense is still a work in progress after a couple of slow starts in recent weeks.
Kupp’s comments indicate that the Rams will need to continue utilizing a solid dosage of Woods if they hope to get back on track.
