By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
BigPaulSportsBigPaulSports
Notification Show More
Latest News
No. 11 Wisconsin stays red-hot with elusive win over Illinois, 95-74
No. 11 Wisconsin stays red-hot with elusive win over Illinois, 95-74
Game Analysis
LIV Golf explained | LIV on FOX
LIV Golf explained | LIV on FOX
Game Analysis
Shedeur Sanders might have revealed his preferred NFL team, all thanks to Madden
Shedeur Sanders might have revealed his preferred NFL team, all thanks to Madden
Game Analysis NFL
No. 14 Michigan St beats No. 13 Purdue 75-66, moves within half-game of 1st in Big Ten
No. 14 Michigan St beats No. 13 Purdue 75-66, moves within half-game of 1st in Big Ten
Game Analysis
Champions League: 10-man AC Milan eliminated, Club Brugge completes shocker
Champions League: 10-man AC Milan eliminated, Club Brugge completes shocker
Game Analysis
Aa
  • Big Paul Sports
  • Services
  • Game Analysis
  • Free Picks
  • Premium Content
  • Registration
  • Member Login
Reading: Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua are a ‘champagne problem’ for Rams
Share
Aa
BigPaulSportsBigPaulSports
  • Big Paul Sports
  • Services
  • Game Analysis
  • Free Picks
  • Premium Content
  • Registration
  • Member Login
Search
  • Big Paul Sports
  • Services
  • Game Analysis
  • Free Picks
  • Premium Content
  • Registration
  • Member Login
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
BigPaulSports > Blog > NFL > Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua are a ‘champagne problem’ for Rams
NFLSports News

Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua are a ‘champagne problem’ for Rams

BigP
Last updated: 2023/10/10 at 6:29 PM
BigP Published October 10, 2023
Share
Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua are a 'champagne problem' for Rams
SHARE
  • Sarah Barshop, ESPN Staff WriterOct 10, 2023, 02:00 PM ET

    Close

      Sarah Barshop covers the Los Angeles Rams for ESPN. She joined ESPN in 2016 to cover the Green Bay Packers for ESPN Milwaukee. She then moved to Houston to cover the Texans. She came to ESPN after working as a writer and editor for Sports Illustrated. You can follow her on Twitter @sarahbarshop.

LOS ANGELES — Through the first four weeks of the season, with Cooper Kupp on injured reserve, wide receiver Puka Nacua was putting up numbers on pace with Kupp’s record-breaking 2021 season when he won the receiving triple crown.

The Los Angeles Rams rookie receiver had 39 catches for 501 yards, with both tallies the most in NFL history through a player’s first four games.

But with Kupp’s return to the field in Sunday’s 23-14 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, the Rams had to figure out whether, and how, they could effectively use both — a “champagne problem,” according to coach Sean McVay.

Both players were productive, as Kupp had eight catches for 118 yards and Nacua had seven catches for 71 yards and a touchdown.

Best of NFL Nation

&#8226 Is Davante Adams satisfied?
&#8226 Kicking Carlsons ready for first battle
&#8226 Porter Jr. makes case to start
&#8226 Broncos struggling vs. the run
&#8226 Kelce returns to deliver big plays
&#8226 Bills face tough road with injuries

Nacua played all 56 offensive snaps for the Rams, and Kupp was on the field for 53. Nacua ran 41 routes and was targeted 11 times; Kupp ran 40 routes and was targeted 12 times.

McVay said he thought Kupp and Nacua “both did a nice job,” adding, “They’re two really good football players that we feel good about having, and we’ve got to continue to do a good job utilizing their skills.”

McVay said he was able to draw on the experience of that 2021 season when he also had a productive No. 2 receiver in Robert Woods.

Woods, who played nine games that season before he tore his left ACL during practice, had two games where he finished with more yards than Kupp. In nine games, he had 45 catches for 556 yards and ran 311 routes compared with Kupp’s 320 and Van Jefferson‘s 282 (Jefferson was traded to the Atlanta Falcons on Tuesday).

Woods, now with the Houston Texans, said he believes one of the reasons he and Kupp both had success was because they were on the same page when they played together, able to anticipate similar things.

“We communicated well with each other,” Woods said. “Studying the film, whether it’s film room, being out there on the field talking and giving each other a look, talking with our eyes. … He’s a true veteran receiver, knows defenses very well and knows what the purpose of the offense and how to make it run. So it was really good to play with a player who appreciated the details like him.”

Having Kupp on the field Sunday, Nacua said, made the game come “really easy.”

“It just flows kind of naturally,” Nacua said. “Being able to ask questions and kind of see what the coverage is and what we were expecting before the game, what we had talked about through the week happened right before our eyes because No. 10’s out there.”

Los Angeles Rams wide receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua appeared in their first game together in Week 5 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire

Six of Kupp’s targets — and 56 of his yards — came on the Rams’ first drive. Kupp had two catches for 23 yards in the second half, which he said was due in part to the second-half adjustments the Eagles made.

When asked after the game why he thought the difference was there between the first half and the second, Kupp said he thought McVay and Stafford did a good job of “taking what the defense was giving them.” Nacua had four catches for 37 yards in the half.

The Rams also had a touchdown catch from Tutu Atwell, who had been Los Angeles’ second receiver before Kupp’s return. Through the first four weeks of the season, Atwell led the way with 161 routes run, Nacua was second with 159 and Jefferson had 154. But on Sunday, Jefferson was the fourth receiver, running one route in the game against the Eagles. On Monday, McVay said that was partially because it was “a really unique game” in terms of the number of possessions and offensive snaps by the Rams.

After the game, McVay and several players said how close they felt to being able to make the plays that could have won them the game. And this Rams receiving corps, highlighted by Kupp, Nacua and Atwell, could be well on the way to putting up the offensive numbers the Rams had in their Super Bowl LVI-winning season.

“It’s right there for us,” Kupp said. “We got all the guys that can make these plays, all the guys that are going to do the right stuff, even this week to be prepare to go and do that. And I think we’re going to grow into a really good team and, down the line, make those plays and hopefully have a different outcome.”

ESPN’s Houston Texans reporter, DJ Bien-Aime, contributed to this story.

Sponsored Content

You Might Also Like

Shedeur Sanders might have revealed his preferred NFL team, all thanks to Madden

2025 NFL franchise tag tracker: Tee Higgins leads list of candidates (again)

Will the 49ers regret paying Brock Purdy? | First Things First

Panthers re-sign QB Andy Dalton on 2-year deal to keep mentoring Bryce Young

BigP October 10, 2023
Share this Article
Facebook Twitter Email Print

Follow US

Find US on Social Medias
Facebook Like
Twitter Follow
Youtube Subscribe
Telegram Follow
newsletter featurednewsletter featured

Weekly Newsletter

Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

    Popular News
    Saleh: Wilson wants to play but QB call still TBD
    NFLSports News

    Saleh: Wilson wants to play but QB call still TBD

    BigP BigP December 5, 2023
    GM Nick Caserio knows ‘clock is ticking’ to turn Houston Texans around
    Shanahan: 49ers’ Gray suffered shoulder sprain
    No players selected in NFL’s supplemental draft
    Vikings’ Jefferson, Cousins and Hunter start hot ahead of contract talks
    - Advertisement -
    Ad imageAd image

    Categories

    • Sports

    About US

    We offer information and tips on US Sports and evernts all over the world.
    Top Categories
    • Game Analysis
    • Free Picks
    • Services
    • Premium Content

    Subscribe US

    Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!

      © Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.

      Removed from reading list

      Undo
      Welcome Back!

      Sign in to your account

      Lost your password?