THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — If you’re looking for Cooper Kupp After practice, he is often found in the ears of a defensive back.
After practice, immediately after a play, or in the locker area, he asks the questions Los Angeles Rams Asking the DBs about what they see from him and for any tips or comments they have against him during practice. This is not limited to All-Pro cornerbacks. Jalen Ramsey He is asking rookies, but he doesn’t know what he is talking about. Cobie Durant And Russ Yeast You can also find them here.
Durant, a fourth round pick from South Carolina State, stated that he was shocked to hear that a “Triple Crown guy” asked him questions and got pointers from him.
Yeast stated, “He’s just trying the game before he gets to it.” “And that’s kind of what makes him great.”
Kupp is improving every day, even after a Super Bowl LVI MVP season, in which he led all NFL receivers in yards, touchdown receptions, and catch percentage. Kupp is now a bigger part of the Rams offense. He accounts for 33% of their targets this season, which ranks as the highest in the NFL.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers Kupp’s two attempts to stop him last season were unsuccessful. Kupp had nine receptions for 183 yards and one touchdown that sent the Rams to NFC Championship Game.
“He does Everything Well,” said Todd Bowles, the Buccaneers’ head coach and defensive coordinator. “He blocks, runs routes, is outside, in the backfield, at the line-of-scrimmage. He’s in motion, throws passes, and catches the ball. … He is a big man, which goes unnoticed when blocking. But he can get on you.
“He’s one those rare players that comes along every few years.”
SATURDAY MORNINGS Kupp is at the front of wide receivers’ meeting room, clicker in his hand. Eric Yarber, wide receivers coach, said that Kupp runs the Saturday meetings “because he’s just a coach on field.” The Rams wide receiver is perhaps the most generous compliment. Ben SkowronekKupp is said to be “pretty similar to having Coach Yarbs lead it.”
Yarber stated, “When we go to the sideline after plays Cooper can tell us exactly what happened on each play almost like Sean.” It just makes my job so much easier. It makes it so much easier to coach.”
Kupp isn’t just familiar with the wide receivers’ room. Kupp has a great deal of knowledge about the Rams offense.
Liam Coen, offensive coordinator, said that “he knows our offensive lines calls”. He knows the calls and he understands the intent.
Yarber stated that this knowledge “makes him perform much, much more quickly,” and added that Kupp immediately noticed when offensive linemen made a wrong call the day before in practice.
Cooper replied, “No, no. You got 54. Yarber stated, “Push it to 54.” “And I mean, it helps everyone out.”
Kupp, despite his historical stats last season was a player who would be open to running ideas and coming to the coaching staff in the early hours of the week.
“Not only do you pass ideas but also run them where he was blocked.” Minnesota Vikings Wes Phillips, the Rams’ offensive coordinator, was also their tight ends coach and pass-game coordinator in 2021.[He] He listened as the line coach presented his run presentation, including blocking techniques and blocking. He asked questions. He was very special in every aspect of his pass game, and he was also extremely special in mental aspects.
“For a man leading the league receiving, and he is coming in, saying, ‘I think this would be good. This is rare.
He must put in the effort and prepare to learn the offense. Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Chidobe Awuzie Kupp said that he and Kupp had trained together in the beginning of the league. Awuzie commented, “Seeing how he approaches it,” “I have never seen a receiver approach to it that meticulously with that desire to learn, to research, to learn from others who have played the position at high levels.”
He won’t sleep until he does something. He’s always there trying to improve his film skills. It doesn’t end when he gets home. It doesn’t stop there. It may go on for up to nine hours. I know he is a football junkie.
Buccaneers cornerback Jamel Dean He said that he could tell how well Kupp knows the defense.
“Having the film study and then being capable of, like, execution it and recognising it on the snap — that’s his ability. [over] Dean stated that most receivers are not aware of this.
Kupp states that his motivation to coach others is what makes him work.
“If you stepped on the field and said to yourself, ‘I’m going not to learn anything today’,” he replied. “That wouldn’t be you. It’s boring for me. I want to continue to learn.”
Kupp’s sixth NFL season saw him adopt this mindset to help him develop his route running. Kupp shared that he relied heavily on veterans from his time on the roster, including Brandin Cooks, Sammy Watkins And Robert WoodsKupp, according to a friend, was “like a sponge that soaks up everything.”
Yarber stated that it is difficult to defend Kupp because he makes each route look the exact same.
Yarber said, “That makes you honest.” You can’t jump on things. He makes it look the exact same when you jump. If you thought he was going into, he will give you the look of a man going in. He’s actually breaking out.”
Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton Kupp said that Kupp is “really decisive in his…” [release]”Off the line of Scrimmage — and knows how attack a defender’s leverage.
“Your [release] Hilton explained that as a receiver, it is how you set up your defense.” “If your line is straight, you will be able to pass the ball. [release] They will be going vertically, of course. … Imagine that you are running a slant. You want to [release] You’re trying to defeat the defender in your backyard. So you [release] Outside and then back under. Kupp does that, man.”
Skowronek stated Kupp “does an excellent job of understanding pre and post-snap look, leverages based on whatever coverage is, and being capable to attack leverages.”
Skowronek explained, “And that’s what I think makes him so special. Being able to do this and knowing coverages so well. Just having a plan every time he gets to the line.
Zac Taylor was the Rams’ assistant wide receivers coaches during Kupp’s rookie year. He said Kupp “is like an quarterback playing receiver” because it is important to him to understand the “why”.
“If he has to go an extra yard in order to break it off or get open, [he can],” Durant said. Durant said, “He can open whenever he likes. He is not Triple Crown for nothing.
Coen stated that Kupp’s knowledge of the game has made him a better player in every aspect, including the pass and run.
“Every receiver desires the ball as much and as often as possible, but where does that leave you? Coen said. “How can you help teammates be more open in many situations?” Coen said. His game is full of subtleties. [based off] Experience, as well as the work you are referring to.”
KUPP TOOK A Big leap forward in last season’s season. Kupp was a solid receiver for Rams in 2020 and ended the 2021 season as Super Bowl LVI MVP. This resulted in historic numbers. Kupp’s difference in those seasons was the addition to quarterback Matthew Stafford. McVay stated that the pair had an “immediately special relationship”, something he could clearly see from their very first training camp together. Kupp wore Stafford’s No. 9 jersey, when he signed the contract extension in June.
McVay stated that you could see Cooper’s big season coming based on all the things they were able do.
Coen says that every morning at 6 o’clock in the morning Stafford and Kupp meet up in the film room.
Coen explained that they do more than just watch pass play. “They look at routes, they see the run game, they observe the defensive structure.”
Ramsey said that he opposes Kupp in practice and that the chemistry between Stafford and Ramsey is “unique.”
Ramsey stated, “When a receiver and a quarterback have chemistry it’s really difficult to defend them anyway because they already know how they want routes run, where the ball placement will occur.”
It’s clear that Stafford relied on Kupp during this season when the offense struggled to move it consistently. Kupp is currently responsible for 71% (tied for most in NFL) of his team’s receiving touchdowns and 39% for his team’s receiving yards. He is third only to the Vikings receiver. Justin Jefferson And Miami Dolphins Receiver Tyreek Hill.
“They have a love connection.” San Francisco 49ers Safety Jimmie Ward said. “He remains on him the entire play.”
Stafford stated that Kupp is someone he can rely on on the field, because “he does an amazing job of being there he’s supposed to be at exactly the right time.”
Stafford stated that Stafford has a “great concept and understanding” of what he’s trying to accomplish, in both the pass and run games. Stafford is also physically talented. He is a one-on-one player who can win and gives me a place to throw the ball. The elite trait of catching the ball and then running after it is caught is also very special.”
His quarterback’s feelings are widely shared by his rivals.
Buccaneers safety Mike Edwards said. “Just by looking at him on film, he stands out. He gets a lot of balls. He opens his mouth…shhh! [shakes head] … I don’t know. He takes some insane routes, so you have to make sure you are on guard. He is a fantastic player. He finds open zones to get in. He will shake his man to open the door if he is talking to you.
“… We played them in our rookie year. He was not very hip to me. I thought, “Man, this guy is pretty good.” And he kept getting better. He seems to be getting better every single year. He’s one those guys that never stops improving each year.”
This story was contributed by Ben Baby, Turron Davenport, Turron Davenport, Nick Wagoner and Nick Seifert, NFL Nation reporters.