PR/WR Cooper Kupp now special teams fixture for LA Rams

LA Rams PR/WR Cooper Kupp accepting his new special teams’ role, playing for ST coordinator John Bonamego

The LA Rams paid wide receiver, Cooper Kupp. They did so by extending him for three more years, now through the end of the 2023 NFL season. At the same time, the Rams now have two critical passing targets on the roster for at least two more years.  Even now the Rams are rumored to be turning their attention to extending veteran wide receiver Robert Woods.

While the Rams work hard to solidify their passing game, there are other forces at work on the team. The Rams have a new Special Teams Coordinator in John Bonamego.  After losing John Fassell to the Dallas Cowboys, the Rams turned to Bonamego to help improve the team’s declining special team’s play, ranked 23rd in 2019.  So far, the Rams are ranked at 28th, but that is hardly surprising. The team’s field goal unit succeeded in just two of three field goals and did make both extra points.

Return specialists

As far as punting and the return game goes, All-Pro Johnny Hekker continued to deliver as boomed three punts for an average of 47.3 yards per punt. But perhaps one of the most intriguing developments for the special teams is the presence of WR Cooper Kupp as a punt returner.

How did he do so far? As the team signaled for a fair catch for all four of the Dallas Cowboys punts, the jury is understandably still out.

This is not a passing phase. With the Detroit Lions, Bonamego enlisted both running back Jamal Agnew and wide receiver Danny Amendola. Overall, the Lions did very well in the return game. Bonamego hopes to replicate that success with the Rams this year.

The Rams hope to employ Kupp’s ability to run with the ball in the return game.  While he did not have a chance to showcase his ability in game one, he will likely have the chance to do so in week two.