TuTu Atwell is lightning fast, and now an official LA Rams receiver

The LA Rams‘ interest in Louisville wide receiver Tutu Atwell has mystified some, angered others, and even been applauded by still others. The theory of why the team drafted the speedy field-stretching wide receiver out of Louisville is fundamentally sound. The Rams had just acquired a veteran quarterback named Matthew Stafford who not only can throw the deep ball but who will do so.

The team simply wanted a rookie player who would be the understudy to one of the NFL’s best at stretching the football field, wide receiver DeSean Jackson. When healthy, Jackson, who stands 5-foot-10 and weighs just 175-pounds, will average up to 20+ yards per catch. But over the past two seasons, he has suited up for just eight games.

Ergo, the Rams felt that they needed an insurance policy for 2021 and a fully anointed NFL starter for the 2022 NFL season who can do similar things. He is 5-foot-9 and a reported 165-pounds, and he is ready to work.

Facts about Atwell are difficult to confirm.

Back to the deep ball

While listed at 165 pounds, he was cited at 149 pounds for his Pro Day workout, and at 155 pounds for his Senior Bowl performance.  Of course, for the NFL, bigger is better, at least up to 170 pounds. So how fast is he? Well, that’s another head-scratcher. He’s been listed with 4.32-second 40-yard dash time, or even as fast as 4.27-second 40-yard dash time. In either case, he is faster than DeSean Jackson’s 4.35-second 40-yard dash time.

Los Angeles Rams

For comparison purposes, WR Brandin Cooks is 5-foot-10 183-pounds and has posted a 4.33-second 40-yard dash time. Atwell is faster than both. It’s safe to presume that the Rams see Brandin Cooks’s potential in Atwell, and that is why they were so eager to bring him aboard.

With his contract signed, Atwell is an active member of the LA Rams’ organization and has all of the access to coaches, facilities, and rights as every other player. Since his weight is such a hot topic, there is every reason to believe that he will be working closely with the team’s strength and conditioning staff to add the proper weight and muscle to enhance his NFL performance.

Lightning-fast is very helpful on offense

Atwell can be a dangerous weapon in the return game, as he was effective at returning punts for Louisville as a sophomore.  If he follows the track of Cooks, he will be playing an outside wide receiver slot, allowing the Rams to slide Cooper Kupp to the slot where he is far more dangerous. And he, like DeSean Jackson, can be very effective when on the field simply due to the fact that he will likely draw two defensive backs to prevent big plays.

How soon will he see the field? Well, the Rams do not have a great track record of getting rookies involved with the offense quickly. Still, the team may want to rethink that strategy. In his rookie year for the New Orleans Saints, Brandin Cooks hauled in 53 of 69 passes for 550 yards and three touchdowns. In that season, the Saints touted the third-best passing offense in the NFL.

The Rams are in a perfect position to attempt a similar performance in 2021.   If the Rams could squeeze 33 passing touchdowns without diminishing the team’s rushing production, the Rams offense would be among the Top Ten scoring offenses. That’s what the Rams are aiming to do, so they appear to be on the right track. It all starts with getting Tutu Atwell up to speed. As fast as he is, that shouldn’t take long at all.