LA Rams need to continue to spread the ball around

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(Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /

A Kupp-pull of observations

Hey, it’s okay to target one of the best receivers on the roster. But to do so exclusively at the expense of including other receivers simply does the job for the opposing defense. At the least, it makes their job that much easier. And so the LA Rams game plan to throw the ball to Cooper Kupp made it so much easier for their defense to stop the Rams from doing so.

Did you think that the Arizona Cardinals didn’t see that trend?

CB Byron Murphy says the Cards have "respect toward Cooper Kupp. We know what type of player he is. This week (he) was emphasized because we know on third downs, he’s a favorite target."

Kupp finished with 5 catches on 13 targets by Stafford.
— Greg Beacham (@gregbeacham) October 3, 2021

For the game itself, Kupp ended the game with 5-13 catches for 64 yards. His teammate, second-year receiver Van Jefferson, was a perfect 6-6 catches for 90 yards and a touchdown on the day. The Cardinals defense was simply not as interested in shutting down Jefferson on that afternoon.

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In Week 5, the Seattle Seahawks were prepared to stop WR Cooper Kupp as well. But the Rams were wiser and focused their early passing towards veteran WR Robert Woods. Woods ended the evening with 12-15 for 150 yards. Eventually, the Rams were able to get the ball to Kupp as well, and he ended the evening at 7-10 for 92 yards.

The Rams have enough offensive weapons with Kupp, Woods, Van Jefferson, DeSean Jackson, and even Tyler Higbee to get three to the 1000 yard make this season. The trick to doing so is simply to continue to spread the ball around, and keep defenses off-balance while doing so.

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