What did LA Rams learn from Super Bowl LVI for next SB win?

LA Rams’ assets: Part II

If you had to focus on the Super Bowl alone, then you would certainly name wide receiver Cooper Kupp as perhaps the best offensive player on the team in 2021, and you would be correct. Somehow, Kupp made a jump from a very good receiver in his first four NFL seasons to epically elite in his fifth year. Of course, part of that was the almost unseverable chemistry that he developed with quarterback Matthew Stafford.

It was more than just a volume matter for Kupp. On the season, his pass completion rate actually rose from an average of 72.4 percent to a career-high of 75.9 percent. That is in the face of the fact that defenses planned to neutralize him. Well, surely NFL defenses stopped him in the playoffs, right?  Not exactly. Kupp jumped from a 75.9 completion percentage, averaging 114.5 yards per game, and 16 touchdowns over 17 games, to a playoff performance with a 78.6 completion rate, averaging 119.5 yards per game, and six touchdowns over four games.

For years, the Rams fanbase has cited Kupp’s absence in critical playoff games as a factor that contributed to losses in the past. It would seem from what occurred this year that assertion has merit. It’s quite clear that the Stafford to Kupp is something defenses will face for years to come.

OBJ signing

The addition of wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. to the LA Rams roster was not exactly met with a ticker-tape parade by the fans. In spite of that, his rapid integration into the Rams offense was very impressive indeed. After all, the Rams had to integrate him on the fly, as the team immediately lost starting wide receiver Robert Woods after OBJ arrived.

That forced the team to give him a fast-track treatment, giving him 18 targets in just his first three games with the team. He caught nine passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns. Not bad for learning on the job, eh?  In the final five games of the season, OBJ caught 18 of 30 passes thrown his way for 178 yards and three touchdowns. While that does not appear to be headliner news, it was enough for the Rams to build trust and confidence to come through in the clutch.

For the playoffs, OBJ caught 21 of 26 passes for 288 yards and two touchdowns. Had he avoided injury, he may have ended the postseason with even better numbers. Of course, he is projected to be a free agent in a matter of weeks. If the LA Rams are unable or unwilling to re-sign him, or any free agent mentioned in this article, the team will need to have a sure-fire plan in place to replicate their production in 2022.