Is LA Rams WR Tutu Atwell getting noticed a good thing?

Don’t judge a book by its cover? If that is so, then perhaps we should hold off on declaring the LA Rams’ selection of WR Tutu Atwell’s fate is permanently decided just yet. While Atwell may face some obstacles in earning significant playing time on the LA Rams offensive rotation, there is a growing consensus among his teammates that the young man is working his arse off. And it’s that devotion to putting in the work that is raising eyebrows and expectations for the young speedy wide receiver.

While the LA Rams spent a valuable 57th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft for the small but speedy wide receiver, Atwell felt more like veteran WR DeSean Jackson’s padawan than a full-fledged competitor for playing time in the 2021 season.  When the Rams cut DeSean Jackson over a dispute over playing time, that also seemed to pull the plug on any expectation for Atwell’s ability to play in 2021. When Atwell fell to injury, that was the coup de grace.

The arrival of the 2022 camps brings a clean slate for Tutu Atwell. How will the young man handle a rough rookie go of it? If the initial reactions to his performance are any indication, Atwell is winning over his teammates and coaches.

That’s a good sign.

Year two for the Tutu train?

So what is the consensus about Tutu Atwell? Is there a consensus? From a cursory glance, there really does not appear to be a solid agreement as to Atwell’s upside. While there is no clear consensus, there is a softening of the vitriol.

Atwell is facing the Rams’ depth chart at receiver with the potential that realistically will end up his competing for a roller that is no better than WR4. He automatically falls behind Cooper Kupp and Allen Robinson on the depth chart. Unless he was bombarded by gamma rays, he will almost certainly fall behind Van Jefferson. So the first potential spot he may compete for is WR4. That won’t happen if the team brings back veteran WR Odell Beckham Jr.

The fact is that the Rams hired offensive coordinator Liam Coen to explore ways for this offense to make use of Atwell and Jacob Harris. That is a pretty tall order. But if anyone can do it, Coen can.

The Rams attempted to integrate Atwell’s speed into special teams in 2021 with only limited success in his rookie season. Atwell had no prior special teams training, so a special teams role was a bit foreign to him. Perhaps he will display a better aptitude for contributing to special teams this year? If not, perhaps he will find ways to contribute in a  more versatile RB/WR role?

It is painfully clear that speed alone is not enough to make it in the NFL any longer. The LA Rams and Tutu Atwell must discover ways to make use of Atwell’s skillsets in less conventional ways. Can he become a weapon in screenplays due to his size? Might he be more useful on jet sweeps?  Will he have a chance to test the back end of defenses? How the team does so is still up in the air. But Atwell should embrace any chance to make a positive impact on this team. He is simply buried too deeply on the Rams’ depth chart to earn playing time any other way.