Could a Stafford-Atwell connection in 2023 revitalize Rams quick-strike offense?

When LA Rams veteran starting quarterback Matthew Stafford first arrived on the team via a trade with the Detroit Lions, there was plenty of hype and optimism. And when the Rams signed speedy wide receiver DeSean Jackson, the Rams' offense seemed to be overly optimistic, willing to stretch the field and test the back end of secondaries. But few believed that the Rams would follow through with that potential.

That is until the LA Rams offense scored on a 75-yard touchdown bomb, Stafford to DJax, that required all of 56 seconds against a very tough Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense. From that point on, it was difficult not to expect the Rams' offense to score on every possession, no matter where that line of scrimmage was on the football field.

But halfway through the season, DeSean Jackson felt he deserved more targets in the offense, and the Rams agreed, as long as it was another team' offense. Jackson was released and the Rams quick strike offense has since been mothballed.

Launch the long range missile

Are the Rams capable of launching long range ballistic missiles in their offensive arsenal once more? If they can, that could be a huge upgrade over their 2022 offensive assortment of plays. W

While Stafford did connect on a long 75-yard touchdown pass to Cooper Kupp in Week 5 against the Dallas Cowboys, that was all Kupp. What I mean is the play design was a simple crossing route thrown to Kupp just four yards beyond the line of scrimmage, and the remaining 71 yards scoring on that play was simply Kupp turning on the jets and outrunning the Cowboys' defensive backs.

But what if a long arcing touchdown pass is back in the Rams offensive arsensal? How would that look? Perhaps it would look something like this:

Of course, it looks oh so easy until the pads come on. But the early reports continue to confirm that veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford is healthy, perhaps the healthiest he has ever been in an LA Rams uniform. And the Rams coaching staff appears to have more confidence in young speedy WR Tutu Atwell now. Is this the year that Stafford finally hurls a long touchdown bombs into the outstretched arms of a streaking Tutu Atwell?

If the LA Rams offense hopes to have any chance of putting points on the scoreboard, and competing in some shootouts, that is a great part of the answer. And with Stafford and Atwell already connecting and building a chemistry, hope for the two to connect in the 2023 NFL season is growing as well.

Bombs away!