How Will the Rams Continue to Use Their Receivers?
Coming off a tight game against the Texans, Rams fans are still looking for Sean McVay and Matthew Stafford to really get this offense going. The Rams put up 14 points in Week One, which is not terrible, but is hopefully not the ceiling for a team that has a lot of offensive talent. Against the Texans, the Rams just didn’t seem to be able to get into a rhythm. Every time the offense really started building some momentum, there was something that halted that progress. In the first half, this was Puka Nacua entering and exiting the game multiple times to be checked up on in the blue tent for a concussion and for bleeding over his right eye. Later on, injuries to guards Kevin Dotson and Steve Avila forced offensive personnel to scramble just as the Rams started to march down the field. These aren’t necessarily excuses, but in order for the Rams to reach their offensive potential, they will need to find some consistency and continuity.
Outside of making sure the offensive line is healthy, one of the main places the offense needs to build continuity is with its pass-catching weapons. Puka Nacua is the engine of this entire offense, and he and Stafford started Week One picking right where they left off last season, connecting for 10 catches and 130 yards on 11 targets. What makes this stat line even crazier is that, because Nacua came in and out of the game multiple times from the concussion scare and bleeding, he only ran 22 routes. Stafford targeted Nacua on literally every other route that he ran. What this week confirmed for us is that Nacua’s involvement will be the centerpiece of how this offense operates and will continue to command the large majority of the targets.
The question of how the Rams’ pass attack can evolve and take the next step is left to the other receivers in the offense. Reminiscent of the massive target shares Cooper Kupp and Nacua had in years past, Davante Adams was the only other pass catcher with a significant amount of targets. Adams ran routes on all 29 drop-backs and was targeted eight times for four catches and 51 yards. Given the Texans’ stout defense, especially in having two elite cornerbacks, this was likely not the game for Adams to go off as the number two next to Nacua. However, in order for this offense to be great, Adams needs to be more involved. McVay has never had a player of his skill set and caliber before. It may take some time, but Davante Adams at his best is what can really take this offense to the elite tiers of the NFL.
Outside of the two big names, it was interesting how the Rams used their tertiary receivers. Jordan Whittington and Tutu Atwell seemed to split time as the third wide receiver, with 50% of the snaps and 42% respectively. That being said, some of their snaps likely came from Nacua’s absence during parts of the game. Although Whittington and Atwell played the most, it was Xavier Smith who had the most yards in the air, bringing in a 36-yard pass from Stafford to set up their second touchdown drive. The non-Nacua and Adams receivers only made up two of the Rams’ 29 targets, and this will surely change moving forward. Whittington will likely get involved in short yardage and in the run game with plays like the jet sweep he ran for five yards this week. Atwell will be used in the long passing game and is bound to connect for a deep pass at some point in the season.
