Kupp

[swmizzou83]

Hard to complain about much this season as it was far better than anyone anticipated but I think I real discussion needs to be had about the future of Kupp.

He was clearly not the same player this year as in years past and the Rams need to figure out whether he will ever be that guy again. If they don't think so than a big need in the off season becomes WR.

It's hard to not believe this offense would be significantly better and not have had the red zone struggles like tonight if Kupp is his old self or there was someone else that is a legitimate threat out there opposite Puka.

 

[Angry Ram]

He was hurt all season one way or another. Players recover. He'll be fine.

But if there's a WR out there...go for it.

 

[kurtfaulk]

.

The one pass Stafford threw to Kupp in the end zone was uncatchable. If he had caught it he would have been a couple of yards out of bounds.

Stafford finds his favourite guy and just sticks to him.

.

 

[Ram_Rally]

I think he's a great savvy veteran.... But it's time to add another legit receiver to the mix.

 

[OntarioRam]

Kupp is the player I am curious to watch the most in 2024-25.

Is he slowing down or was he just severely hobbled this season by injury?

Do not forget he had a very bad hamstring issue to start the season, to the point he flew out to see unique specialists, and those injuries alone can kill a season. Look at Justin Jefferson. Or Keenan Allen in past years.

Then the ankle issue came along. Which perhaps was caused by the hamstring issue, who knows. In fact, it would not surprise me if any or all of his knees, hips, and lower back were also all wonky due to compensation and/or poor running form once the ankle and hamstring went offline.

And people wonder why he looked slower / had his timing off?

In his first game or two back this year he looked great and picked up right where he left off. But then the injury bug hit.

I am optimistic he will heal up this off-season and come into the 2024-25 season healthy and ready to prove he is still absolutely elite.

My worry is his age combined with how many targets he has seen. Staying healthy could be a real challenge for him. It already seems to be. Lots of miles on those tires. Him being limited/hobbled might become the new normal, along with the lower production that entails.

His game is so cerebral, his route running so crisp, and his run blocking so effective that even when he is no longer an elite or even above average starting WR he could easily transition into the role of an effective WR3 bringing veteran leadership, if you can play with the contract enough to make it make sense.

 

[OldSchool]

I wonder if he was ever truly healthy. He and Stafford missed an awful lot this season and it's almost like he wasn't getting to the spots he was supposed to. Hoping he has a nice quiet off season of recovery and comes back in '24 ready to kick ass.

 

[swmizzou83]

Kupp is the player I am curious to watch the most in 2024-25.

Is he slowing down or was he just severely hobbled this season by injury?

Do not forget he had a very bad hamstring issue to start the season, to the point he flew out to see unique specialists, and those injuries alone can kill a season. Look at Justin Jefferson. Or Keenan Allen in past years.

Then the ankle issue came along. Which perhaps was caused by the hamstring issue, who knows. In fact, it would not surprise me if any or all of his knees, hips, and lower back were also all wonky due to compensation and/or poor running form once the ankle and hamstring went offline.

And people wonder why he looked slower / had his timing off?

In his first game or two back this year he looked great and picked up right where he left off. But then the injury bug hit.

I am optimistic he will heal up this off-season and come into the 2024-25 season healthy and ready to prove he is still absolutely elite.

My worry is his age combined with how many targets he has seen. Staying healthy could be a real challenge for him. It already seems to be. Lots of miles on those tires. Him being limited/hobbled might become the new normal, along with the lower production that entails.

His game is so cerebral, his route running so crisp, and his run blocking so effective that even when he is no longer an elite or even above average starting WR he could easily transition into the role of an effective WR3 bringing veteran leadership, if you can play with the contract enough to make it make sense.

Those are basically my thoughts also. I'm going to be hopeful he comes back to his old form next year but we will see. I still think we shouldn't pass up the opportunity to draft or trade for a big time weapon if we have the opportunity.

 

[El Chapo Jr]

Agree with everyone here, he needs to heal up. If Kupp can get back to being the Kupp we know plus Puka improving, fuck, we'll have a lethal 1-2 WR punch.

 

[Loyal]

I wonder if he was ever truly healthy. He and Stafford missed an awful lot this season and it's almost like he wasn't getting to the spots he was supposed to. Hoping he has a nice quiet off season of recovery and comes back in '24 ready to kick ass.

Timing is so important between Kupp and Stafford (same thing with Puka). If Kupp is healthy as he's gonna be, why can Staff find Nacua on timing routes, but seemingly can't with his #1 WR? Kupp has not been dominant except for a game (maybe 2?) all year. Is it somehow a Stafford problem or is it all Kupp?
I consider Puka as the #1 WR on this offense right now. Coaches need to make some decisions about Kupp this offseason.

 

[WestCoastRam]

Cut the bum!

 

[8to12]

I don't have any worry about Kupp.
Worst case, he has lost a step.... and the chemistry between Stafford and Nacua is such that is now the #1 target in the offense. Kupp still can kill a defense playing zone, and still knows how to set up defenders in man coverage.

 

[Flint]

.

The one pass Stafford threw to Kupp in the end zone was uncatchable. If he had caught it he would have been a couple of yards out of bounds.

Stafford finds his favourite guy and just sticks to him.

.

Stafford was dealing to most everyone BUT Kupp, if he gives Kupp a back shoulder is it a td, and how did he miss Kupp all alone on the sideline, that was a huge miss.

 

[HE WITH HORNS]

Kupp isn't the same player as 2021 Kupp. And we are paying him even more now.

 

[Tumak61]

Most receivers slow down some after 30. Kupp was an older rookie when he came in. Does his production match his contract now? McVay knows receivers so he probably has a good idea if Kupp can regain that form.

 

[OnceARam]

He has been injured since Wolford`s hospital ball. His recovery was set back by a (related) hamstring injury.

It is what it is. We have no reason to believe that he won`t recover after another offseason - ASSUMING the hamstring issue is understood and addressable.

That said, he still has utility to the club as-is. We can`t go back and NOT give him the contract extension, so let`s stay in reality when we are discussing his situation.

Puka would not have had the season he had without Kupp.

Personally, I think we need to bring in another WR, regardless of whether Kupp returns to form.

Robinson isn't a #3. He`s a #4 - a rotational and spot starter guy.

There were 3 throws to him against Detroit that he had no hope of catching. Puka would have made a play on the ball, and so would have Kupp. We need a better #3, and I think that is a bigger issue than Kupp.

Tutu... is a #1 in the AZ offense to replace Hollywood. I just don`t see us getting the production out of him that other teams could. I believe he is still on a rookie contract, which means that his value to us is his trade value. Especially after showing the league that he is a viable threat by scoring against Detroit.

There are so many good WR in this draft I am beginning to lean towards taking one in R1 who would eventually take over for Kupp.

We still have Stafford, why NOT surround him with playmakers???

 

[Corbin]

Hard to complain about much this season as it was far better than anyone anticipated but I think I real discussion needs to be had about the future of Kupp.

He was clearly not the same player this year as in years past and the Rams need to figure out whether he will ever be that guy again. If they don't think so than a big need in the off season becomes WR.

It's hard to not believe this offense would be significantly better and not have had the red zone struggles like tonight if Kupp is his old self or there was someone else that is a legitimate threat out there opposite Puka.

Not so sure man. If anybody we have to be worried about it's not Kupp. He didn't seem right all year and he definitely been banged up throughout the year and seems as though his body never fully good get acclimated to the season before something else happened.

I don't think the solution is spending resources much needed elsewhere on a WR especially with what we have lacking in. Maybe need a beast ass 3rd WR after most or all others needs are filled.

Something to note, the amount of respect commanded by teams has seen a lot of coverage shifted towards Kupp and not Puka if you noticed. That added to Kupp and Stafford not being on the same page a lot as well.

 

[AvengerRam]

Happy he’ll be returning (healthier, hopefully) in 2024.

Rams must nonetheless plan for a post-Kupp time by finding another WR in the draft who fits our offense.

 

[Ram_Rally]

I would love to add Darnell Mooney. True deep threat at a discount.

 

[Malibu]

He has been injured since Wolford`s hospital ball. His recovery was set back by a (related) hamstring injury.

It is what it is. We have no reason to believe that he won`t recover after another offseason - ASSUMING the hamstring issue is understood and addressable.

That said, he still has utility to the club as-is. We can`t go back and NOT give him the contract extension, so let`s stay in reality when we are discussing his situation.

Puka would not have had the season he had without Kupp.

Personally, I think we need to bring in another WR, regardless of whether Kupp returns to form.

Robinson isn't a #3. He`s a #4 - a rotational and spot starter guy.

There were 3 throws to him against Detroit that he had no hope of catching. Puka would have made a play on the ball, and so would have Kupp. We need a better #3, and I think that is a bigger issue than Kupp.

Tutu... is a #1 in the AZ offense to replace Hollywood. I just don`t see us getting the production out of him that other teams could. I believe he is still on a rookie contract, which means that his value to us is his trade value. Especially after showing the league that he is a viable threat by scoring against Detroit.

There are so many good WR in this draft I am beginning to lean towards taking one in R1 who would eventually take over for Kupp.

We still have Stafford, why NOT surround him with playmakers???

Don't agree on Robinson he has been a great #3.

 

[Jacobarch]

Puka is obviously Kupps replacement for the future. Also Robinson was a stud for us this season, he was and is what Reynolds and Jefferson were supposed to be for the Rams. Being that he was on a one year deal I hope the rams see the luxury of having a great 3rd option for Stafford and sign him to a 3 year deal. I think if the Rams FO plays this offseason smartly we can have the best WR trio in the league in 24' it's just a matter of and if Kupp was truly just hurt this entire season or, if he is indeed slowing down at a high rate. If he's slowing down then I hope we either draft well or sign an FA who can fill that void. That's really all we can ask for at the moment, because we're all just guessing from our couches.