Puka Nacua

[Kupped]

View: https://x.com/bgrisakTST/status/1731434149993472281?s=20

For more perspective.. that’s 1mph higher than Kupp’s best in NFL.
Faster than Woods, from what a quick search turned up.

 

[Ellard80]

at his current pace he would be at 1458...

so close.

 

[Memento]

Watching him out-run those DB's was like magic.
Reminded me so much of Fitzgerald catching that SB TD pass from Warner & taking it to the house, outrunning the entire Pittsburg D.
This kid.... I knew he was big, knew he had great hands, but FAST TOO???
Him, Kupp, Tutu & now D.Robinson getting into the act... a very nice WR corps out of thin air, way to go Snead.

Skowronek has stepped up blocking-wise as well. For a late seventh, he's made himself a hell of a receiver.

Also, give Tyler Johnson a job next year.

 

[BuffaloRam]

For more perspective.. that’s 1mph higher than Kupp’s best in NFL.
Faster than Woods, from what a quick search turned up.

That’s just under Tutu’s top speed last season of 21.48 mph - legit fast!

 

[jrry32]

I didn't realize Puka has the wheels he does. He was motoring on that TD and on both runs.

 

[Kupped]

I didn't realize Puka has the wheels he does. He was motoring on that TD and on both runs.

And he’s a SOLID 205.. I feel like he’s closer to 210.

 

[Merlin]

He had a play a few weeks back I think it was where he caught the ball low and was coming up when the DB hit him and that DB was stopped in his tracks. Puka went on for more yards as per usual. That physicality with him and Kupp as well is a really nice element to have on those underneath WCO routes.

When they put Skow out there it's like we have 4 TEs on the field as it pertains to run blocking.

 

[AvengerRam]

Looks like pretty good news on the injury scare:


View: https://x.com/jourdanrodrigue/status/1731818118001967485?s=46

 

[TexasRam]

Puka’s top end speed was clearly on display as he was pulling away from DBs on several runs.

His 4.57 40 would probably be 4.4 speed but he takes time to build up from what I can tell.

Functionally, he has a deceptive 3rd gear and can blow past defenders once up to full speed.

Crazy for a guy that big.

 

[Kupped]

Puka’s top end speed was clearly on display as he was pulling away from DBs on several runs.

His 4.57 40 would probably be 4.4 speed but he takes time to build up from what I can tell.

Functionally, he has a deceptive 3rd gear and can blow past defenders once up to full speed.

Crazy for a guy that big.

Loved this one… and love the idea of getting him more carries. Not too many!


View: https://twitter.com/nextgenstats/status/1731479557361086772?s=21

 

[Psycho_X]

View: https://x.com/NFL/status/1732420239298601330?s=20

 

[Kupped]

One of the things that I’m most excited about with Puka is how he’s evolving.

Unless I’m mistaken… a ton of his early use involved basic routes… a lot of quick sit downs against zones.

The 70 yarder was an audible… and he ran it perfectly. I mean.. it helps to have Stafford.

The play he got hurt on was a layered out-route.

And they’re starting to use him more on the ground.

It’s so fun.

I think he’s more dangerous in run plays than Kupp or Woods was… his power, explosiveness and speed are a hellacious combo.

 

[Jacobarch]

No doubt he's fast. But in my experience you always run a little faster when someone's chasing you lol

 

[snackdaddy]

No doubt he's fast. But in my experience you always run a little faster when someone's chasing you lol

Or if you're @Loyal when the cops are chasing you.

 

[Kupped]

I'm sorry for being so silly here... but... DAMN.. I cannot believe he player the Rams have brought in with Puka with what is, essentially, a sixth round draft pick. Just amazing, AMAZING value!!!

It just hits me sometimes.. that this kids is having a SIGNIFICANTLY better rookie season than both Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods. And we see glimpses of what truly may become a dominant player at the position.

Holy moly.

 

[Memento]

I'm sorry for being so silly here... but... DAMN.. I cannot believe he player the Rams have brought in with Puka with what is, essentially, a sixth round draft pick. Just amazing, AMAZING value!!!

It just hits me sometimes.. that this kids is having a SIGNIFICANTLY better rookie season than both Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods. And we see glimpses of what truly may become a dominant player at the position.

Holy moly.

And he's a rookie. Let's not forget that as good as Kupp was as a rookie...he was still a rookie and made mistakes. Nacua has made mistakes as a rookie, and he's going to clean that up and get even better.

I am seriously high on Puka Nacua right now.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I'm sorry for being so silly here... but... DAMN.. I cannot believe he player the Rams have brought in with Puka with what is, essentially, a sixth round draft pick. Just amazing, AMAZING value!!!

It just hits me sometimes.. that this kids is having a SIGNIFICANTLY better rookie season than both Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods. And we see glimpses of what truly may become a dominant player at the position.

Holy moly.

Turner has been pretty amazing too. He is leading all rookies in sacks with 5.5.

Byron Young, Will Anderson, and Yaya Doby are all tied with 5 each. That’s impressive because those three are all Edge rushers.

 

[Loyal]

And he's a rookie. Let's not forget that as good as Kupp was as a rookie...he was still a rookie and made mistakes. Nacua has made mistakes as a rookie, and he's going to clean that up and get even better.

I am seriously high on Puka Nacua right now.

You used to love me...." ~DX Missile

 

[Memento]

You used to love me...." ~DX Missile

Danario had all of the potential in the world. If he had healthy knees, he'd be mentioned as a star wide receiver. He just never had a healthy knee since high school.

 

[OntarioRam]

Nacua is outstanding but his style of play makes it clear why he was injured so much in college, and is now nursing injuries every week in the NFL that he has thus far managed to play through. He is a big but very physical receiver. Embraces contact after the catch. Always blocking with authority. Going all out to make the catch, even if it means landing in compromised positions.

Puka is young and fresh right now, but miles and wear and tear add up fast at the NFL level.

I would like to see his volume decreased going forward. The number of targets he is getting now, with his style of play, is going to run him into the ground sooner than he or the Rams likely want to think about or admit.

I am hopeful that Kupp and Nacua, once the former is healthy, will form an absolutely elite duo that also sees a more sustainable target allocation between the two of them. That will benefit both receivers. In Kupp's first few games back, that seemed to be the case, with Cooper picking up right where he left off. But #10 has not looked quite himself for a few weeks now, clearly appearing hobbled and his target share and overall production level reflecting that. I am optimistic Kupp can return to being a target hog once fully healed, but he has always been injury prone, and is now over 30, so the organization should have contingency plans in place. Robinson stepping up? Using the TEs more? External help either via free agency or the draft this off-season. If Kupp can't be a high volume guy going forward, but must be used more selectively, the Rams will want to figure out another way to spread the ball around so that Nacua can be effective for many years to come. Kupp was an older rookie. He's actually older than Brandon Cooks, which almost nobody realized when they were teammates in Kupp's rookie year! Nacua is only 22. We should have ~10 years of him. It would be a shame to make it ~5 by riding him until the wheels fall off.