Puka Nacua

[Psycho_X]

my recollection was he had a great preseason game on the last drive to win it for the rams, got an injury at the same time and then we never saw him on the field again for the rams.

.

Didn’t he get suspended for PEDs? Or am I thinking of someone else

Yeah he separated his should if I recall correctly on the last play of the game or close to it after helping secure the win. It was a typical thing for us Rams fans back then... player shows an inkling of talent to get us excited and then immediately gets injured. Never saw him again as he was cut the next preseason I believe.

 

[Angry Ram]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJgNyVL7fio

 

[kurtfaulk]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJgNyVL7fio

Looks good.

.

 

[WestCoastRam]

View: https://twitter.com/RamsNFL/status/1690034586963849217


As many on the board, I've not been a fan of Tutu but I'm genuinely excited for him this year given what the reports have been like from camp and Jourdan... That being said, Nacua is gonna eat some snaps and I wouldn't be shocked if he surpasses Tutu as the 3rd WR the majority of time in 11 Personnel by years end if he stays healthy. How can you not get excited when you see this?

 

[Selassie I]

View: https://twitter.com/RamsNFL/status/1690034586963849217


As many on the board, I've not been a fan of Tutu but I'm genuinely excited for him this year given what the reports have been like from camp and Jourdan... That being said, Nacua is gonna eat some snaps and I wouldn't be shocked if he surpasses Tutu as the 3rd WR the majority of time in 11 Personnel by years end if he stays healthy. How can you not get excited when you see this?

Yeah... I watched that earlier about 4 times on Insta.

Puka sure seems like a good student... and he's bigger than I thought looking at him next to Kupp.

 

[Soul Surfer]

Yeah... I watched that earlier about 4 times on Insta.

Puka sure seems like a good student... and he's bigger than I thought looking at him next to Kupp.

Imagine them lined up left and right.

 

[oldnotdead]

Nacua can block and Atwell doesn't. Puka factors in on both the run and pass offense. Atwell will get the occasional jet sweep or he's a decoy. Puka has a much better catch radius than Atwell. Nacua has modeled his play on Cooper and now Kupp has taken him under his wing. He will be #3WR by November if not before.

 

[Oregonram]

Puka a willing blocker like another #17 I remember.

 

[Londoner]

If Puka ends up being as good as many of us think he will, will he be greeted by cheers of “Pook!” (à la “Coop!”) every time he makes an important play?

I sincerely hope so.

 

[badnews]

Nacua can block and Atwell doesn't. Puka factors in on both the run and pass offense. Atwell will get the occasional jet sweep or he's a decoy.

I think you're ignoring the effect sub 4.4 speed outside can have on the run game.
It's a team sport. McVay has emphasized the importance of speed to his reciever corps every season - be it Cooks, or DJax or even Sammy Watkins.

If good size > good speed, which seems to be the extent of the formula many are using, how did any diminutive WR ever get drafted?

I get all the concerns, but I'm not going to throw out everything I've read from Jourdan's reporting just
because I want to belive we've found Kupp 2.0 in the 5th round..... but some tiny draft bust is competing for the same roster spot....

fwiw, I am excited about Nacua and it sounds like everything you want to hear - but the same way that Atwells size scares so many about him potentially being injured ? Nacua scares me with his actual injury history.
If both stay healthy, they can both compliment each other and the Rams offense will be better for having both.

As much as 6 Kupps would be a magical WR corps to watch and would take it every day, I think I would also enjoy the variety of 6 uniquely talented weapons at WR who can block or burn defenses, offering different options to beat a defense. I also think building a WR group like that sounds much easier the 6 Kupps 1 Ball group.

 

[Rams43]

Puka Nacua ran a 4.57 40 at his pro day.

Puka Nacua | Combine Results | WR - Brigham Young

NFL Scouting Combine and Pro Day scores, percentiles and metrics for Puka Nacua, WR, Brigham Young.

nflcombineresults.com

Not blazing speed, but certainly not slow, either. But speed is not his game.

BTW, that 4.57 is faster than Jerry Rice. Or Cooper Kupp, for that matter. Just sayin’.

 

[Corbin]

Nacua can block and Atwell doesn't. Puka factors in on both the run and pass offense. Atwell will get the occasional jet sweep or he's a decoy. Puka has a much better catch radius than Atwell. Nacua has modeled his play on Cooper and now Kupp has taken him under his wing. He will be #3WR by November if not before.

Shhhh the TuTu fanboys are going to get mad at you if you don’t declare him an All Pro the last 2… er 1…. This season. Someday he’ll do it when his catch radius increases 2 feet and he has the football IQ to return kicks offs and punts.

I think you're ignoring the effect sub 4.4 speed outside can have on the run game.
It's a team sport. McVay has emphasized the importance of speed to his reciever corps every season - be it Cooks, or DJax or even Sammy Watkins.

If good size > good speed, which seems to be the extent of the formula many are using, how did any diminutive WR ever get drafted?

I get all the concerns, but I'm not going to throw out everything I've read from Jourdan's reporting just
because I want to belive we've found Kupp 2.0 in the 5th round..... but some tiny draft bust is competing for the same roster spot....

fwiw, I am excited about Nacua and it sounds like everything you want to hear - but the same way that Atwells size scares so many about him potentially being injured ? Nacua scares me with his actual injury history.
If both stay healthy, they can both compliment each other and the Rams offense will be better for having both.

As much as 6 Kupps would be a magical WR corps to watch and would take it every day, I think I would also enjoy the variety of 6 uniquely talented weapons at WR who can block or burn defenses, offering different options to beat a defense. I also think building a WR group like that sounds much easier the 6 Kupps 1 Ball group.

Al Davis is that you?

DJax, Cooks, and Watkins? Yeah those guys stayed with the Rams a long time because the were an ‘essential’ part of this offense.

Speed is the most overrated metric for a WR.

Hell your a fan of a team with Cooper Kupp, is he the fastest WR in the league? Yet he’s always open.

 

[Faceplant]

Shhhh the TuTu fanboys are going to get mad at you

Is this a thing? I mean, I want him to succeed like I want ALL Rams players to succeed. So, yeah I guess that makes me a "fanboy"!!!

 

[badnews]

Lol

Shhhh the TuTu fanboys are going to get mad at you if you don’t declare him an All Pro the last 2… er 1…. This season. Someday he’ll do it when his catch radius increases 2 feet and he has the football IQ to return kicks offs and punts.

Al Davis is that you?

DJax, Cooks, and Watkins? Yeah those guys stayed with the Rams a long time because the were an ‘essential’ part of this offense.

Speed is the most overrated metric for a WR.

Hell your a fan of a team with Cooper Kupp, is he the fastest WR in the league? Yet he’s always open.

So yeah, i understand it might not make sense to you.... but I am advocating for variety. Not speed vs size. Size, and speed. I know, it's a lot to consider so don't rush. Take your time.

Boiling down every concept into a thoughtless denominator like "Al Davis" and "Tutu fanboy" isn't very useful in relating anything I'm trying to get at... you could call me old fashioned.

 

[Corbin]

Is this a thing? I mean, I want him to succeed like I want ALL Rams players to succeed. So, yeah I guess that makes me a "fanboy"!!!

Is what a thing? Pointing out Tutu doesn’t block, punt or kick return, has a tiny catch radius, limited route tree and is a one trick pony which is why he has seen little playing Time?

Yeah it’s a thing pointing out the obvious.

If he proves me wrong he’d need to do it for 2 years, no less. But it’s a thing to point out it was a terrible pick before, during, and after his Rams tenure.

So yeah, i understand it might not make sense to you.... but I am advocating for variety. Not speed vs size. Size, and speed. I know, it's a lot to consider so don't rush. Take your time.

You’re advocating for variety but wrote this?

I think you're ignoring the effect sub 4.4 speed outside can have on the run game.
It's a team sport. McVay has emphasized the importance of speed to his reciever corps every season - be it Cooks, or DJax or even Sammy Watkins.

You’re clearly talking about advocating for speed in this paragraph and pointed out 3 players with 4.4 or better speed.

IDK might want to get with a few of the writers here on the board for help, but don’t rush. Take your time!

Don’t worry old fashioned

 

[jjab360]

Lol


So yeah, i understand it might not make sense to you.... but I am advocating for variety. Not speed vs size. Size, and speed. I know, it's a lot to consider so don't rush. Take your time.

Boiling down every concept into a thoughtless denominator like "Al Davis" and "Tutu fanboy" isn't very useful in relating anything I'm trying to get at... you could call me old fashioned.

Our most successful WR units in recent history have had pretty similar skill sets in Holt/Bruce and Kupp/Woods.

This might seem like common sense, but I don't think it's more important to have a variety of skill sets than it is to just have good receivers.

 

[Memphis Ram]

You’re advocating for variety but wrote this?

You’re clearly talking about advocating for speed in this paragraph and pointed out 3 players with 4.4 or better speed.

IDK might want to get with a few of the writers here on the board for help, but don’t rush. Take your time!

I believe he's referring to variety in the overall team WR core which makes all the sense in the world.

 

[Corbin]

I believe he's referring to variety in the overall team WR core which makes all the sense in the world.

Agh yes that makes a lot more sense.

Very simple clarification.

 

[PressureD41]

That would be fantastic…but remember Nelson Spruce?

Nice name pull lmao

 

[Loyal]

The only disquieting thing about Puka is his durability. I like that he is a physical blocking WR like Kupp, as long as he doesn't get injured that often (or seriously). From the limited glimpses of training camp, he looks like a steal. It will be interesting to see him play tonight.