LB Ernest Jones is tied for fourth in the NFL in tackles for loss (3), tied for tenth in tackles causing unsuccessful plays for the offense (8), and tied for 18th in tackles (19). According to @PFF he has a run grade of 75.5. @ernestjones53 pic.twitter.com/jgwYcfXRpk

— Los Angeles Rams PR (@TheLARamsPR) September 21, 2023

Puka Nacua and Bobby Trees comparisons… Check out their pre draft measurements. #ramshouse pic.twitter.com/YlaWJXMyTZ

— RAMZILLA (@elitster) May 8, 2023

How Rams WR Puka Nacua is growing with ‘Coach Kupp,’ a breakfast club and tough hits

By Jourdan Rodrigue

https://theathletic.com/4879483/2023/09/21/puka-nacua-rams-receiver-rookie-cooper-kupp/?source=emp_shared_article

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — In 2021, it was playfully nicknamed “the breakfast club,” a daily film appointment between Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford and receiver Cooper Kupp that took place in the earliest hours of the morning.

These days, a third player sits in with the two veterans: rookie receiver Puka Nacua.

“Those two — as much as they’re in the moment for the reps that we’re taking, they’re thinking light-years ahead. ‘Hey, we’ve played this team before, on this look we have run this before, we’ve got a different look so when you run this, expect this because we’ve seen that before,’” said Nacua, waving his hands to demonstrate how rapid-fire the information comes toward him from Stafford and Kupp. “It’s been sweet, it’s been a blessing. Every morning. … They’re next level. I guess that’s a part of being a professional. They are the best of the best. I’m trying to build some of those things into my routine.”

Nacua burst into the NFL’s view in historic fashion. In just two games — minus Kupp, who is on injured reserve with a hamstring issue — Nacua has 25 catches for 266 yards and the Rams’ pass game has a 15.9 EPA whenever he is targeted, according to TruMedia. This ranks No. 4 among NFL receivers. His 15 catches for 147 yards (on 20 targets) Sunday marked the most catches made in a single game by a rookie receiver in NFL history, and he is also the first in NFL history to have 10-plus catches and at least 100 yards receiving in each of his first two career games.

Getting to this point has been a group effort, Nacua said, and it started in spring OTAs — just a few weeks after the Rams drafted him out of BYU in the fifth round.

If “the breakfast club” is a graduate-level study program, Nacua had to begin with some “gen eds.” During OTAs, he started showing up in the mornings to passing game specialist Jake Peetz’s office — Kupp and Stafford in a room somewhere down the hall — to get a base layer of information about the Rams’ passing concepts, from alignment details to formations and how the team layers and times routes.

“Every morning (of OTAs) I was coming in, after practice coming in to see him,” Nacua said. “It slowly started branching out from there. (Peetz) got me some reps with the ones, and I was able to work with Stafford and with Coop. (Then, Stafford) is giving me coaching points because we got live reps together. … Everybody (started) chiming in.”

On the field, Nacua worked closely with receivers coach Eric Yarber especially on what his responsibilities would be away from the ball. Catching passes well doesn’t guarantee playing time for Rams receivers, who are fully involved in blocking concepts along with the tight ends and offensive linemen. If Nacua could grasp the requirements there, he could get on the field earlier.

“It really did start in the run game,” Nacua said. “If we have a closer split, if I’m all the way out wide, how does that change our run rules? … That was, I guess (a way) to build into our offense. It starts in our play-action, stuff like that. The ground level really was all the run game stuff, and I love that. I found a new way to look at the defense.”

By Week 2 against San Francisco, Nacua was executing some of the run-blocking assignments the Rams used to give former veteran receiver Robert Woods.

“Those receivers, they got to put their face in there and when they do, it sets a tone for everyone else on offense,” offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said. “It’s good that he’s embraced that. I think that’s the culture he walked into and like I said, giving Yarbs (Yarber) a lot of credit for getting that done.”

As OTAs and training camp continued, Nacua took coaching wherever he could get it. In June, McVay spent time in practices working with Nacua on his release off the line of scrimmage. In July, between OTAs and training camp, Stafford organized throwing sessions with Nacua, Kupp and other young receivers. In training camp and into the preseason while he dealt with a hamstring strain, Kupp spent most practices on the sideline with the receivers and got in Nacua and others’ ears after each play. But the other receivers — Tutu Atwell, Van Jefferson and Ben Skowronek — also got in Nacua’s ear.

“The other guys have been right there along the way, helping me as much as they can,” he said. “As much as I feel like I’m learning things, and picking things up, there’s the little nuances (they know), they’ve just been in the offense for a while. They’re always willing to help me.”

By the time the season began, Nacua had “graduated” from his morning sessions with Peetz and started sitting in with Stafford and Kupp.

“I’m kind of following Coop, like, ‘Hey, when do you guys come in? Hey, Coop, can I watch with you guys?’” Nacua said laughing. “The first couple of meetings, I’m like a fly on the wall. Nothing is really being said to me, they’re just like, watching the tape (and) talking to each other. Then they’re like, ‘Oh, Puka, you’re in on this rep? This is what we want you to do.’ And I’m like, ‘Oh, you’re talking to me?’ I’m so focused the whole time! My ears perk up and I’m like, ‘He’s talking to me now.’”

As the season approached, coaches started to see the young receiver “get it.” LaFleur noticed that when Stafford broke the huddle, and Nacua went to his spot, he did so without confusion or indecision.

“There’s a lot of things that are said in that huddle for a rookie receiver that they’ve never experienced in their life,” LaFleur said. “Every guy is going to be a little bit different on how they approach it … I won’t even mention names, but some (rookies), when the first parts of the play call are coming in, they’re pointing to what direction they have to break (out) of the huddle. You can almost kind of see them playing the play out with their hand and stuff like that. For Puka, he just breaks it with confidence — and then he goes.”

When the Rams traveled to Seattle in Week 1, the younger receivers asked McVay if Kupp could travel with the team so he could be on the sideline with them.

“What was the most powerful thing is that those guys asked,” McVay said. “Usually guys that are on IR don’t make the trips to these away games, things like that. Those guys specifically asked because they wanted his feedback, his ability to lead and the information that he’s able to give them that can be digestible and applicable. …

“There’s such a credibility that comes. It’s one thing when we’re saying it, it’s another thing when Cooper is explaining it. To be able to articulate it through (the) lens, ‘I’ve been in these exact situations, I know exactly what we’re looking for.’ He was right there on the sidelines. He’s ‘Coach Kupp’ right now.”

Against Seattle, Nacua was targeted 15 times by Stafford, and caught 10 passes for 119 yards. He also lined up all across the line of scrimmage and became one of the early reads in Stafford’s progression against zone coverage, a sign that the coaching staff and quarterback trusted him to account for many of the concepts called for Kupp when he’s healthy.

In that game, Nacua bruised his ribs on a tough catch across the middle of the field — “welcome to the NFL,” he said — but was all smiles, shoots and goshes postgame and said he couldn’t wait to call his mom.

“It was a cool moment for it to be going as well as it was,” he said, “but also, you realize this is a grown man’s game. Everybody out here is ready. If your head is not on a swivel and your feet aren’t locked into the ground, they will put you on your butt. They won’t be lying you down to put you to bed, they’re trying to put you to sleep in a completely different way.”

In Week 2, Nacua was targeted 20 times by Stafford. He caught 15 passes for 147 yards.

Coaches and teammates who have been around Nacua since his humble draft selection in April are not shocked by any of it. Nacua is still growing, and asking questions, and seeking out more coaching.

“He’s been making plays since OTAs,” LaFleur said after Week 1, “(but) Puka has not ‘arrived’ by any means. He had a great game (in Seattle) and no one was surprised by it.

“Cool thing about Puka is he’s going continue to build off that and continue to work the right way. He’s not satisfied with any of that. I don’t know what his individual goals are. I don’t think he even cares. I think he’s just doing whatever he can to help the team, whether it’s in the run game, pass game, whatever he has to do. I know Puka’s got the right mindset to get that done.”

Next up in the flashback through my 8 consecutive 1,000-yard seasons, is a special one: 2006, the greatest year of my career.

After two years of buildup, the @RamsNFL entrusted the backfield to me fully in 2006 and I rewarded it with a career-high in rushing yards and a… pic.twitter.com/v9EybhXu5r

— Steven Jackson (@sj39) September 21, 2023

nittany ram wrote:

McVay said he always felt like he had to call the perfect play every down because Goff couldn’t make adjustments off script. It was more about QB experience than attitude. McVay never questioned Goff’s willingness to do what was asked of him, just his ability to do it.

I don’t think that was the issue. I thought that the issue was McV getting openly, publicly critical of Goff in the worst ways–and I don’t mean constructive criticism, I mean dismissive, angry stuff. On the sidelines, in front of the team, and so on. I think he got impatient with Goff’s development. One former Rams offensive coach said that McV knew how to tear Goff down, not how to build him back up. It became a confidence issue for Goff. In Detroit, he has a rapport with his coordinator and they communicate. McVay himself said that communication was an issue with Goff. Natually McV respects the much more veteran Stafford so those issues don’t come up.

I don’t know what it is with Akers. Now sure what that story is yet. So I don’t have any speculations about it.

I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Akers revives his career a bit with the Vikes and is productive there.

The all-white uniforms the Bengals will be wearing for Monday night’s game vs. the Rams: pic.twitter.com/kiwA4V63C9

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 21, 2023

Zooey wrote:

McVay maybe is not a great psychologist when it comes to managing individuals,

And even that just might have been a young qb. Other positions, he doesn’t show the same kinds of frustrations he did before with the qb. Except maybe Akers? But who knows on that.

Watch Joe Noteboom get to the second level and get to Fred Warner. Rams really missed him in the second half.

Nice work from Jackson and Avila as well. pic.twitter.com/RnW8qjl6hI

— Blaine Grisak 💭 (@bgrisakTST) September 20, 2023

The Rams will save $1.29 million in cap space by trading Cam Akers to the Vikings https://t.co/TlndjijPxQ

— Cameron DaSilva (@camdasilva) September 21, 2023

Come for the Kyren Williams touchdown. Stay for the Steve Avila celebration. Avila's celebration on Williams' touchdown is EVERYTHING.

Nice play design. Avila moves really well in space. Finds his block at the second level which allows Williams to get in the end zone. pic.twitter.com/mLCMs6aO6y

— Blaine Grisak 💭 (@bgrisakTST) September 20, 2023

PFF LA Rams@PFF_Rams
The LA Rams have gained the most first downs in the NFL this season – 54 📈

(League average – 36.25)

The Stafford–>Nacua throw last week got a lot of buzz.

This one to Atwell is also very impressive. Far hash to far sideline throw. Good pocket movement.

Fantastic catch by Atwell who comes down with the ball despite Deommodore Lenoir draped over him. pic.twitter.com/mKZGiPSR6Y

— Blaine Grisak 💭 (@bgrisakTST) September 20, 2023