When the Rams won their only Super Bowl in 1999, their explosive aerial attack captured the imagination. After this good time, production at the receiving position experienced an abyssal low. With Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham, the formidable machine is off to a good start.
The story of quarterback Kurt Warner, who went from grocery clerk to Super Bowl champion, is well known. To the point where his fantastic epic was recently brought to the big screen.
In 1999, this unexpected rise was also made possible thanks to receivers Isaac Bruce, Torry Holt, Az-Zahir Hakim and Ricky Proehl. In total, the Rams’ group of spectacular wide ends had racked up 2,979 yards and 26 touchdowns on 198 receptions.
Without reaching such heights, production at the position held steady, until the deep crater that raged from 2008 to 2016. During that span, the Rams wide ends fell to 27th in yards and 30th for the affected.
Major changes
It was from 2017, with the hiring of head coach Sean McVay, that the Rams invested heavily to restore their group of receivers to their former glory.
Robert Woods was hired as a free agent. Cooper Kupp was selected in the third round. Other big names came and went, until the addition of Odell Beckham in November.
So much so that this season, the six wide wingers who have donned the uniform of the Rams have even exploded the numbers of 1999, with 286 receptions for 3,964 yards and 32 touchdowns. In all three categories, they are at the top of the circuit.
Far be it from them, however, to compare themselves to the “Greatest Show on Turf” of 22 years ago.
“Guys like Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce are still very present in the Rams entourage and they are involved. They help us with their experience. It is a source of pride for us to follow them”, humbly mentioned Kupp.
beautiful humility
This week, Kupp was called out at his press conferences, commenting on the Rams’ current receiver resurgence. Do not believe that the one who added 386 yards, 25 receptions and four touchdowns to his harvest in the present series took the big head.
“My high school coach always taught me to respect those who came before me. We must appreciate the standard to the position that was established before us. What we bring as production on the ground, it is our mark of respect towards our predecessors”, said the athlete, always generous in his answers.
A different feeling
In 2018, Kupp was forced to watch the Rams’ Super Bowl loss to the Patriots from afar as he was nursing a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Ironically, one of the receivers who contributed to the Rams’ success this fall, Robert Woods, suffered the same fate. The arrival of Beckham helped to make up for this huge loss, but Kupp knows exactly how his friend of recent years feels.
“We all appreciate Robert. He’s the one who set the standard here by being consistently selfless in his game. He always pushed us and we miss him.
“Missing the last Super Bowl was the hardest experience I’ve had. The conflict you live inside is heartbreaking because you want to encourage the guys, but you can’t contribute. It allowed me to greatly appreciate the whole process that leads to the match that we are about to experience.
If the Rams win against the Bengals on Sunday, few players will savor the moment more than Kupp.
Highly regarded Rams players
Three of the four most favored athletes to earn Super Bowl MVP honors are Los Angeles Rams players.
At least that’s what bettors could see by examining the odds on the BET99.com site on Friday morning. Thus, the quarterback of the Californian formation Matthew Stafford leaves with a head start according to this platform. With a rating of 2.00, he is better perceived than his vis-à-vis the Cincinnati Bengals Joe Burrow (3.25).
For their part, wide receiver Cooper Kupp and defensive tackle Aaron Donald, both of the Rams, follow at 7.00 and 15.00, respectively. In the Ohio camp, wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (17.00) is the second best considered by the betting site. Former New York Giants and Cleveland Browns Odell Beckham Jr. is at 21.00, expected to catch a few passes from Stafford on Sunday.
Those tempted by the bolder predictions might set their sights on Bengals running back Joe Mixon (35.00). His Rams rival Cam Akers has odds of 30.00. Among kickers, Evan McPherson (Bengals, 70.00) and Matt Gay (Rams, 200.00) have strong potential for those taking a chance with them.
HALF-TIME SHOW
Behind the premises
As every year, the press conference involving the artists of the half-time show attracted hundreds of journalists. The worst thing is that all these journalists were not entitled to any questions! Singers Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Mary J. Blige opted for a discussion format with two moderators. Apart from the few swear words that shook the most chaste ears, the artists also spoke about the sporting aspect. “I predict a Rams win,” Snoop Dogg said. Dre also sided with the local club. “I thought about it every day thinking it would be so perfect for us to be at the Super Bowl and for the Rams to be there too.” Both rappers are native to the area.
WORKOUTS
Wounded return
The Bengals continued to acclimatize to the current heat in Southern California by holding their second practice of the week on the UCLA campus. Tight end CJ Uzomah, with a knee injury, continued to improve by participating in training on a limited basis. Head coach Zac Taylor, without commenting on his chances of playing on Sunday, said “so far so good.” At the Rams, carrier Cam Akers (shoulder) took part in full practice. The news is less encouraging, however, for tight end Tyler Higbee (knee), who has been sidelined completely.
SURVEY
The city of the Rams
In our Wednesday post, Rams chief operating officer Kevin Demoff said the team is gaining popularity in the Los Angeles market, but a lot of work remains to be done. A poll conducted by the Los Angeles Times, from February 1 to 7, seems to prove him right. According to people living in the Los Angeles area who were polled, the Rams would be the favorite football team in the place, but in a proportion of 26%. So it’s not yet a wave of love like in some markets. However, it is much better than the other Los Angeles team, the Chargers, which collects a meager 5% of support. This support rate is no higher than for the Raiders, 49ers and Cowboys.
Big guys under the magnifying glass
In the long list of young Joe Burrow’s accomplishments, there is one he could have done without. The Bengals center became the first quarterback in history to reach the Super Bowl despite being the victim of at least 50 sacks.
In the Super Bowl era, according to ESPN Stats & Info, 55 quarterbacks had 50 or more sacks in a season. None responded with Burrow’s brilliance to such punishment (51 sacks in his case).
It’s not as if the torment has diminished in the playoffs. Burrow suffered 12 more sacks in the three playoff games, the most since Donovan McNabb in 2003.
The Bengals’ jewel, beaten many times, therefore continues to defy logic, but the offensive linemen whose mission is to protect him have become the greatest unloved of this 56th Super Bowl.
“I don’t pay attention to the narrative. It’s a good story for the fans and the media, but I don’t care.
“You don’t have to pay attention to that. There is not a sports league in the world where the stories take on such momentum. Either you’re invincible or you’re good for nothing in everyone’s eyes. It’s good for the league, because it generates enthusiasm. Inside a team, you just have to keep your nose in our business, ”replied the coach of the offensive line of the Bengals, Frank Pollack, to a question from the Journal about his men.
Dangerous situation
Pollack’s franchise honors him, but the fact remains that the Bengals could struggle against the imposing defensive front of the Rams with Aaron Donald, Von Miller and Leonard Floyd, among others.
The right side of the line, with guard Hakeem Adeniji and tackle Isaiah Prince, is particularly problematic.
According to Pro Football Focus, an analytics site that rates every play at every position, no tandem in playoff history has been more prolific at applying pressure than Miller and Donald, with ratings of 91.5 and 90.3.
“It’s going to be a huge challenge for our guys, but they’re working extremely hard and I know our coaches have come up with a good plan to help them out,” Burrow said as he ducked behind his protectors.
In trust
Also according to Pro Football Focus, when the Rams defensive front manages to apply pressure, opposing quarterbacks in this series have completed only 26.5% of their passes, with no touchdowns and three interceptions.
That’s the full extent of the challenge that awaits the Bengals’ offensive line.
“I have a ton of confidence in our linemen. They played in tough games, they handled it, made mistakes, then gave away sacks, but they never stopped fighting. At this point in the season, we can’t ask for more and they will continue to give everything as long as it takes to allow us to win,” said offensive coordinator Brian Callahan.
–
