Rams receiver Cooper Kupp this week was introduced because the NFL offensive participant of the 12 months by the Professional Soccer Writers of America, and he's a candidate to gather an identical accolade when the annual NFL Honors program is broadcast earlier than the Tremendous Bowl.
However because the Rams put together to play the San Francisco 49ers within the NFC championship sport Sunday at SoFi Stadium, Rams defensive coordinator Raheem Morris and offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell stated Kupp and 49ers star receiver Deebo Samuel ought to obtain extra consideration as potential NFL Most worthy participant candidates.
“I do know this can be a quarterback-driven league,” Morris stated Thursday throughout a videoconference with reporters, “and quarterbacks performed nice, however these two gamers have to completely defy a few of the issues which can be on the market.”
By means of two playoff video games, Kupp is constructing on his historic season.
The fifth-year professional achieved the so-called “triple crown” by main the NFL with 145 catches, 1,947 yards receiving and 16 touchdowns receiving.
In a 34-11 wild-card playoff victory over the Arizona Cardinals, Kupp caught 5 passes for 61 yards and a landing, after which produced a game-changing efficiency in final week’s 30-27 divisional-round victory over the defending Tremendous Bowl-champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Kupp caught 9 passes for 183 yards — 64 coming within the remaining 42 seconds. Kupp caught a 20-yard cross from quarterback Matthew Stafford, the precursor to Stafford’s 44-yard strike to Kupp, which arrange the successful area objective.
After the victory, Kupp celebrated with teammates. However he shortly put his huge second behind.
“I take the mindset that no matter what occurs on the sphere, I attempt to study from my errors, and repair these issues and be capable of be a greater soccer participant than I used to be the week earlier than,” he stated. “Actually deal with the stuff I can do higher versus the stuff that I did nicely, so I can proceed to develop.”
Kupp is anticipated to play a big function Sunday when the Rams, as soon as once more, attempt to defeat the 49ers for the primary time since 2018. Six consecutive losses.
“We don’t have to re-invent the wheel right here,” he stated. “It’s nearly doing our jobs.”
In November, Kupp caught 11 passes for 122 yards in a 31-10 defeat to the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Within the January season finale at SoFi Stadium, Kupp had seven catches for 118 yards and a landing in a 27-24 additional time defeat.
Kyle Shanahan, the 49ers coach, stated Thursday that Kupp has been a risk since he entered the league in 2017. Stafford has helped him, however Kupp was “fairly dang good” when Jared Goff was the quarterback, Shanahan stated throughout a videoconference.
“He’s solely going to get higher as a result of, to me, it’s not simply his physique, it’s his thoughts and the way he prepares and type of his pure really feel of the sport,” Shanahan stated. “And, normally, the nice ones are like that.”
Although he was efficient within the first two video games towards the 49ers, Kupp doesn't anticipate a particular scheme to comprise him.
“You at all times attempt to put your self of their footwear and what they’re going to do,” he stated. “Loads of instances you actually simply need to be able to react, be able to adapt to no matter it's their plan is.
“We’ve been capable of do a reasonably good job of that.”
And many others.
Offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth, who sat out towards the Buccaneers due to a knee damage, was a full participant in observe, per the Rams damage report. Offensive lineman Joe Noteboom (chest) and backup quarterback John Wolford (sickness) didn't observe. Receiver Van Jefferson (knee) and security Taylor Rapp (concussion) have been restricted. … Trent Williams, the 49ers beginning left deal with, didn't observe due to an ankle damage, per the 49ers damage report.
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