While the Los Angeles Rams’ offensive linemen have the difficult task of blocking Aaron Donald in practice, their cornerbacks are faced with the challenge of covering a deep group of receivers. Brandin Cooks, Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods might be the best trio in the NFL, and if you add in Josh Reynolds, it’s undoubtedly one of the deepest, too.
Locking up any of the four is a challenge, as evidenced by their numbers a season ago. Marcus Peters and Aqib Talib face that test every day in practice and when asked who’s the toughest to cover, they had different answers.
That shows just how good all of the Rams’ receivers are.
“Cooper Kupp! Cooper Kupp, that’s a nice route!” Peters declared, without much hesitation. “It’s hard, but I’m going Cooper Kupp.”
The question was then posed to Talib.
“I’m gonna go Bob Woods. I’ll go Woody,” he said. “I say Woody because Woody’s got that straight-line speed and he’s got the quickness, the shiftiness so it’s the best of both worlds. He’s a tough tackle, so I feel like he might not be a 10 in everything, but he’s a consistent 8 1/2 across the board in everything, so that’s tough.”
Peters was asked again about Kupp and what makes him so good. He even declared the third-year wideout the best slot receiver in the NFL.
“He’s got it. Best slot in the game, for sure,” Peters said. “If he gets you at the top [of the route], it’s over. It’s over. It’s A.I.”
Kupp’s 2018 season was unfortunately cut short due to injury, but he’s been on the field at training camp and is ready for Week 1. With him back in the mix next to Cooks and Woods, Jared Goff will have his full cast of receivers available.
Opposing secondaries will have their hands full this season when it comes to covering the Rams’ “four-headed monster,” as it’s been called this offseason.
