LOS ANGELES_Several long passes in the season opener against the Oakland Raiders resulted in near misses. Two produced pass-interference penalties against defenders.
So Los Angeles Rams receiver Brandin Cooks was happy to haul in a 57-yard pass from quarterback Jared Goff in last week's victory over the Arizona Cardinals.
Cooks and other Rams receivers are eager for Goff to take more deep shots Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers at the Coliseum.
"To get a connection going is always going to be good," Cooks said Friday of his catch against the Cardinals. "Just continue to work on it. Just let it come naturally. Don't force it, I think, is the key thing about it."
Robert Woods, who had a 96-yard touchdown pass play last season, nearly caught two long passes against the Raiders. He did not get any deep-ball opportunities against the Cardinals.
"It's coming," Woods said. "I know it's a long season. I know we'll connect, and we'll take plenty of more shots."
Cooper Kupp also is capable of coming through on longer routes, coach Sean McVay said.
Kupp's longest play as a rookie in 2017 covered 64 yards. His longest play this season was for 29 yards.
"He's had some opportunities and he's made plays," McVay said. "We really have all of our receivers that can be the top shelf of some of our (long) throws and different things like that.
"We feel good about all those guys being able to do that."
Before the season, McVay spoke of the need for receivers to develop "aggressive hands" on passes that were not close to their bodies.
Woods provided a textbook example against the Cardinals on a catch along the left sideline.
He added receivers coach Eric Yarber "said he put it on his teaching tape for aggressive hands."
Cooks made several difficult catches in the middle of the field.
"The better you can catch the ball outside your radius, the more chances you got," Cooks said. "It's an imperfect game, and the quarterback has a lot going on back there, so if it's in your vicinity, just do your best to go get it."
