Cowboys’ trick to shutting down Rams’ key weapon will have multiple looks
In case you haven't heard by now, the Los Angeles Rams have this guy named Cooper Kupp that can take over games. The wide receiver won the award for Offensive Player of the Year last season and has been even better through four weeks in 2022. The Dallas Cowboys, boasting one of the best defenses in the […]
In case you haven't heard by now, the Los Angeles Rams have this guy named Cooper Kupp that can take over games. The wide receiver won the award for Offensive Player of the Year last season and has been even better through four weeks in 2022.
The Dallas Cowboys, boasting one of the best defenses in the NFL, are supposed to stop him on Sunday. But just how do you do that?
Plenty of teams have tried and it seems like all have failed. Right now, Kupp is on pace to blow the single-season record for receptions out of the water. He's targeted by his team at the highest rate in the NFL yet keeps finding a way to deal damage.
I mean, look at his per-game AVERAGES over the last four weeks:
- 10.5 receptions
- 100.5 yards
- 6.5 first downs
- 78% catch rate
- 1 touchdown (total because, why not? The dude has three receiving scores and one rushing)
So yeah. Stopping Cooper Kupp? I don't think you do that, exactly.
But the Cowboys will enter the game with one of the most exciting defenses in the country. As Brian Baldinger said earlier this week, this is a unit made of freaks that move at lightning speed.
One of those is Trevon Diggs, who's excelled in coverage this season against several top-tier wide receivers. Although he has two interceptions to his name, the best part of his play is that he's been more consistent for Dallas. Gambling less, Diggs has allowed fewer catches and yards as well as explosive plays so far.
He's undoubtedly the Cowboys' defensive back the most well-equipped to slow down Kupp. Although he hasn't been asked to shadow every WR1 Dallas faces, Diggs could be asked to do so on Sunday's game.
Of course, he'll need some backup which brings me to the return of a personnel grouping Dan Quinn's defense has been widely successful with. Big Nickel. Especially with Jayron Kearse's expected return, anticipate a lot of three-safety looks against the Los Angeles Rams.
Getting Kearse, Donovan Wilson, and Malik Hooker on the field at the same time would ensure the Cowboys have their best group of defensive backs to make sure whoever is on Kupp isn't alone in the assignment.
Ultimately though, the Cowboys' best shot at stopping Cooper Kupp isn't about the secondary's performance. It's about the team's strength. The pass rush.
The Rams have a shaky offensive line plagued with injuries that have made them one of the worst teams in pass protection in the NFL. That means the Cowboys should be able to get to Matthew Stafford consistently. Micah Parsons and company are likely to face a third-string center and a left tackle that's allowed 20 pressures this year.
And here's the thing. The Rams quarterback doesn't connect with Kupp on broken plays. According to Football Outsiders' Vincent Verhei. In an article written in August, the author points out a very insightful stat on this:
"It's also mind-blowing to see that while Kupp had nearly 200 targets in the regular season, only three of them came on broken plays. When Matthew Stafford was in trouble, he looked to Sony Michel, Van Jefferson, and Tyler Higbee more than he looked for Kupp."
If the Cowboys can blow up the game in the trenches like we expect them to, a Rams offense that's struggled to find answers beyond Kupp could have its toughest game yet.
Dallas has the personnel to do just that.
For more on thoughts on this match-up and my pick for the game, make sure you tune in to Thursday's episode of A to Z Sports Primetime below!
Featured image via Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
