The climb just became steeper for Rams’ Tutu Atwell…

The climb just became steeper for LA Rams WR Tutu Atwell

[ramblinfan.com]

by Bret Stuter



At a time when the LA Rams need more oomph in their offense, second-year WR Tutu Atwell has found himself a healthy scratch. In the eyes of many fans, that becomes one more nail in the coffin for the Rams’ young receiver, now in just his second NFL season, but fans and the player had weeks awaiting that first NFL reception.



Here we are, entering Week 12 of his second NFL season, and WR Tutu Atwell has to wonder what he needs to do to get playing time. Sure, he has only caught two of five passes thrown his way. But those two receptions have resulted in 116 yards and one touchdown. In short, Atwell is averaging 58 yards per reception, and a touchdown 50 percent of the time.

But the slope to continued success just got steeper. You see, LA Rams QB Matthew Stafford is out this week, and may be shut down for the rest of the season. Without his ability to launch accurate passes 60+ yards downfield, the Rams may not have any reason to throw those long bombs to Atwell going forward.

The Rams need to put points on the scoreboard, and with the explosiveness of WR Tutu Atwell, you might think he would be a favorite target of the Rams’ offense. But in this topsy-turvy season, you would be wrong.

We know that the offense needs to do a better job of balancing the run and the pass. We also know that the Rams’ offense is very dangerous when the offense does not lock onto WR Cooper Kupp and Tyler Higbee. But knowing and doing are two different things, it seems, and the Rams’ offense has failed to make use of Atwell until the team is likely starting their third-string quarterback, Bryce Perkins.

Can Perkins get the football to Atwell? Perhaps. But the Kansas City Chiefs’ defense would be foolish if they did not anticipate that this week, as the Rams’ offense will be without both Cooper Kupp and Allen Robinson.

Atwell has caught just two passes on the season so far. But catching that third reception may prove to be very difficult. The Rams’ offense needs Tutu Atwell to have a big game this week. Sadly, the chances of that coming to fruition would be greater if he had been targeted more often this season.