I thought I would look at all the offensive stats with and without Kupp to see if there were some misconceptions out there. What I found is a bit of both IMO. here are the ones I thought mattered:
Scoring:
w/ Kupp - 33.4 ppg
w/o Kupp - 32.5 ppg
take the Bears game out (no Kupp) and it goes up to 36.3 ppg.
Passing yards per game:
w/ Kupp - 319.8 pyg
w/o Kupp - 218.6 ypg
take the Bears game out (no Kupp) and it moves up to 226.7 pyg
Total yards per game:
w/ Kupp - 415.6 tyg
w/o Kupp - 376.6 tyg
take the Bears game out and it moves to 400 tyg
First downs per game:
w/ Kupp - 21.1 fdpg
w/o Kupp - 19.1 fdpg
take the Bears game out and it moves up to 19.5 fdpg
Turnovers per game:
w/ Kupp - 0.9 topg
w/o Kupp - 1.5 topg
I showed the numbers with and without the Bears game because it was an anomaly. I prefer not to do that because the game happened and I don't like to cherry pick to make a point. It looks like i have an agenda.
The scoring really remained the same, before and after Kupp. 0.9 points to me is not that big of a deal. And regardless 32.5 ppg is still 2nd best in the NFL.
Where you do see the dropoff is in passing yards per game. 100 yards is huge, but they just make up for it with an additional 60 rushing yards per game. IMO I don't care where the yards come from as long as they come and they are only off 40 yards per game without Kupp.
What is the real issue here? IMO its the turnovers. If the Rams averaged the 1.5 turnovers per game without Kupp for the whole season they would have tied for 8 in giveaways. They finished tied for 18th.
Would .6 turnovers per game less make up for the 2 first downs and 40 yards less per game? Who knows, but I would be willing to bet those numbers would get a heck of a lot closer.
So do the Rams miss Copper? Oh yeah. But have they missed him enough to score less? No. Are these extra turnovers the result of Kupp not being in the lineup? I doubt it.
The one stat I didn't touch on but will now: rushing yards per game.
Here are the Rams rushing yards in their 3 losses:
92 (NO), 52 (Chi), 82 (Phi)
Those are 3 of the 5 worst rushing totals of the season. The other 2 were week 2 vs the Cardinals (90 yards) and KC where Gurley was dinged (76 yards)
The team averaged over 139 yards per game this season, 154 yards per game in their wins. 75 yards per game in their losses. Or less then 1/2 then in their wins. So as much as the Rams miss Kupp, the Rams need to:
1. run the ball
2. take care of the football.
Thats why i am not worried about the loss of Kupp as much as I am worried about Gurley's health and Goff's turnovers. The Rams win the TO battle, run the ball and they win football games. Defense be danged.
Don't waste your time looking back, you're not going that way. - Ragnar Lothbrok
