I think this article does a much better job at explaining the impact of a true deep threat. It even uses Cooks as an example in Houston
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Totally get what you say below. Certainly reasonable take
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AlbaNY_Ram
"... running Cooks on a post or fly pattern is different then sending Kupp or Everett for example on the same route." Yeah, I do realize that. Which is why I used Woods in my question, not Kupp or Everett!!
That being said, when Kupp or Evertt go deep they do (at least sometimes) take two defenders with them. Check out the video below that Ohiorams posted a while ago.
The play at the 1:27 mark shows Everett running a deep route. Both #27 (RCB ) and #25 (S) go deep with him, helping to set up the pass to Woods in the flat. And on the play that starts at 5:22, Kupp runs a 20 yard pattern into the endzone, again taking #27 (RCB ) and #25 (S) into the endzone with him, helping to set up another pass in the flat to Woods. Each time they took two defenders with them. That's all Cooks would have taken, right? Maybe a yard or 2 farther down the field, but the point is both defenders were effectively removed from the play. So it seems like the same net effect: 1 WR occupies 2 DBs who never get back to the actual play.
As to your real question: "Why are the Rams not stretching the field through 4 weeks. Why do you think that is?" It is quite possible that McVay simply adapts his offense to the players he has. Maybe he would prefer a 4.40 guy, but regardless ... he doesn't have one. (Sidebar: the Rams could have drafted a burner if they wanted one: Quez Watkins (4.35) was the 200th pick in the 2020 draft. Darnell Mooney (4.38) went 173rd. Antonio Gibson and Devin Duvernay (both 4.39) went 66th and 92nd, respectively. Thoughts on why the Rams didn't snag one of these guys?)
So he dials back on the deep stuff and dials up the plays that take advantage of what he does have. Which to me seem to be guys who run great routes (Woods, Kupp, Johnson) or at least really good routes (Jefferson, Everett, Higbee). The fact that they are all plus blockers in the open field for their positions feeds into the scheme, too, by designing routes where guys can block for each other after the catch.
I'm not going to break down the X's and O's simply because I can't, but I can look at the stats: Goff is tied for 3rd in the league with 20+ yard pass plays even though he's 21st in attempts. Since they're not running deep patterns how else can one explain that without jumping to the conclusion that there's more than one way to skin a cat?
edit: Are the Rams facing more quarters defenses this year? That D gave the Rams trouble in the past (including in the Super Bowl). If that's the blueprint to beating McVay's offense then maybe not attacking the strength of quarters with the deep ball is McVay's counter move?
