Re: Sean McVay makes it clear Tutu Atwell will be Rams' punt returner

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BerendsenRam
[theramswire.usatoday.com]

Sean McVay makes it clear Tutu Atwell will be Rams' punt returner

Cameron DaSilva
September 15, 2021 1:32 pm PT

It’s hard to believe that the Chicago Bears only punted one time in their 34-14 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, but that’s the result of multiple failed fourth-down conversions and two turnovers. What’s even more surprising is that Cooper Kupp was the player Sean McVay sent back to field the punt, not Tutu Atwell.

Kupp has returned punts in the past, but with Atwell on the roster, fans expected the rookie to be the punt returner. It turns out he will be.


McVay told reporters before practice Wednesday that Atwell will be the team’s punt returner, and Kupp was only back there because it was a fair catch situation with no chance of a return.

“Tutu will be our punt returner. He’s a guy that in a normal circumstance and situation, you can expect to see him back there. There just was so many limited opportunities and because of the particular situation, that was why Cooper was back there,” he said.

“It was a safe situation. There wasn’t a return possibility for us right there so that’s what resulted in him being back there.”

The Rams have used Kupp in this exact situation before, knowing he has good hands and will make sound decisions about whether to field a punt or let it go over his head for a touchback.

McVay’s trust in Atwell should grow as he gets more reps in this role, but we could see Kupp continue to be used as a fair catch punt returner in the meantime.

What has McVay seen from Tutu that caused him to "trust" him out there do perform a simple "fair catch"? Bad hands? Bad decisions?

I still am confused how our starting PR is not trusted in a "fair catch situation" so we had to put in Kupp. In fact, they have so little confidence in Tutu that "we could see Kupp continue to be used as a fair catch punt returner in the meantime"?

If it was a "safe situation" with the only option to fair catch or let it go, how bad is Tutu that we can't even trust him to do that? lol

How long will it take him to "learn" how to fair catch? If he's that bad at it and needs all this "learning" to play the position, why the heck is he in line for the job? If he is that "green" at it, I expect we might see some blunders with him as PR during the season. I just hope it doesn't cost us a game before Tutu "gets it".

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