Matthew Stafford threw to a bunch of different receivers in his first season with the Rams. Cooper Kupp, Van Jefferson and Robert Woods were his primary starters at the position, but he also had DeSean Jackson, Odell Beckham Jr. and Ben Skowronek catching passes from him.
He’ll welcome a new face to the mix this year with the Rams signing Allen Robinson to a three-year deal, effectively replacing Woods following his trade to the Titans. Robinson has the best size and length of any Rams receiver (outside of Jacob Harris, maybe), which will help in the red zone and along the goal line.
Robinson’s ball skills and leaping ability are evident, too, but Stafford also sees Robinson separate from defenders consistently.
“I think some of the areas that that becomes such an advantage is probably down in the red zone,” Stafford said Monday of Robinson’s size and contested catches. “There’s just less field for defenders to defend, therefore, it’s a little bit easier to cover guys and guys are body-on-body a whole lot more. And his ability to go up and make catches over guys – around guys, whatever it is – is really special. I’ve seen it up close and personal, but at the same time, for a guy his size, I think he does a great job of separating, too. There’s quite a few times where he’s doing a great job, whether it’s at the line of scrimmage or at the top of his route where he’s transitioning and doing a great job of creating space for the quarterback, as well. I think you get the best of both worlds when it comes to that with him. I’m just eager to get out there and get to work with him and see what it’s like throwing to him.”
Robinson is coming off a tough season with the Bears. Excluding his one-game 2017 campaign, Robinson set career-lows in targets (66), receptions (38), yards (410) and touchdowns (1). The Bears’ lack of talent at quarterback played a big part in Robinson’s unproductive year, but he now joins a team with a proven passer and another No. 1 receiver in Kupp.
The Rams have a receiving corps that rivals any in the NFL, and Stafford says while it looks good on paper, he and his teammates have to make sure it comes to life the way the Rams planned.
“It looks pretty good on paper,” he said. “It’s on us to go out there and make sure it comes to life. Last year, people might’ve said the same thing with all the guys we had but we had to go out there and do it. We gotta go out there and prove it but I’m excited about the talent we have, really, at all positions on our team.”
Even though Stafford previously played with Calvin Johnson, Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones Jr. at times in Detroit, this receiving corps in L.A. might collectively be the best he’s had in the NFL.
