The Los Angeles Rams have become a wide receiver factory.
Head coach Sean McVay and the coaching staff have done a tremendous job of developing talent at the position, and the front office has found numerous diamonds in the rough through the draft in recent years.
From Puka Nacua to Tutu Atwell, the Rams have built a pipeline of talented homegrown wide receivers in recent years.
With Nacua on injured reserve due to a knee injury, rookie Jordan Whittington is the latest Rams receiver to emerge from relative obscurity to consistent contributor in Los Angeles’ offense.
Through the first five games of his career, since being chosen in the sixth-round of April’s NFL Draft, Whittington has caught 18 of his 23 targets for 201 yards, including posting a career-high 89 receiving yards against the Packers back in Week 5.
Rams safety and defensive captain Quentin Lake says Whittington has been exactly what the Rams’ offense has needed to navigate a brutal stretch for Los Angeles’ injury-riddled receiving corps.
“Jordan’s been a huge help,” Rams starting safety Quentin Lake told me, during an appearance on the Between The Hashmarks Podcast. “He’s definitely maximizing his opportunity with guys being down. But, he’s a fantastic player.
“I think what happens is, when you have an elite caliber of guys, like we do, it kind of boosts everybody up. That’s what I’ve seen from Jordan. He’s been able to capitalize and when his number’s called, he’s making plays.”
Quentin Lake on How Los Angeles Rams’ Offensive Playmakers Make Defense Better
There is a certain intangible benefit that Lake and his teammates on defense have throughout the course of an NFL season .
The fact that the Rams’ defense gets to practice each day against the likes of All-Pro quarterback Matthew Stafford, emerging star running back Kyren Williams, and a receiving corps loaded with talent throughout the depth chart creates an iron-sharpening-iron situation in Los Angeles.
“To be able to go up against these guys [in practice] each and every day,” Lake says. “They’re so technical in each and everything that they do. Sean McVay and the rest of the coaches do a great job putting these guys in positions not only do they block well, not only do they catch the ball well, but you’re talking about catch transition where they’re getting yards after the catch.”
“Obviously, you have No. 9, Matthew Stafford, he’s so precise with where he’s putting the ball, the spin on the ball, the accuracy, he’s second to none. So, going against him, and going against these guys in practice, you have to be almost perfect on each and every snap. It only makes you better, it only gets you more prepared, and I’m so thankful to have so many great coaches, so many great teammates, and people to make me a better player. I know I’ll be even more prepared for whoever we’re playing on Sunday because of the guys we go against during the week.”
Lake currently leads the Rams with 43 total tackles, has posted one sack so far this season, and could play a starring role in Los Angeles’ turnaround over the final 11 games of this season.
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