Tutu Atwell was thrust into a starting role on Sunday against the 49ers with Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp out, playing 74% of the offensive snaps in the Rams’ win. For a player who’s had limited opportunities with the Rams, he took full advantage of this one by hauling in four passes for 93 yards.
When he’s on the team, defenders have to respect his speed, which causes them to give him a cushion at the line of scrimmage so they don’t get beat over the top. That obviously opens up things underneath, something Matthew Stafford recognized by targeting Atwell on drag routes and crossers a couple of times where he could just outrun the man coverage.
Next Gen Stats uncovered just how much respect the 49ers paid Atwell. He was given an average cushion of 8.4 yards at the line of scrimmage, the eighth-largest of any receiver in the NFL.
Yet, he still beat them over the top with an average targeted air yards of 16.1. That means his average target was 16.1 yards down the field, which was the seventh-highest in the NFL this week.
Atwell was one of just three players with a cushion of at least 8.0 yards and targeted air yards of at least 10, joining Tre Tucker and Ja’Marr Chase.
Only 3 receivers averaged over 8.0 yards of cushion in Week 3 and had an avg. targeted air yards mark over 10.0: Tre Tucker (8.1 cushion, 12.3 TAY), Tutu Atwell (8.4 cushion, 16.1 TAY) and Ja’Marr Chase (8.7 cushion, 12.2 TAY).
Atwell’s biggest play of the game was his 50-yard reception late in the fourth quarter to set up Kyren Williams’ game-tying touchdown. That came on pre-snap motion where he was moving just before the snap, giving him a free release at the line. And despite the defender respecting his speed by backing off, he still burned the corner over the top.
TUTU DOWN THERE SOMEWHERE!
📺: @NFLonFOX | #RamsHouse pic.twitter.com/UBbKBCFb5z
— Los Angeles Rams (@RamsNFL) September 22, 2024
Atwell’s speed is a real asset for the Rams when used properly and if he can continue to make plays underneath when defenders back off at the line, it’ll make him even more dangerous because with the ball in his hands, he can run away from most players trying to cover him.
