Davante Adams and Matthew Stafford pass attack heating up for Rams
As a 12th-year professional, Davante Adams knows the value of rest during a bye week. So before the Rams faced the Jacksonville Jaguars in London on Oct. 19, Adams looked forward to the days off that awaited him.
Then Adams, displaying his three-time All-Pro form, caught three touchdown passes.
Was there a part of him that didn’t want a break?
“Oh, hell yeah,” Adams said this week, noting that he told coach Sean McVay, “’I wish we could keep rolling at this point.’”
-
Share via
Gary Klein explains what to expect from the Rams on Sunday when they take on the New Orleans Saints at SoFi Stadium.
McVay too.
“He said, ‘Man, I don’t want to have a week off,’” McVay recalled. “I said, ‘Hey, enjoy it.'”
Adams, rested and ready after spending part of last week in Mexico with his family, plans to pick up where he left off two weeks ago when the Rams host the New Orleans Saints at SoFi Stadium.
The game will mark the return of fellow star wide receiver Puka Nacua, who sat out against the Jaguars due to an ankle injury suffered Oct. 12 against the Baltimore Ravens.
But the Rams will be without speedy receiver Tutu Atwell, who will be out at least four games on injured reserve with a hamstring injury.
McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford showed against the Jaguars that the Rams’ weapons go beyond Nacua and Adams. Four tight ends – Tyler Higbee, Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen and rookie Terrance Ferguson – were among the 10 players who caught passes in the 35-7 victory that improved the Rams’ record to 5-2.
“The more people we can get into the game, the better we are,” said Stafford, who has thrown 17 touchdowns, with just two interceptions. “We have some extremely talented players, many of whom are difference makers in this league. When we can spread the ball around and get everyone defending every guy, every eligible, every blade of grass, that’s when we’re at our best.”
The Rams signed Adams in an effort to capitalize on his experience and playmaking, elite separation skills and the threat he poses near the goal line.
Stafford, 37, and Adams, 32, combined for a few highlight plays in the first six games. But they acknowledged in the week leading up to the game against the Jaguars that they were still working to be completely in sync.
They found their rhythm against the Jaguars.
Adams made dynamic catches inside the two-yard line for all of his touchdowns.
Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur said the Rams “absolutely” considered that kind of play when pursuing Adams, who has 109 career touchdowns, the most among active players.
“There’s a reason he threw over a hundred touchdowns,” LaFleur said, adding, “It’s not shocking.”
Have the Rams found something they can build on?
“Yeah, we’ll see what the red zone targets look like this week and then we’ll be able to tell you fully,” Adams said with a laugh. “But it’s certainly no secret that I’ve had success playing in the red zone.
“I think a lot of it was about being on the same page and feeling each other out and coming up with a good plan. The coaches did that and we were able to connect.
“I think the more you play, the more you develop that confidence and then you stop trying and putting pressure to play and you just be yourself, go for it and be natural.”
Adams has 31 catches for 431 yards and six touchdowns.
As Stafford and Adams continue to solidify their bond, the offense is poised to remain productive as the Rams move toward a playoff spot.
“Me being who I am and Matthew being who he is and just having the team that we have, my expectations are really high and the standards are really high for what I should bring to the table and what this team should be able to do,” Adams said. “I’m definitely not happy with what we’ve done, but happy with where we are.”
