How Rams star Puka Nacua became the NFL’s top pass-catcher
This spectacular one-handed catch looked like the kind of play that could only be made with a sudden adjustment. A reaction without thought or practice required.
But that’s not how things worked out for Rams star wide receiver Puka Nacua.
Nacua’s fourth touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals in the regular season finale originated in a conversation with quarterback Matthew Stafford.
“Just trusting the technique is something Matthew and I talked about the week before in a rehearsal during practice,” Nacua said. “The starting angle we were looking at.
“It’s crazy how some of these things come to life on Sundays.”
Stafford and Nacua were the best players in the NFL this season.
Stafford, one of the favorites to win his first NFL Most Valuable Player award, passed for 4,707 yards and a league-leading 46 touchdowns.
Nacua is one of the candidates for the title of offensive player of the year.
The third-year pro caught a league-high 129 passes, including 10 for touchdowns. Nacua had 1,718 receiving yards, second only to Seattle’s Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who had 1,793 yards.
Nacua is expected to continue his stellar play Saturday when the Rams take on the Carolina Panthers in an NFC wild-card game at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Star receiver Davante Adams, the NFL’s leader with 14 touchdowns, is expected to return, but it won’t be surprising if Stafford continues to lean on Nacua, who was elected to the Pro Bowl for the second time.
Nacua became the first Rams receiver to lead the league in catches since Cooper Kupp achieved the feat in 2021, when he won the so-called receiving triple crown by finishing first in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns. Kupp was the NFL Offensive Player of the Year.
Nacua said one of his goals this season was to improve “catching the ball more consistently.”
He has already made great progress in this regard.
Rams receiver Puka Nacua catches a one-handed touchdown pass in a win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
(Robert Gauthier/Los Angeles Times)
As a 2023 rookie, Nacua caught 105 passes on 160 targets, but had a league-worst 13 drops, according to Profootballreference.com.
Last season, he caught 79 passes on 106 targets, including one assist. This season, he has been targeted 166 times and dropped four passes.
“I’m really confident I can catch any ball that comes my way,” he said.
Coach Sean McVay noted Nacua’s improvement.
“He’s always had great natural hands, but sometimes those guys that have those great hands, you can almost start to move up the court before you end up looking the ball all the way down,” McVay said. “I think he’s been really consistent and it’s not exclusive when the ball is in his hands.”
Nacua began the season with a 10-catch, 130-yard performance in a season-opening victory over the Houston Texans. It was the first of six games where he eclipsed 100 receiving yards.
Three came in December, after he caught six passes for 72 yards in a 31-28 loss to the Panthers on November 30.
The following week, Nacua caught seven passes for 167 yards and two touchdowns against the Cardinals. He caught nine passes for 181 yards against the Detroit Lions, and 12 catches for 225 yards and two touchdowns against the Seattle Seahawks.
“He brings a ton of energy to our team,” Stafford said during the race. “He plays the game the way we all want him to, with passion, energy and tenacity.”
Saturday’s game will be Nacua’s fourth playoff game. He has 20 receptions for 322 yards and a touchdown in the playoffs.
Adams’ return from a hamstring injury could open more windows for Nacua.
“It will be fun to continue to run the routes that I can run, but I also know the defense is going to change in other ways feeling the threat and the presence of Davante Adams,” Nacua said. “The threat he is in our offense and the understanding that Matthew can look one way and still throw the ball the other way, he’s the threat every time.”
Etc.
Offensive lineman Kevin Dotson (ankle), who missed the last two games, will remain out for Saturday’s game against the Panthers, McVay said. Receiver Jordan Whittington (knee) is also out, and tight end Terrance Ferguson (hamstring) and defensive back Josh Wallace (ankle) are questionable. … The Rams announced their end-of-year team awards. Stafford was MVP, Ferguson was the best recruit, linebacker Nate Landman gained in sportsmanship, ethics and commitment to his teammates, and offensive lineman Alaric Jackson gained in inspiration, sportsmanship and courage.
