WOODLAND HILLS, Calif. – By his own admission this spring, Puka Nacua's historic rookie year didn't measure up to the standard within the Rams' wide receiver room.
Of course, it wasn't just the statistical production that caused Cooper Kupp's triple-crown 2021 season to set the bar high, but also the work ethic and football IQ that remain staples of his approach.
Thus, Nacua ensured his offseason was spent in a manner helping him get closer to reaching that mark.
He worked out with Kupp at Kupp's home. And he's been intentional about seeing the entire picture with the offense.
"I feel like I've mentioned before, many of times, I love being a part of the run game and being a part of the box is something that's so fast and evolving every time that we get in there," Nacua said Thursday. "We have new guys. We have Jonah Jackson. We have new guys like Steve (Avila) making calls and figuring out who's calling what, talking to Colby Parkinson and having new communication. D.A. (Davis Allen) and I feel like we're draft mates. We are able to communicate on our own level, but it's nice to get back in because every guy communicates [in] a different way, even to get back out there with Coop[Kupp] and see some of these flight motions for Matthew [Stafford] to see me. When you're out of the game, all those kinds of minor things that you take for granted come back in the big scheme of like, man, I have to get those every time."
The workouts with Kupp went beyond strength and conditioning. Nacua said he also learned from Kupp about the intricacies of the Rams' quick-game routes, as well as "talking, understanding, leverage and then just timing."
"There's ability then there's timing in place where you're going to open up your stride and you're going to get the full length," Nacua explained. "There's going to be times where it's going to feel close quarters and you're going to have to shorten up your stride to be able to cross the defender's face. Not necessarily run different routes, but to be able to fine tune some of the stuff that we continue to do all the time."
Kupp has seen that fine-tuning show up on the practice field throughout this spring and summer.
"I think what he's speaking about... everyone could reference back to 2021, but I think when you talk to Puka and he looks back on his year, it's looking at plays and saying, 'Man, I just know how much better I can be in that play. How much better I can do and on this route, on this run that way. Whatever it is, I can be so much better,'" Kupp said. "I think for him, it's that. The standard is seeing that and now being able to improve it and go out and do it. For him, that's been his focus and he's done such a great job of being out here and being intentional about those things that maybe were things that last year he's like, man, I just wasn't on my 'Ps and Qs' on this route or on this concept. He's done such a better job this year of understanding the intent and just his energy going in and out of plays. That's where his focus has been."
Of course, there is one goal from 2023 that met his standards that he wants to replicate: Playing in every game.
"The one goal, I know I for sure have, is to play in all regular season games," Nacua said. "That was something that I was able to accomplish in my rookie year. To be able to go out there, be there for my team and for myself out there on Sundays is something that I hold dear to my heart. That's a challenge that I'm ready for."
