Why the Wan'Dale Robinson and Cooper Kupp comps keep occurring

The selling point was simple for Wan’Dale Robinson. The Nebraska transfer wants to play in the NFL and Kentucky’s newest offensive coordinator came directly from the NFL.

Now both Robinson and Liam Coen will need to turn that recruiting selling point into real results in between the white lines. But when either talks about Robinson’s fit in the new offense, one name always comes up.

“I watched Cooper Kupp,” said Robinson when asked about preparing to play in Coen’s offense. “I watched all the routes that he ran. So that’s what really excited me and all the catches that he was able to get and all the space that they put him in. So that just really excited me about what I could do in this offense and being able to play in the similar position that he did, so that’s just really good to know.”

The fifth-year pro out of Eastern Washington was a third-round pick for the Los Angeles Rams in the 2017 NFL Draft who has quickly become a very efficient receiver in the NFL. Kupp, 27, has recorded 288 receptions for 3,570 yards in his career with a catch rate of 66.1 percent to go along with a 12.4 yards per catch average. Per PFF’s grading system, Kupp has consistently graded out as one of the best slot receivers in the professional ranks peaking with an 80.8 grade last season.

On the surface, these comparisons make plenty of sense. Kupp is longer — 6-foot-2 — but while watching the tape you start to realize that if Robinson is going to stick in the NFL, it will be due to usage similar to how the Rams get Kupp involved. Going into 2021, Kentucky will be using that same blueprint.

“It’s just matchups,” said Robinson when asked about the Rams offense. “A lot of the pass game goes through that slot guy, and so that’s just really what I want to do. Just being an efficient route runner and being able to catch a lot of balls just to move the chains.”

Now that we know what plan is in place, we can focus on just how Kentucky will use their new star transfer. After studying some film, here is how the Wildcats and their new offensive play-caller can play to Robinson’s strengths by utilizing him uniquely within formations and take advantage his short-area quickness to create easy completions for their new quarterback.

Bunch formations

Last season, Kentucky consistently struggled to beat man press coverage. Opposing defenses were constantly able to play bump-and-run with the wideouts and that created a passing game that easily got pushed off rhythm. Entering a year where the team has two proven slot receivers, formations will be key to allowing both Robinson and Josh Ali to get free releases for easy throws.

The best way to create this is by using bunch or stacked formations. With two or three wide receivers lined up very close to each other, this limits the effectiveness of man coverage. Defenders can’t get up to the line and jam receivers as organic rubs or picks can be created by the offense to create easy throws. Therefore, teams usually have to play zone but then it becomes a numbers game. Offenses can flood areas of the field where there are just a couple of zone defenders. Easy math, right? These bunch and stack variations were a staple of the Sean McVay attack.

With the stacked formation, Kupp is the outside receiver into the field but he lines up off the ball. This creates an issue for the outside cornerback in coverage. The defenders must be aware of an official pick or rub by the lead receiver who is also known as the “point man”. The point man creates the passing lanes for these formations and he splits the two defensive backs on his way up the field for a vertical route. Kupp bends inside for the slant after the outside jab step with the left foot to sell a vertical route. The receiver easily gets behind the zone linebacker and this creates a very easy throw and read for the quarterback. The end result is a chunk play on third-and-short in scoring territory.

Kentucky should be using plenty of 12 personnel — one running back, two tight ends two wide receivers — this season. With that, expect the offense to use the tight ends split out wide. This position can be an effective point man by getting north/south and being difficult for the defense to get around. This all leads to potential easy throws for the quarterback to Robinson on slants, fades, wheels, and drags.

Manufactured runs

Robinson has made it very clear that he is a true wide receiver. The former top-100 recruit did not love how Nebraska used him as a permanent gadget player instead of a legitimate receiver. This resulted in Robinson logging a ton of carries for the Huskers as a traditional running back. That won’t happen at Kentucky, but that doesn’t mean that Coen won’t use Robinson in the running game.

The Rams use a ton of jet motions in their pre-snap looks. To keep defenses honest, the offense would sneak in a jet sweep to a receiver every once in a while. This can be a great change of pace look off of the wide zone that will be a staple of the new offense. As you see on tape, the offensive line and running back run zone to the right while the quarterback sneaks the football into the belly of Kupp on the jet motion.

Expect Kentucky to do something similar with Robinson. This is a way to get a playmaker quickly into space while going against the grain. In a perfect world, the defense will be going the other way, and the playmaking and quick footedness of Robinson could create an easy chunk play.

Let your best player make plays

An option route is a passing concept where a play-caller gives a receiver the power of choice. After the snap, the receiver will read the defense and then decide on the fly. Usually, these routes cut to the left or the right at the vertical apex so the quarterback can know where to go with the football when the receiver makes a decision. Kupp excels at this.

On third down, Kupp has the option to bend the route outside for a quick out or to turn inside for the slant. As you see on tape, point man Robert Woods runs a drag to clear out the defense. Then, Kupp gives enough wiggle in the isolation matchup with rookie safety Kamren Curl. Easy separation is created and the ball is delivered before the next safety can provide help. However, this concept can only be run by players that coaches and quarterbacks trust to do the right thing and make the right reads. So far, it appears Coen has that trust in Robinson.

“Gym rat. Total gym rat,” said Coen. “Does everything you want him to do in terms of on and off the field. Loves to study film, loves to know more about the game. Studies Cooper Kupp on a regular basis, studies some of the best receivers and it shows up in his play. He’s a much better fundamental and technique receiver than I’d thought he’d be kind of being a little bit of a gadget guy at Nebraska. Should be dynamic and a big-time playmaker for us.”