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Schlereth: Seahawks WR Cooper Kupp 'like having an extra tight end'

When healthy, new Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp has been one of the most productive wide receivers in the NFL.

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During his standout eight-year tenure with the Los Angeles Rams, the Yakima native racked up 7,776 receiving yards and 57 touchdown catches. That included an astounding 1,947-yard campaign in 2021, when he finished with the second-most receiving yards in a single season in NFL history.

But in addition to his receiving talents, there’s another area where Kupp excels.

During an appearance Wednesday on Seattle Sports’ Wyman and Bob, NFL on FOX analyst and former two-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman Mark Schlereth highlighted the 31-year-old Kupp as one of the best run-blocking receivers in the league.

Schlereth explained how during Kupp’s time in Los Angeles, Rams head coach Sean McVay described their “11 personnel” (one running back, one tight end and three receivers) as “11 1/2 personnel.” That’s because Kupp was such a good blocker that it was almost like having another tight end on the field.

“Cooper Kupp is one of the great – not good, but great – wide receivers in this league from the standpoint of having duality and really being involved in the run game,” Schlereth said. “Back in Los Angeles, they developed a package that was one tight end and Cooper Kupp. And the reason they called it 11 1/2 personnel is because all they ran out of that was their 12 personnel (two tight ends) package.

“And so you were getting some type of big base personnel (from the defense) where you have extra linebackers in. But Cooper Kupp is so diligent and so good on the edge in the run game – he blocks things in combination with tight ends, in combinations with tackles – where he is like having an extra tight end. So it was a real advantage in their run game and what they were able to do.”

Listen to the full conversation with Mark Schlereth at this link or in the audio player at the bottom of this story. Tune in to Wyman and Bob weekdays from 2 to 7 p.m. or find the podcast on the Seattle Sports app.