Los Angeles Rams: Can Kenny Britt improve?

In 2015, the Los Angeles Rams had the most anemic passing offense in the NFL, finishing dead last in passing yards and passing touchdowns and third-to-last in points per game.

This offseason, the Los Angeles Rams went out and overhauled their skill position players, adding rookies Jared Goff, Pharoh Cooper, Tyler Higbee, Mike Thomas, Temarrick Hemingway, Aaron Green, Marquez North, Duke Williams, Nelson Spruce, and Paul McRoberts.

Many of these players were added as undrafted free agents, but the right UDFA signing could play big dividends for a passing offense that had just one player, former first-round pick Tavon Austin, reach 50 receptions (52).

Austin was the Rams best pass-catcher in 2015 as a gadget player, and he is slowly working his way to redeeming his draft pedigree. However, the Rams leading receiver in terms of yardage was Kenny Britt, who turned 72 targets into 36 receptions and 681 yards.

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Reunited with Jeff Fisher from their days together with the Tennessee Titans, Britt looked like a resurgent player in 2014, hauling in 748 yards worth of passing yardage. That year, Britt’s catch rate was higher, and he averaged a robust 15.6 yards per reception.

Though most of Britt’s numbers fell in 2015, he actually averaged more yards per target (8.90 to 9.46), largely thanks to his 18.9 yards per reception.

Sep 20, 2015; Landover, MD, USA; Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Kenny Britt (18) catches a touchdown reception as Washington Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall (23) looks on during the second half at FedEx Field. The Washington Redskins won 24 – 10. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports /

At 6’3″, 223 pounds, Britt is the team’s biggest wide receiver when looking at both measurables, and it’s hard to see raw prospects like North and Roberts unseating him as the team’s “X” receiver. Brian Quick, who was re-signed in free agency after a lost 2015 season, is a threat to Britt’s role. It’s been a tough road back for Quick, but Fisher believes that he has made “significant” strides this offseason.

Why don’t I mention Cooper? Because I already think he and Austin are locked into roles as top-three wide receivers, and I have a feeling that they will be the most-targeted receivers on the Rams.

That said, Britt could be important, because I think the Rams will emphasize spreading the ball around as a passing offense. They don’t have a true standout at the position, and while Austin has a chance to hoard targets from Goff this year, this team seems designed to take advantage of the different types of receivers on the roster. Goff is known for making quick decisions and successfully moved the ball in Cal’s attack using a multitude of receivers.

Judging by the fact that he’s surpassed 15.0 yards per reception in his two seasons with the Rams, Britt is the team’s best deep threat on paper. He is frustratingly inconsistent, seeing as how he caught under 30% of his third down targets, but the Rams would ideally like to benefit from his size and field-stretching ability.

Toward the end of the 2015 season, Britt showed real playmaking ability, including a memorable 28-yard touchdown in which he blew by the best cornerback in the NFL, Richard Sherman. Britt caught just eight passes in the final three games of the season, but it added up to 201 yards and two touchdowns, which is an average of 67 yards per game.

The Rams can use that, and if Britt can do a better job of getting open on those shorter routes, particularly on third down, the quarterback upgrade could be enough to make him a factor in this offense. He and Fisher are probably still buddies, so the Rams will likely give their veteran receiver a chance.

Improvement in the red zone will also be a must from a player who has caught just three touchdown passes in each of the past two seasons. In the league since 2009, Britt isn’t short on experience, and it almost seems hard to believe that he’s just 27.

It’s awfully easy to rip on a career under-achiever like Britt, who was a first-round pick in 2009, but there’s a chance he can be a useful cog for this offense. He shows glimpses of his talent, such as on his two big-play TDs at the end of the 2015 season, and while he will never meet his original potential, all he needs to do is put his head down and get on the same page as Goff. If he can be a little more of a veteran presence, that could be enough for him to have the year the Rams need from him.

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