Through much of the first seven quarters of the season, the Los Angeles Rams’ run game lacked a spark. Kyren Williams was generally keeping the offense on track, but lacked the creativity and improvisation to take it to the next level. Williams’ longest run through seven quarters was nine yards. Through three quarters against the Tennessee Titans, Williams was averaging 2.8 yards per carry.
Coming into the season, there was speculation that there may be more of a split between Williams and Blake Corum at running back. However, through the first seven quarters of the season, Williams had dominated the touches, 29-2 for a 93.5 percent share of the carries.
Given how McVay has typically handled running backs, that wasn’t necessarily a surprise. What was surprising was that Corum was a third round pick and simply not getting many looks in the offense. That shifted late in the third quarter. Four of Corum’s five carries came in the final 17 minutes of the game and the first of those was an explosive run that went for 15 yards. Later on in the fourth quarter, Corum added another explosive run to bring his total to two.
Two of Corum’s first three runs went for explosive plays and both drives in which those runs occurred ended in a touchdown. Corum’s first, explosiveness out of his cuts, and ability to create were on full display. On the run above, Corum was expected to gain just three yards. He ended with 15 for a rushing yards over expected (RYOE) of 12.
Corum created the fourth-most rushing EPA for the week and finished with 26 rushing yards over expected. His 5.1 RYOE per attempt led all running backs in Week 2. To say the least, he made the most of his limited opportunities.
While Williams was averaging less than three yards per carry for much of the game, he was mostly getting what was available. For the game, Williams averaged 0.1 rushing yards over expected per attempt. Essentially, he was getting exactly what was getting blocked for him. With that said, that’s also part of the problem. Williams only gets what’s available. There’s no creativity and he’s rarely going to turn a single into a double.
That’s fine, but it’s also why the Rams need to continue to get Corum involved throughout the game rather than just in the later stages. It doesn’t seem like a coincidence that Williams’ biggest run of the day, and first explosive run of the season, came after Corum started to get involved.
This is not to say that Corum should be the lead running back or take over a majority of the carries. However, he should be worked into the rotation more throughout the game. The speed and burst that he brought was immediately noticeable. It’s that different running style that adds variety to the run game and gives the defense a changeup to what they’re expecting. Corum added a spark that the Rams run game has been missing. He led running backs in yards per carry and was seventh in yards after contact per attempt.
If the Rams are going to unlock the full potential of their rushing attack, they need to use Williams and Corum more as a tandem throughout games. With Williams’ steady consistency and Corum’s change of pace running style, it could give the offense the balance it’s been missing. Sunday showed what that combination can look like and now the Rams have to build on that.
Byron Young and Josaiah Stewart picking up slack
Coming into the season, there were some questions regarding who would step up into the third edge rusher role. Michael Hoecht may have been a role player, but he thrived in that role. He was somebody that the Rams could trust as a third guy to get to the quarterback and use in the rotation. When the Rams lost Hoecht in free agency, it was uncertain who would step up into that role.
That player has undoubtedly been Josaiah Stewart. According to PFF, Stewart ranks second among rookie edge rushers in their pass rush productivity (PRP) metric behind only James Pearce Jr. The ironic part there is that the Atlanta Falcons traded with the Rams back into the first round to select Pearce.
Stewart has played in more of a rotational role and isn’t doing the same things that Hoecht did. However, Stewart has given the Rams exactly what they needed out of a third edge rusher and is someone that they can rely on to get to the quarterback.
On the other side, a serious argument can be made that Byron Young has been the Rams’ most important defender in the first two weeks. He’s their highest-graded defender via PFF and leads the team in pressures. This isn’t a knock on Jared Verse because he is still playing well off the ball. However, that has led to more opportunities for Young and he’s taking advantage of them.
When the Rams defense needed a play on Sunday, it was Young who beat his guy and knocked the ball loose for a strip sack. That play changed the game and put the Rams up by 11 on a drive in which the Titans could have taken the lead.
Rams will be fine at CB without Witherspoon
Nobody would have blamed the Rams had they decided to trade Darious Williams before the season. He wasn’t going to get playing time and they were paying him $9.5 million. They may have ended up trading him before the deadline, but held on and it was a good thing they did. Ahkello Witherspoon will be out for the next 12 weeks with a broken clavicle.
Williams entered the second half on Sunday and played well. He got a pass breakup on Elic Ayomanor and didn’t allow a single catch. This is Williams’ opportunity to prove himself to the coaching staff. If he plays well, it’s going to be very difficult for the Rams to replace him.
At the same time, both Cobie Durant and Quentin Lake are playing well. Durant has rotated on the outside and may be the team’s best cornerback. Lake has played primarily from the slot and thrived there. Lake has allowed just three receptions on seven targets from the slot.
That doesn’t mention the resurgence of Emmanuel Forbes. It’s still early, but Forbes has mostly played well. He gave up the touchdown on Sunday and a big catch along the sideline. At the same time, there’s probably not a lot that he could’ve done in either situation. Both were simply great plays by Cam Ward and Ayomanor.
While it’s disappointing that the Rams are losing Witherspoon, they also aren’t losing a shutdown top cornerback. The Rams have guys that can step into that role. For the first time in a while, the Rams have good depth.
Honorable Mentions
There were a lot of people who were understandably upset when the Rams threw the ball three consecutive times from inside the five yard line. However, after watching the tape, it appears that the second play was supposed to be a run had it not been for a bobbled snap. The offensive line is run-blocking and Blake Corum steps forward as if he’s about to take a hand-off. In this case, Stafford bobbled the snap and throws a fade to Adams. My guess here is that this is simply a route that Adams runs regardless and Stafford can check into it if he likes the look. Given that it was the only option after the fumble, Stafford tried to create something out of nothing.
While many criticized McVay for the above sequence, his play design this season has been nearly unmatched. He has consistently found ways to create misdirection and cause conflict in the secondary. That was the case on the play below. Both the safety and cornerback have to respect Adams which allows Jordan Whittington to get open in the space behind.
The last point that I’ll bring up here is that at 37 years old, Matthew Stafford is playing some of the best football of his career. He may not have the counting stats, but he’s remained efficient and been exactly what this version of the Rams needs. This throw to Davante Adams, throwing off-platform and it being just a flick of the wrist and only where his wide receiver can get it is an unbelievable play.
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