John Kelly could be Rams secret weapon in 2018

With the potential of a big year on deck for the Los Angeles Rams, rookie running back John Kelly could be a player who provides a big payoff in LA.

Los Angeles Rams rookie running back John Kelly may end up a critical part of head coach Sean McVay’s offense as early as this year. Two reasons that may become a reality is McVay, on the record effectively, saying that Todd Gurley will have to be pretty tired to get off the field, and the high probability that mixing it up with personnel seems likely.

Also, defenses will game-plan more for the Rams running game. They know what Gurley brings on Sunday, meaning repeating as Offensive Player of the Year will be a tough act to follow.

While Los Angeles also seems content with Malcolm Brown, it may be a little known commodity that could steal the show next season.

Kelly, the rookie from Tennessee, is a player who is a good mirror for Gurley. Both are every down kind of backs who can catch the ball out of the backfield, both are durable, and both can go long stretches on the field.

It’s also a good call at depth in a season McVay and the Rams will likely need it. I’ve written that Gulrey has yet to put two quality seasons back to back. Based on 2017, he deserves the benefit of the doubt this year, but with LA postured to be all in on a deep postseason run, some even say a Super Bowl run, Gurley could feel some pressure.

It’s fair to wonder that.

In a lot ways, drafting Kelly is an insurance policy should the Rams need it. If he provided some footsteps that Gurley hears and is motivated by, then that’s not a bad deal either.

Quarterback Jared Goff will also benefit with having options when McVay spells his running backs. LA came out of nowhere on offense last season. Don’t be fooled into thinking defenses won’t plan differently, and that coaches haven’t studied them this offseason.

They have.

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If nothing else, know the National Football League is a copycat when something works, and last year, McVay’s offense worked. Coaches have watched it. LA won’t surprise anyone.

Should. And I say SHOULD Gurley struggle, go belly-up, or simply not be able to duplicate a watershed season in 2017, John Kelly is a player who can fill a void.

In a year like the one the Los Angeles Rams will be expected to have, options will be critical. Kelly could be one of those options that pays big dividends in his rookie campaign.