5 reasons why LA Rams rookie RB Akers is ideal featured back

Reason 4 – Dual Threat

The LA Rams offense needs both running and receiving threat in the backfield. It’s the threat of the running attack which makes the Rams’ run-pass option offense so brutally effective against NFL defenses.  The threat of the pass keeps defenders on their heels, leaning into pass coverage. Meanwhile, it’s the threat of the run which keeps defenders’ eyes on the running back.

If a running back is no threat to catch a pass, the defense stacks the box with eight defenders, shutting down the running game.  Just check out this game film and you can see exactly what we mean. Despite a very questionable offensive line, Akers showed lots of skills in getting positive yards on plays where no hole existed.

While Cam Akers’s threat to catch the ball will improve, he is already threatening enough to force defenses onto their heels. In his three seasons at Florida State, he caught 69 passes for 486 yards and seven touchdowns. And that was on an offense where he was often held in the backfield to pick up blitzes. And the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine introduced the new Duce Staley drill, a drill where Akers appeared as polished as an NFL veteran and was clearly the most impressive in the exercise.