5 breakout offensive stars for LA Rams Coach O’Connell

RB Akers

The LA Rams could not hope to succeed by drafting a speedy running back whose success depends highly upon avoiding contact. Instead, they drafted the one running back who churned out yards despite poor offensive line play and lots of traffic at the line of scrimmage, Florida State running back Cam Akers. After all, he never ran behind an elite offensive line his entire NCAA football career. But he didn’t transfer, sulk, or complain. He suited up and squeezed the play of his offensive line for all the yardage available.

Akers is a good size for the LA Rams featured back. At 5-foot-10 and 217-pounds, he is bigger and more durable than change-of-pace running back Darrell Henderson. And with a 4.47-second 40-yard dash time, he is faster, more agile, and more effective at using his blockers than running back Malcolm Brown.  The LA Rams selected the running back with the 52nd pick of the 2020 NFL Draft. To be fair, Akers demonstrated remarkable proficiency throughout his 2020 NFL Scouting Combine.

Many scoff at the idea that Cam Akers can run for 1,000+ yards as a rookie for the LA Rams, but I am not one of them.  Running back Todd Gurley played 15 games and rushed for 850+ yards. If the reports of an ailing knee are true, a freshman running back in the same situation, playing 16 games, can be expected to run for 1000 yards.  After all, the NFC West teams all finished in the lower half of NFL rushing defenses in 2019. While the Rams worked to improve their run defense, rivals worked towards stopping the pass. That means Akers will have more daylight to run between the tackles.

But Akers brings more to the offense than a between the tackles sort of running. He is a capable receiver as well, likely to add 200+ yards as a receiver as well. The biggest question mark for his rookie season hinges upon whether he will be able to get to the endzone as effectively as Gurley did for the Rams.  Philadelphia Eagles rookie RB Miles Sanders started 11 games and rushed for 818 yards and three touchdowns while adding 509 yards through the air and another three touchdowns. Look for Akers to put up 1,200 yards on the ground, and eight touchdowns, while adding 300 yards receiving and three touchdowns as a receiver.