Rams News: Run it back for the LA Rams running game

Norm running play distribution

The LA Rams 2019 lessons will play a huge role into the 2020 NFL season. Of course, getting healthy on the offensive line will be a huge advantage for the Rams this season. But the team, through a series of trial and errors, learned how to make more of what little blocking the team had last year.  Using that as a foundation to build a running game upon in 2020 is a second huge advantage. Now all that remains is how productive to project rookie running back Cam Akers.

Well, the projection for rookie running back Cam Akers I will rely upon suggests that he will average better than 4.1 yards-per-carry.  As a rookie getting his first chance to show up and show off in the Rams offense, a 4.4 yards-per-carry average on this offense seems more realistic. Next, if we move several carries from Darrell Henderson towards Malcolm Brown and restore the lost 2018 carries to rookie Cam Akers workload, what might that look like?

Name                           Carries    Yards    TDs   Rec  Yards   TDs    Total points
Darrell Henderson         101       417       4      30      242      1       124.98
Cam Akers                        230   1,018     10     18      221      2        225.61
Malcolm Brown                 31      128       3         9        72       0          46.53
John Kelly                              0           0        0         0          0        0            0.00
Totals                                 362    1,563    17       57     535      3         397.12

That appears to be more in line with the skillsets of the players on this offense, and their specific roles in the 2020 offense for the team. And it compares favorably to the LA Rams pre-2019 offense.

The Rams may hit a home run with RB Darrell Henderson, but his role is already defined by his change-of-pace run to daylight speed. The Rams may also a home run with Malcolm Brown, but his role is defined by spots in the game to keep Cam Akers’ legs fresh. Or the Rams may find a niche role for another running back.

But the wheelbarrow is loaded for Cam Akers. The Rams offense, without change, is a one-back featured offense that keeps defenses on their toes by running the ball effectively and then passing with pinpoint accuracy. As much as Cam Akers was built for the LA Rams offense, the LA Rams offense was built for Cam Akers.