3 reasons why rookie RB Cam Akers will breakout after bye

Akers can get offense heart beating again

The LA Rams offense needs to get back to what they do best. That means that the Rams need to start with a productive running game and then mingle in a variety of passing plays that will serve to keep running lanes open and defensive backs defending open spaces. The running plays also serve as the foundation to play-action, the guise by which offenses feign a running play, but choose to pass instead.

The Rams have used play-action quite a bit in 2020. And the offense will likely use it all season long.

Play action only works if the offense runs the ball, and is effective at doing so. So when the Rams abandon a run and throw significantly more pass plays, defenses simply ignore the possibility of defending the run and sell out on rushing the quarterback.

Akers running restores ruse

The Rams need a multi-purpose running back to use throughout the game. When Malcolm Brown is in the game, he is a far better blocker. So the Rams tend to lean towards the passing game. On top of that, Malcolm Brown poses no danger of streaking down the field for a huge gain. So defenses logically play the pass. Conversely, when Darrell Henderson is in the huddle, there is a far better likelihood that he will be carrying the ball. So defenses simply revert to playing the run.

Akers can change that paradigm. Not only has he little history to trend and draw conclusions from, but he is a capable weapon in both a running and passing game. Therefore, defenses must respect both the run and the pass when he is on the field. It’s the need to process and decide in real-time that creates split-second hesitancy in the defense, which is all the Rams’ offense needs to get into synch.