3 reasons why rookie RB Cam Akers will breakout after bye

The LA Rams offense hasn’t seen much of rookie RB Cam Akers so far, but here are three reasons why the rookie shows up big after the bye week

The LA Rams have not exactly rolled out the red carpet for rookie Cam Akers. For as much of a welcome, praise, and glowing commentary that welcomed the Florida State running back to Los Angeles, the reality is that the Rams have not done a good enough job of welcoming the rookie to the team.

Truth be told, the Rams have seemed, at times, to have made it a bit difficult for the young man to get any significant portion of carries in this offense. Not only has the team focused most of the offensive snaps to veteran running back Malcolm Brown, and most of the carries to veteran running back Darrell Henderson, but head coach Sean McVay dials up 61 passing plays on an afternoon when the running game is working well, and Cam Akers is certain to hear his number called.

Offensive arrhythmia

The LA Rams offense has witnessed a bit of a backslide recently. For whatever reasons, defenses have discovered that overwhelming pressure upon the offense in terms of a pass rush triggers a pass-happy response. On many occasions, whether by the personnel on the field for the Rams, or the play options that are sent to the huddle, the Rams simply ran their offense directly into the sharp teeth of the defense.

The problem seems to be an offensive arrhythmia. That is, the offense seems unable to dictate to the defense. The Rams try to pass their way out of dominating defense. Either the team runs plays too quickly, or successive multiple plays for the team to a premature punting situation. In either case, the offensive rhythm skips a beat, thwarting plans for a prolonged offensive drive to consume the clock. That arrhythmia creates a racing ineffective offense.  But there is a cure.

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.

Rams need to score points

So far, the LA Rams have been moving the ball successfully. But when the team enters the red zone, suddenly the offense seems to sputter. While there is plenty of room to debate whether the players fail to execute their offensive plays and fall short, or the plays called suddenly diverge to what has worked to place the Rams into scoring position and try to outthink the defensive coordinator,. In any case, the Rams are not scoring.

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So what can a rookie running back do to change that? Why score, of course. But perhaps some elaboration is necessary.  So let’s add some details. The LA Rams have two problems when they intend to score. First of all, the team does not commit to the running game, even when it is very effective. Secondly, the team tends to target the same receivers.  In both scenarios, the offense fails to create a high probability of success in the red zone.  The lack of touchdowns is the result.

Cam changes the balance

When the LA Rams finally entrust Akers with offensive snaps, he brings strength and durability and mixes in high-speed burst and big-play creation altogether.  That combination creates a tough challenge for defenses. They can ignore his rushing ability, and that affords open running lanes to carry the ball into the end zone. Or they can ignore passing plays, giving Rams receivers room to separate from the defender and come down with the ball. But why not just send more defenders than blockers?

Ah, now that draws defenses into the most dangerous part of Akers’ game. He can run draws and screenplays all day. After all, he has a natural instinct of following his blockers through traffic and shedding them at the last minute to get the most yardage out of the play. That is simply not something that can be coached into a running back. Akers has the natural ability to use an aggressive defense’s pass rush against them naturally.  But why wouldn’t the LA Rams do this with the other running backs? That’s where distributing the ball equitably takes over.

Balance workload of carrying the ball

The LA Rams running game is made up of three components. 50 percent of the offensive snaps go to veteran running back Malcolm Brown. 50 percent of the teams running plays go to second-year running back Darrell Henderson. And the third category is simply all others.  To spell it out for readers who do not make the instant connection, Cam Akers is among the all-others category.

So far, the LA Rams have been giving Henderson the runs, and Brown the offensive snaps. And so far, both Malcolm Brown and Darrell Henderson have tried to fight through nagging injuries.  Brown has had to play through a broken finger. Henderson has already suffered a hamstring injury, and he suffered a deep thigh bruise against the Miami Dolphins. In fact, the bruise continues to impact Henerson’s ability to practice some ten days later.

The Rams have not kept their promise to distribute carries among all three running backs.

Freshest legs on the team

Whether or not you believe Cam Akers is the best option to run the ball right now, he is most certainly the freshest pair of legs on the roster. We keep repeating the fact that the Rams persistence to run the ball through Henderson and Brown is accelerating their wear and tear. Meanwhile, not getting the ball in Akers’ hands is hindering his ability to develop and grow this season.  If the Rams are clinging to any hopes of using Akers effectively in the NFL Playoffs, he will need to get the lion’s share of touches now.

If the Rams value Cam Akers, then the time is now to see what a true workload in his hand resembles.  The team has allowed Darrell Henderson to get banged up. With most of the offensive snaps going to Brown, how long before he is nursing an injury and hoping to be able to suit up for the next game? The Rams have more than one reason to suit Cam Akers up this weekend and see what he can do against the Seattle Seahawks.

It’s now or never.  Give Cam Akers the ball, and let’s see what happens. It’s time.