Can LA Rams RB Raymond Calais be more than a return specialist?

The LA Rams poached running back Raymond Calais from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers waiver wire, a minor move that resulted in the LA Rams carrying five running backs on the roster in 2020. Five running backs of equal height, because 5-foot-8 188-pound Calais is the same height as 5-foot-8 208-pound running back Darrell Henderson. But Calais’ 40-yard dash time has been clocked at 4.42-seconds, while Henderson’s time has been clocked at 4.49-seconds.

Advantage, Calais.

Unfortunately, that advantage did not translate into much in the way of opportunity for him, as his use was limited to 34 snaps on special teams, and that translated into seven kickoff returns for 152 yards. While that was better than some rookies, it was not much work for a young man who was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to be an explosive change of pace running back and signed off their waiver wire by the Rams to add depth on the roster behind Darrell Henderson.

When Henderson was injured at the end of the 2020 NFL season, unfortunately so was Calais. If not for the miraculous return from a high ankle sprain, the Rams would have been forced to give rookie running back Xavier Jones his debut on the offense. The 2020 season is now over, so what does the 2021 season have in store for the Rams returning running back?

A need for speed

Well, it’s clear that the Rams want to add speed to the roster, and that bodes well for Calais. After all, speed is his forte. Add his first year of experience with the LA Rams to that speed, and he’ll be tough competition to unseat as rookies try to pry their own way onto the roster this year.

The Rams carried five running backs last season, but their veteran Malcolm Brown has parted ways via free agency. For 2021, the Rams have added a number of athletic rookies whose job will be to help bolster the lagging special teams’ performance. What that means is for Raymond Calais is that the competition for a role on special teams is increasing.

Meanwhile, chances of earning some carries on the offense have improved, particularly if he can break a few carries for big gains in the preseason. If he can add some pass-catching to his arsenal, he’ll have a solid chance to find his niche on the Rams offense.

Keep in mind that from signing free agent veteran DeSean Jackson to drafted rookie Tutu Atwell, and even to drafting running back Jake Funk, the Rams have sought high and low for more speed for this offense. It’s arrived.  The Rams are most certainly ‘faster’.  But does that open the door for the running game up for rushes from Raymond Calais in 2021?

Perhaps.

He will need to prove that he can carry the ball, and even catch the ball in stride. If he can do that, he can successfully make the transition from special teams’ return specialist to Rams running back. To retain a hold on his roster spot for 2021, he may need to do exactly that.