LA Rams: Malcolm Brown and the Run DMC Reunion Tour

The LA Rams offense is going back to basics. What do I mean by that?

Run DMC.

Yes, you read that correctly. Run DMC. You see, that was the nickname that fans unofficially designated the LA Rams running back by committee in 2020.  We’ll get back to what that 2020 running back by committee approach means for the Rams’ rushing attack soon. But for now, Run DMC has particular significance.  It was more than just a play on words, as the LA Rams running back by committee

It stands for RUN

Darrell Henderson Jr.
Malcolm Brown
Cam Akers

Three running backs, all of whom complement the skillsets of the others, and all selflessly fighting for one another in a surprisingly effective rushing attack. With the LA Rams’ recent news, suddenly the team’s rushing offense appears to have leveled up.

What? More over-the-top optimism at the re-signing of a former LA Rams player? I don’t know that this is hyped whatsoever.  Let’s review where the LA Rams rushing offense is sitting right now in the 2022 NFL season.

Rams running out of steam

Through their first two games, the LA Rams were an abysmal rushing offense. The LA Rams are averaging 2.7 yards per rush, 58.5 yards per game, and just 0.5 touchdowns per game. Those work out to the 32nd-ranked rushing offense, the 31st-ranked rushing offense, and the 21st-ranked scoring offense in the NFL.  That led to this teaser for Week 4 by LA Rams head coach Sean McVay:

The Rams’ rushing offense through three games is still bad. Even though the Rams have shot up to 3.4 yards per rush, the team still manages just 72.3 yards on the ground per game, and the longest run is just 20 yards from the line of scrimmage.

If not for the Rams repurposing WR Ben Skowronek as a temporary (or is it permanent?) role as a fullback who can block as well as run routes out of the backfield, the Rams would likely be dead last at running the football.  But a new day is dawning for the LA Rams ground attack.