Despite LA Rams rushing burst in Week 13, RB still a need for this team

The LA Rams definitely ran a much different offense in Week 13, one that was committed to running the football. And for the most part, the Rams were able to do exactly that. However, this was not a traditional rushing offense. You see, the Rams employed the blazing speed of their receiving corps to help pad their rushing statistics.

Hey, anything is fair game, right? After all, the goal is to gain yards and move the chains. But now that the value of the Rams 2022 is already beginning to sunset, and the makings for a new and improved Rams roster and 2023 NFL season are beginning to rise on the horizon, perhaps it’s as good of a time as any to take a closer look on how the Rams are gaining yards on the ground.

Week 13

Posn          Carries       Yards      YPC
RB                 20               69         3.45
WR                  7               68          9.71
QB                   6               34          4.25
Totals            33            171         5.18

2022 NFL season through Week 13

Posn          Carries       Yards      YPC
RB                 216           761        3.52
WR                  27           154        5.70
QB                   39           133        3.41
Totals            282       1.048        3.72

The LA Rams continue to demonstrate that this team has the ability to run, whether behind a bad or good offensive line. The Rams have attempted 282 rushes in 12 games, which averages out to just 23.5 rushing attempts per game. That may sound like a good number, but the mean is 27 rushes per game. Still not much off the mark? The Rams have faced some of the toughest pass defenses in the NFL and passed into them.

Rams draft may target RB

In the past four games, the Rams have rushed for 111 attempts. in the previous eight games, the Rams had only rushed 171 times. The Rams have suggested that the team cannot run the football. But there is no stability in the Rams’ offensive line in the past month. In fact, the Rams have continued to start a different group of offensive linemen each week.

The Rams have lost both RB Jake Funk and RB Darrell Henderson Jr. this season. Whether or not you view their losses as impactful to this Rams roster or the Rams season, it definitely creates the question: Does the Rams draft need to add a running back?

I think so, yes. Despite the high praise, rookie RB Kyren Williams has rushed 22 times for 89 yards in five games, averaging just 4.0 yards per carry. The Rams need to find a durable bigger rusher in the 2023 NFL Draft.

Who? Where in the draft? There is plenty of time for that debate. For now, I do not think that the Rams roster has a complete complement of running backs necessary for the 2023 NFL season.