3 playmakers the Rams must involve more often to stave off inconsistency

There is growing unrest among Los Angeles Rams fans over the inconsistency of the offense. One week the team struggles to find the end zone. The next week the run game unleashes a late game eruption that momentarily calms anxieties. And yet, the consistency that fans crave has yet to show up.

LA's offense has been squelched to just seven points in Week 1. It erupted for 35 points in Week 7. But throughout the season, fans had have no idea what to expect. Part of the reason for that hokey-pokey performance is the lack of commitment to new playmakers.

Consistency is more than playing the same names every week. As players emerge as play-makers, the best offenses pivot to feature those rising stars. The Rams used to do that instinctively, pivoting to such young stars as wide receiver Puka Nacua and running back Kyren Williams. But this offense seems to be stuck in a rut of its own making.

To help the coaching staff out, we've compiled a list of three weapons who have earned a larger portion of playing time in the second half of the season:

3 Rams who deserve larger roles in the second half of the season

1. Running back Blake Corum

Some may interpret diminishing Williams' role as blasphemy. But earmarking more work for his partner, Corum, does not mean fewer carries for Williams. It should mean fewer passes for sore-armed quarterback Matthew Stafford. After all, Corum is averaging 5.2 yards per carry. After eight games, that places him among the NFL's top five runners.

The problem is his 75 carries, a modest workload for one of the NFL's most efficient backs. To put it into perspective, Corum is gaining as much per carry as Atlanta Falcons star Bijan Robinson. So why is he averaging less than 10 carries per game?

The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind. Perhaps the Rams have finally found it: Corum has 28 carries over the past two games after averaging under eight through Week 6.

2. Wide receiver Tutu Atwell

Commentators in the Rams' recent games have remarked on their lack of a deep threat. Then against the Chargers, Atwell ripped off a 40-yard reception and the offense sprang to life as time ran out in the first half. Atwell has caught five of eight passes for 83 yards so far. That's a catch rate of 62.5 percent.

And yet, his eight targets place him 10th on the team's receiver list. While youngster Konata Mumpfield may have the coaches' confidence, he has only converted nine of 21 targets for 142 yards. Prorating Atwell's production to the same number of targets would give him 218 receiving yards.

Better still, defenses would be forced to keep two defensive backs deep.

3. Tight end Davis Allen

Few see Allen, a blocking tight end, for the weapon that he is. But this guy has caught 75 percent of the passes thrown his way this season. Better still, he ends up in the end zone 12.5 percent of the time. Why has he averaged only two targets per game? Like every name on this list, the mystery is one that not even Scooby Doo's gang could solve.

Allen may be a proficient blocker, but that's what makes him so dangerous as a receiver. He can feign a block, slip through undetected, and catch passes because he is uncovered. As long as he remains a threat, he forces defenses to cover him even when he blocks.

The Rams don't need any of these players to dominate. They simply need more dependable contributions from more players, and all three have proven they deserve a larger share of the workload. By granting it, the offense could find itself just as proficient at scoring touchdowns as it is at gaining yards.

Time will tell. As always, thanks for reading.

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