3 reasons why starting backups for Week 18 should excite Rams fans

(1) - Let's see what rookie RB Blake Corum brings to the Rams offense

As long as we are talking about the team affording snaps to lesser-used players, let's talk about rookie running back Blake Corum. So far this season, Corum has seen action on 107 offensive snaps. Of those opportunities, he has rushed 56 times for 197 yards (a 3.5 YPC average) and caught six of seven passes for 46 yards. So in 107 offensive snaps, he has been the guy to get the football in 63 plays, or a usage of 59 percent.

That is a pretty healthy clip. And likely not the level of usage in the offense if he were to see more offensive snaps. Is it that the Rams are simply so high on Corum that the coaching staff wants to give him optimal opportunities when he is on the football field? Or do the Rams focus on Corum with the football as he learns how to fit in the offense when he is not handling the football?

However you see it, the Rams would do well to see what Blake Corum can do with the football in a game in which he gets a steady diet of it.

The most touches that Blake Corum has handled the football in any given game is eight times, and that has happened three times this season. For a runner who gets stronger as the game goes on, and has proven that when playing for the National Champion Michigan Wolverines, the Rams have hesitated to set up anything more than light work for their rookie rusher.

If the Rams do feed Corum a steady diet of offensive snaps in Week 18, we will finally have an opportunity to see how he performs as the featured running back. Will he be able to pick up blitzes? Will he stay fresh for the entire game? Will he have the power to gain big gains late in the game.

Whether or not he can deliver in Week 18, rookie running back Blake Corum deserves a shot to prove what he can do.

As always, thanks for reading

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