Get ready to be dazzled by 5 2024 Rams rookies as they fight for larger roles

(4) - RB Blake Corum

When the Rams drafted running back Blake Corum, I did not get swept up in the hyper and euphoria that seemed to run unchecked among NFL draft analysts. Corum was highly productive in college because he was a workhorse. I simply did not see much work going his way in 2024, and unfortunately, I was correct.

Still, something has to change. The Rams were a dismal 24th-ranked rushing offense last season. Worse still, most of the Rams' ground attack was handled by feature running back Kyren Williams. While Williams improved to 1,299 rushing yards and 14 rushing touchdowns in 2024, it was all due to a much heavier workload. Despite getting 88 more carries last season, he only managed to add 155 more yards and two touchdowns over his 2023 performance.

And his fumbles skyrocketed. Williams is a solid runner, but the Rams cannot mismanage him like they did Darrell Henderson Jr.

While Corum is nearly the same size as Williams, he has two distinct advantages. He is slightly faster, and he is a bit more of a north-south runner. I'm not suggesting that Corum will run through NFL linebackers, but he is the type of runner who gets stronger as the game goes on. The team has simply never fed him the ball often enough to see that happen.

Ideally, the Rams should try to limit Williams to an average of 15 carries per game. That should allow the team to bump Corum's number of carries in 2025 to 150-175. Even if Corum does no better than 3.6 yards per carry (his 2024 average), he will still end up in the 600+ rushing yards area. But I would look for more out of Corum with more work. It would be ideal if the Rams switch roles in 2025 and give the bulk of carries to Corum every third game.

In 2020, the Rams platooned RBs Cam Akers, Darrell Henderson Jr., and Malcolm Brown and put up over 2000 rushing yards. In 2023, the Rams platooned RBs Kyren Williams, Royce Freeman, Ronnie Rivers, and Darrell Henderson Jr. to gain over 2000+ rushing yards.

This team does better with a running back by committee approach. And if the team snaps back into that successful strategy in 2025, second-year running back Blake Corum will be the big winner.