Next step in Blake Corum's evolution couldn't be clearer for Rams

Los Angeles Rams running back Blake Corum saw his workload spike in Year 2. He went from 58 carries as a rookie to 145 last season, an increase of 250 percent. His rushing yards leapt from 207 to 746, a production jump of 360 percent. Even as Kyren Williams remained the clear No. 1 option, Corum nearly tripled his offensive snaps. 

This season, it wouldn't be surprising to see touches distributed more evenly between the dynamic tandem. Williams is the hard-nosed bruiser. Corum is the explosive playmaker. The Rams could benefit from calling his name more often to elevate their already high offensive ceiling.

But Corum won't reach his full potential - or justify a true, equal timeshare with Williams - if he can't contribute just a little as a pass-catcher. Unless your name is Derrick Henry, it's hard to get by that way in the modern NFL. 

Corum's next step is evolving as a pass-catcher

Despite his increased involvement last season, Corum caught just one more pass, eight in all, than in 2024. He was targeted 14 times versus eight, which is something, but he accounted for just 36 yards and his success rate plunged from nearly 90 percent to below 30. 

Obviously, that's a very small sample size, but it does indicate an opportunity for growth the Rams would be delinquent not to exploit. 

Corum will likely never be a high-level dual threat. At Michigan, where he led the FBS with 27 rushing touchdowns as a senior and piled up 58 in his career, Corum never exceeded 24 catches or 141 receiving yards in a season. Running routes isn't his forte.

And that's okay. There should, though, be a bit more in the tank than what he has shown thus far in the NFL. The Rams don't need him to match even Williams' modest production, which last year equaled 36 catches for 281 yards and three touchdowns, all career highs. 

If Corum wants to see the field more often, however, it will help if he can just give them something. One-way backs are the exception in today's game, not the rule.

As outstanding a pupil as he is - and Corum passed his sophomore season with flying colors - he can make himself even more valuable in Sean McVay's offense by being available as a checkdown target on read-options or a designed screen here and there.

To make that happen, part of the burden falls on McVay and the Rams to feature Corum more often and give him those chances, provided he earns them. He doesn't have to be Bijan Robinson, but with his explosive ability as a ball carrier, there's no reason he can't rip off some big gains on short-range pass plays, which often function like runs anyway.

If Corum can sprinkle that element into his game, he'll be that much more of a handful for defenses to deal with. 

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow