It wasn’t too long ago that the Los Angeles Rams were at the apex of their game during their Super Bowl run in 2018. The offense was one of the deadliest in the game and bulldozed through defenses averaging 32.9 points per game that season.
The team did so by relying on an explosive and physical run game that then opened up opportunities downfield for Jared Goff and the receiving corps. Last season was a completely different story as the offense had trouble staying consistent. They failed to match the production they had in 2018 as their points per game fell to 24.6 and they missed the playoffs with a 9-7 record.
If the Rams hope to get anywhere close to their performance in 2018, they will have to revamp a crucial run game to ease the pressure that Goff faced last year to try to carry the team himself. This offseason the Rams took some necessary steps to accomplish that by drafting running back Cam Akers. The Rams still have veteran Malcolm Brown and the third-round pick in the 2019 draft Darrell Henderson, but it’s Cam Akers who seems to have the highest ceiling of the trio.
On his podcast “Move The Sticks,” NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah stated that he believes Cam Akers will be the Rams savior this season.
“I think in order for them to get back on track, it is what they are going to be able to do on the ground. It is going to be Cam Akers who they drafted to replace Todd Gurley. They got to be more efficient and they got to be more explosive.”
Akers runs with such physicality and explosiveness and has proven during his time at Florida State that he can do so behind a poor offensive line. He averaged 3.91 yards after contact per carry last season which was the fourth-best in the draft while rushing for a total of 1,144 yards and 14 touchdowns. It was this kind of production that made him so highly coveted by the Rams.
Despite his promising potential, Akers won’t be alone this season as the Rams could use a mix of the trio who all bring different styles of running to the table. While Henderson failed to live up to expectations last year, he still has the talent to impress us out of the backfield, and Brown is a capable back that can pick up needed yards on third and short plays as well as run over defenses in the red zone.
It will take the talents and running styles of all three backs to help ensure the Rams get back (pun intended) on track this upcoming season. If the O-line can help open up some holes for the run game to develop, then that’ll help open up more opportunities for Goff and help the team inch closer to its 2018 version.
