Turf Show Times
What can the Rams expect from Blake Corum in year two?
When the Los Angeles Rams selected running back Blake Corum out of Michigan in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft, it came as a bit of a surprise. Kyren Williams was coming off of a 1,000 yard season in which he scored 12 rushing touchdowns. While the Rams needed depth at running back, taking one in the third round was unexpected.
Corum’s rookie season wasn’t anything memorable. He had 58 carries without any memorable moments. His season ended in Week 18 when he broke his right forearm against the Seattle Seahawks.
Heading into year two, there seems to be some pressure on Corum with some already preparing to give him the bust label. The feeling around Corum has shifted dramatically in just one year. Following OTAs last season, Corum was impressing the coaching staff and drawing some Puka Nacua comparisons. Said McVay last July,
“I’ve been pleased with a lot of guys but Blake Corum has really stood out. Mature beyond his years. I love the way that he handles himself. I love even more how when there’s been a couple of things that didn’t go the way we wanted, how he responded the next play.”
Due to a foot injury, Williams sat out OTAs last year, leading to more action from Corum. However, Corum still only had 58 rushing attempts and six games with five or more carries. If you remove the game in Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals that the Rams lost 41-0 in which all eight of Corum’s carries came in the final five minutes, it was only five games.
However, in those five games, Corum averaged 4.3 yards per carry while showcasing his shiftiness and mental processing that made him successful in the Big 10. While the Rams drafted Jarquez Hunter in the fourth round, there is reason to believe that Corum takes a step and gets more involved in the offense.
McVay typically hasn’t played rookie running backs as Darrell Henderson had 39 carries as a rookie and Williams had 35. Again, Corum finished with 58. With a year of experience, Corum should have the upper hand when it comes to being the RB2 in the offense.
Corum will still need to prove himself in training camp and earn the trust from the coaching staff. At the same time, the experience from last season makes Corum a known commodity in the offense. With that said, the second year player should be able to take some of the load off of Williams.
Despite Corum being drafted as a Kyren Williams clone, he does provide a somewhat different skill set. He may not have the breakaway speed, but he does offer more twitch and ability to create on his own.
Like Williams, Corum may not have the breakaway speed. However, that twitch and ability to make guys miss, especially at the second level, does separate him from Williams. Corum’s lower-half is always...
