Turf Show Times
The Athletic summarized needs for each of the NFC playoff teams
Derrik Klassen of The Athletic pointed out one position for each team in the 2024 NFC playoffs that they will need to improve in order to contend again next season.
For the Los Angeles Rams, that position was running back.
Los Angeles doesn’t necessarily need to move on from workhorse Kyren Williams—who the team may contemplate a contract extension for this offseason—though as Klassen explains the Rams must develop a counter punch and get more explosives on the ground. A single explosive play more than doubles your chances of scoring on that same drive. This underscores the importance of this skillset at running back, and how the Rams felt underwhelming at times on offense last season.
After spending a third-round pick on Blake Corum last spring, it will be a tough pill to swallow if LA elects to allocate additional premium draft capital to the position again this year; however, getting more value and easier chunk plays is of the upmost importance.
The Rams’ running game was the highest-floor, lowest-ceiling operation in the NFL last season. Even with all of the injuries and shuffling along their offensive line, the Rams (44.0 percent) tied for sixth in rushing success rate with the Bills, according to TruMedia. They did well to stay ahead of the sticks or get exactly two yards when they needed two yards.
Explosive runs, though? I don’t know if the Rams have had one since Todd Gurley was on the roster.
According to NFL Pro, the Rams were one of just four teams with fewer than 40 runs of at least 10 yards this season — the Chiefs, Browns and Raiders were the others. The Chiefs joined the Rams as an efficient but nonexplosive rushing unit; the Browns and Raiders were straight up bad, no matter how you twist the numbers. That’s not the company you want to keep.
I’m willing to pin a lot of the explanation on the running backs. Kyren Williams has some of the prettiest footwork and clearest vision in the NFL, and he’s a standout pass blocker, but he’s a one-gear runner. Backup Blake Corum is a carbon copy of Williams, for better or worse.
Even one more explosive run per game would do wonders for this offense. Last season was proof of how high the floor is, because of McVay, Matthew Stafford and Puka Nacua. Now, the Rams need to find their ceiling again, ideally with a running back who can hit the gas in the open field.
