2026 Breakout Player For Rams

[CoachAllred]

Yes I hope he's been working on, like, everything. Sad that he's our fastest RB...
This is the guy I was really pounding the table for the Rams to draft - 4.32 speed vs. 4.44 (Hunter) - but he went at pick 104 to the Jags, Hunter pick 117. Looks like he can do KR too:


View: https://youtu.be/uxGdFYKIkiY?si=8pB6gse6aKPcoYsf

Edit: guess I should pick a breakout player...
Dolac FTW. We kinda need him to breakout tbh.
Next on my list would be Corum, kid is poised to explode.

It's not uncommon that our backs get drafted and kind of
disappear their Rooke year. In McVay's offense the RB position
seems to carry a mental aspect more demanding than most teams.
Corum looked more comfortable in his second year. JMO ,but maybe his head
wasn't swimming from pre-snap reads. Less thinking, more playing.

I'm pulling for Hunter to fill that 3rd spot and maybe return kicks.
He runs similar to our other backs in that he seems to love running through
contact. Dragging tacklers to get those extra yds. He also has the break away
ability as Corum does. If Hunter can make that second year jump, like Corum
we may very well have the deepest RB room in the league.

 

[Memento]

It's not uncommon that our backs get drafted and kind of
disappear their Rooke year. In McVay's offense the RB position
seems to carry a mental aspect more demanding than most teams.
Corum looked more comfortable in his second year. JMO ,but maybe his head
wasn't swimming from pre-snap reads. Less thinking, more playing.

I'm pulling for Hunter to fill that 3rd spot and maybe return kicks.
He runs similar to our other backs in that he seems to love running through
contact. Dragging tacklers to get those extra yds. He also has the break away
ability as Corum does. If Hunter can make that second year jump, like Corum
we may very well have the deepest RB room in the league.

Dean Connors (the rookie running back out of Houston) is extremely interesting as well. Has long breakaway speed, can run through contact, continuously churned out tough yards.

Yeah, our running back room is deep, and that's not even mentioning Rivers.

 

[CoachAllred]

A breakout season for Hunter would be if they actually gave him a couple carries.

But they gave him 15 carries in preseason.
A RB's legs can only take so much.
You tryin to drive him to early retirement????????????

 

[den-the-coach]

I’m going with the unpopular Professor Xavier Smith. He will be the Rams deep threat and redeem himself as a punt returner too.

 

[DzRams]

I really like Josaiah Stewart to hit that 10+ sack mark. He made the most
out of his low snap count.

I agree on Stewart as a primary breakout candidate. I posted early in the offseason that his Year 1 advanced pass rush metrics matched Young's Year 2 metrics. Young took a sizeable leap in year 2 and year 3. If Steward does the same, he could be quite good this year.

Kam Kinchens. (How in the hell has nobody mentioned Kinchens yet?! He's a helluva free safety, even with people blocking his way to playing time. He's one of the best ballhawks we have in the secondary. He's been basically healthy his whole career (hasn't missed a single game his whole career, including postseason). We're likely going to play Lake a lot at STAR, so Kinchens is going to play a lot. Like Whittington, he's in his third year, the year that most good players "get it". How the hell has he not a pick for a breakout player?)

Good call on Kinchens. IMO, he's a quiet star in the making.

 

[fearsomefour]

I will echo Stewart and Ferguson for sure.
Will really be watching and pulling for Forbes....having a real 3rd CB could help the back end of this defense so much....I would like to see Hunter get some reps at RB and see what he can do, a break out for him may be getting a handful of touches a week....CJ Daniels, I loved this pick and where the Rams got him, probably a big stretch for him to be WR 3....McClendon at RT, would love for him to take the next step and become a real force at RT....and the Thicker Kicker, cause it would be nice to have a kicker stick around for awhile....

 

[sloramfan]

cj daniels... calling it now

go rams

slo

 

[CoachAllred]

I’m going with the unpopular Professor Xavier Smith. He will be the Rams deep threat and redeem himself as a punt returner too.

Went back and watched highlights from last year, I saw him doing some nice things in the screen game,
Stafford also missed him on a couple of T.D.'s by underthrowing him after he had gotten behind the defense.

One of them was absolutely heart breaking .Smith had gotten at least 5 yds past the D, but had to wait, what seemed
like a lifetime for the ball to arrive. By then the D had caught up to what could have been a easy 6.
Stafford was having to side step the pass rush and couldn't step into the throw

I don't know if he is a lock, but, we do need at least one WR who can take the top off of a
defense. Xavier has shown he can do just that.
Nice dark horse pick in what is going to be a huge position group battle in camp

 

[CoachAllred]

Dean Connors (the rookie running back out of Houston) is extremely interesting as well. Has long breakaway speed, can run through contact, continuously churned out tough yards.

Yeah, our running back room is deep, and that's not even mentioning Rivers.

OK, I will see your Connors and raise you a
6' 225lb Waters.


View: https://youtu.be/1BXnIa5jFUs?si=F_occGqnQmOhzSDi

I am hoping there is enough young talent, that I don't have to
mention Rivers

 

[Memento]

OK, I will see your Connors and raise you a 6' 225lb Waters.


View: https://youtu.be/1BXnIa5jFUs?si=F_occGqnQmOhzSDi

I am hoping there is enough young talent, that I don't have to
mention Rivers

I like Waters, but Connors was super productive in his one year at Houston, and two years at Rice (one of the worst D1 teams out there when he played with them), he's a better receiver than Waters, and he has real special teams value as a returner and on our punt/kick coverage.

Again, I like Waters, but I think - as of now - Connors is the superior prospect compared to where Waters was when he signed as a UDFA.

 

[CoachAllred]

I like Waters, but Connors was super productive in his one year at Houston, and two years at Rice (one of the worst D1 teams out there when he played with them), he's a better receiver than Waters, and he has real special teams value as a returner and on our punt/kick coverage.

Again, I like Waters, but I think - as of now - Connors is the superior prospect compared to where Waters was when he signed as a UDFA.

I'm for either - or. I will take any talent surfacing from UDFA pool ,that we can get.
I was just throwing up Waters in a joking manner. UDFA Poker if you will. lol

 

[PARAM]

I'm for either - or. I will take any talent surfacing from UDFA pool ,that we can get.
I was just throwing up Waters in a joking manner. UDFA Poker if you will. lol

I'd prefer we keep Xavier as our PR/WR3b. Just tell him if you lose your balance roll the fuck out of the way instead of trying to field the punt. It's better to be pinned inside the 10 than lose possession altogether!!!!

Besides, a RB who plays special teams is only going to play STs with the stable we have.