I've said it before. If Sean really wants a running game he's got to commit to it, in the same way, he's committed to the passing attack. His running plays reflect that lack of commitment. He wants a power run attack, well that requires a true FB not a WR. I have talked about the difference in blocking styles as to why teams that want a power inside run attack all use a FB. His experiment with Skowronek proved what I've said about playing with a FB, i.e. it doesn't shortchange the passing game if he's creative about it.
I watched Philip Rivers in his prime with Tomlinson and Neal in their 21 personnel sets and they absolutely had teams on their heels. Rivers consistently passed for big yardage out of that base set. In kept other teams in their base defense.
The Ram RBs all can catch. Roger Carter is a true FB and also proved in college he's got decent hands. They have him designated as a TE so he must have shown enough to remain at that position. Just simply swap out Skowronek for Carter for god sake. Otherwise, he's limited to inside or outside zone concepts. Then it's a matter of execution and having the OL to make those second-level blocks.
Akers isn't seeing the field properly so yeah it's time to bench him until he shows in practice he can see the holes. The Rams right now are better off with Henderson, Brown, and Williams. The design and personnel usage is largely to blame in the run game. McVay may be a genius in the passing game but very ordinary in his run attack play design.
If he is not going to change his personnel usage then he needs a big strong RB. Brown is probably the biggest RB they have. Time to start him to try to not get behind the chains on first down. Enough of these small RBs if he isn't going to put them behind a true FB. The easiest way to protect the QB is to run the damn ball like you mean it not as an afterthought.
