The running game can continue to thrive in Kyren’s absence.

[AvengerRam]

Before I get to my main point, let me stress... I'm a fan of Kyren Williams. I love his attitude, his approach to the game, his enthusiasm, and his well-rounded skill set. I'm disappointed that, after the best game of his career, he's now shelved due to an ankle injury.

That said, I'm not worried that this will drastically impact the Rams' running game.

Before last week's game against the Cardinals, Williams' numbers were pretty pedestrian. He was averaging 59.6 yards per game with a 3.9 yards/carry average. Then, in the second half last week, he exploded for 154 yards on 18 carries. Amazing numbers, no doubt, but I'd assert it wasn't all about Williams. Certainly, his efforts should not be ignored, but I also think that two very big factors were McVay's willingness to truly commit to running the ball, and the offensive line (with help from the WRs and TEs) opening up big holes.

If the Rams continue the commitment to the run like they did in the second half of last week's game, I believe they can find success with whichever of the four RB candidates (Zach Evans, Royce Freeman, Darrell Henderson, Myles Gaskin) ends up being the RB1 (kind of hoping its Evans, who I see as the guy with the most upside potential). The Rams are facing the Steelers, who are currently allowing 143.8 rushing yards/game (29th) and 4.76 yards/carry (27th). They can't abandon the run like they did against the Bengals (also a statistically poor defense against the run), when they ran the ball only 12 times and allowed the opposing pass rush to tee off on Stafford.

Keep running, Sean!

 

[snackdaddy]

Will McVay stick with the run now that his top two backs are out? He's gotten away from it a number of times when he had his RB1 and RB2. Now he's going with backups. Will he trust it enough?

Pittsburgh's run defense doesn't seem to be that good. But they have a premier pass rusher in Watt. Running the ball would make sense to slow down the pass rush. But McVay's history with that makes me wonder how patient he will be with it.

 

[OldSchool]

Arizona does not have a good run D. I don't think Shitsburgh does either. Well see after that I guess.

 

[Rams43]

Before I get to my main point, let me stress... I'm a fan of Kyren Williams. I love his attitude, his approach to the game, his enthusiasm, and his well-rounded skill set. I'm disappointed that, after the best game of his career, he's now shelved due to an ankle injury.

That said, I'm not worried that this will drastically impact the Rams' running game.

Before last week's game against the Cardinals, Williams' numbers were pretty pedestrian. He was averaging 59.6 yards per game with a 3.9 yards/carry average. Then, in the second half last week, he exploded for 154 yards on 18 carries. Amazing numbers, no doubt, but I'd assert it wasn't all about Williams. Certainly, his efforts should not be ignored, but I also think that two very big factors were McVay's willingness to truly commit to running the ball, and the offensive line (with help from the WRs and TEs) opening up big holes.

If the Rams continue the commitment to the run like they did in the second half of last week's game, I believe they can find success with whichever of the four RB candidates (Zach Evans, Royce Freeman, Darrell Henderson, Myles Gaskin) ends up being the RB1 (kind of hoping its Evans, who I see as the guy with the most upside potential). The Rams are facing the Steelers, who are currently allowing 143.8 rushing yards/game (29th) and 4.76 yards/carry (27th). They can't abandon the run like they did against the Bengals (also a statistically poor defense against the run), when they ran the ball only 12 times and allowed the opposing pass rush to tee off on Stafford.

Keep running, Sean!

Completely concur.

If McVay continues to call running plays and that Ram OL continues it’s stellar run blocking then Rams will find success on the ground regardless of who carries the ball.

 

[So Ram]

Arizona does not have a good run D. I don't think Shitsburgh does either. Well see after that I guess.

Let’s see what happens week to week !!!

Riddle me this Oldschool (Batman). Does Sean Mcvay pre call his plays to start a game ?

I think The Rams game planning gets overlooked & not talked about.I never knew or heard they script there plays until like 2 years ago in Stafford’s first season as a Ram.

Just checking

 

[Tano]

I am just worried about Zach Evans fumbling issues

 

[AvengerRam]

I am just worried about Zach Evans fumbling issues

People keep saying this but, here’s a fun fact…

Kyren William had more fumbles (8) and a higher fumble rate (1 for every 62.1 touches) in college than Evans (5 fumbles, 1 for every 63.6 touches).

As a pro, Williams has overcome this issue (only 1 fumble in 154 touches) so, hopefully, Evans can as well.

 

[Alaskan Ram]

@AvengerRam , as much as I agree with your original post, I think what occurred last Sunday was a beautiful dance between the player and the game plan -- it was the result of all 11 players being apart of something unstoppable.

There is one ingredient that KW brought to that performance I think will absolutely be needed in order for that rushing display to be replicated by another back. That ingredient is VISION.

KW was showing some vision I hadn't seen in a runner on the Rams in along time. Maybe as far back as Faulk. He had eyes in the back of his head, hell, he had 360 degree vision.

He was slashing, jump cutting, had that mid-stride pause thing Faulk would do to have a defender dive-tackling points he was supposed to be at - but wasn't, it was beautiful to watch. Then it became this all 11 guys working together in unison realizing the other team couldn't stop them.

I don't see Akers having the same performance under same circumstances. I hated watching AKERS run into the tacklers.

Hopefully these other backs have it.

Go Rams.
Fuck the 9ers.

 

[Tano]

People keep saying this but, here’s a fun fact…

Kyren William had more fumbles (8) and a higher fumble rate (1 for every 62.1 touches) in college than Evans (5 fumbles, 1 for every 63.6 touches).

As a pro, Williams has overcome this issue (only 1 fumble in 154 touches) so, hopefully, Evans can as well.

Williams had a year to learn even if it was only in practice.

Evans is in his rookie year and sometimes it takes a year before rookies learn to hang onto the ball.

 

[Merlin]

This isn't just an issue of McVay sticking with the run. The guy gets that criticism and rightly so but this team isn't good enough to piss away possessions due to trying to run the ball X times if the backs aren't up to snuff. We don't have the defense to do that. The RBs matter, just as much as the OL does, in this equation.

So there needs to be a certain level of potency when McVay does dial up the runs. Pittsburgh probably will sell out to stop the run, simply because they know they're shit at it and they want the Rams to get into "Stafford only" mode so they can do what they do best. They'll be loading the box pre-snap to flip the calls etc. But beside all that when the runs get called these guys need to execute.

Evans last runs he was finishing with a bang. If he runs like that we should be in good shape. But of course there's also the pass pro and all that. Not too worried on that front, I think we have the players ready to execute but that is definitely going to be a major element in whether we win or lose this game.

 

[CGI_Ram]

I am just worried about Zach Evans fumbling issues

I am more "worried" about the fact his role for Sunday is in debate.

He's the 3rd string running back. The first 2 RB's are out. He should be the starter. End of discussion.

Me personally, I'd like to see more enthusiasm about Evans from the Rams.

 

[“Turbo set!”]

Evans is a project. I doubt he sees the field this weekend.

 

[AvengerRam]

Evans is a project. I doubt he sees the field this weekend.

Why is he a “project”?

 

[AvengerRam]

I am more "worried" about the fact his role for Sunday is in debate.

He's the 3rd string running back. The first 2 RB's are out. He should be the starter. End of discussion.

Me personally, I'd like to see more enthusiasm about Evans from the Rams.

It’s so hard to know with McVay. Before week 1, I was under the impression that Akers was set to be the RB1. Then, against Seattle, Williams had 53 snaps to Akers’ 28.

I have a feeling we’ll just be guessing on this one until Sunday.

 

[Loyal]

People keep saying this but, here’s a fun fact…

Kyren William had more fumbles (8) and a higher fumble rate (1 for every 62.1 touches) in college than Evans (5 fumbles, 1 for every 63.6 touches).

As a pro, Williams has overcome this issue (only 1 fumble in 154 touches) so, hopefully, Evans can as well.

Kyren is also pretty darn good at blocking. I've heard from other that Evans isn't that good of a blocker. If so, he won't see the field that much, imo.

 

[Merlin]

I am more "worried" about the fact his role for Sunday is in debate.

He's the 3rd string running back. The first 2 RB's are out. He should be the starter. End of discussion.

Me personally, I'd like to see more enthusiasm about Evans from the Rams.

Agreed. McVay never had a problem saying a guy like Henderson was the starter in previous iterations of this RB injury broken record. Guessing it is because his pass pro still isn't there but who knows. Could also be that Freeman has been showing well in practice.

We're gonna find out though. Just need one of them to hold shit down.

 

[AvengerRam]

View: https://x.com/jourdanrodrigue/status/1715437343489060995?s=46

 

[Ramstien]

Good I like the fact that McVay is not showing his hand and giving the Steelers an idea who will be back there. I personally believe it will be Evans.

 

[Merlin]

Kyren is also pretty darn good at blocking. I've heard from other that Evans isn't that good of a blocker. If so, he won't see the field that much, imo.

So you've been talking to Jake's aunty. That's cool.

 

[Loyal]

So you've been talking to Jake's aunty. That's cool.

You bastid!