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Why Darrell Henderson is the Rams best RB and it’s not close
- Thread starter JKBOGEN
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AZRams
What, we're all thinking it...
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payote75
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In all honesty I can't make my mind up yet. My eyes tell me what the stats show. Hendo just seems to get more yards more positive plays also the better receiver. Akers just doesn't seem like he seeing at least right now the hole quickly and the fumbles are alarming but I wouldn't consider it yet to be career ruining. Two things though that haven't shown that were very positive when drafting both these backs and one would think Akers would be the beneficiary of it meaning he could do better and he could spot the holes faster. What I'm referring to is:
1. Akers when drafted his vision and ability to see the hole cut and go behind terrible o-lines which he was but now it's not showing at all in what is at best and I'm stretching a mediocre o-line. I understand the Achilles so it's either fixed or mental. Last option it's not and career over bleak but true
2. Hendo watching all his film I was so excited I mean who would be this dude was leaving people in the dust patient with finding the hole then kicking it into a gear where everyone was just trailing in his smoke a take it to the house guy. I watch now and I don't see that speed I don't see that potential to break one off and take it to the house where did it go? Or a screen bang blink he was in the endzone. Has not translated in the NFL. However he has shown improvement on things that they said he was lacking power he has shown he can push a pile drive with his legs and pass pro was weak he improved that. Akers hasn't or doesn't want too.
All in all at this time trusting my eyes along with the stats Henderson is more effective if he can stay healthy he may be even more so. Akers may be more talented but right now either his effort confidence and mental awareness is not there. Making him 2nd
-Better back rt now Hendo
-More upside Akers (unless Hendo finds that speed that was destroying everyone in college)
1. Akers when drafted his vision and ability to see the hole cut and go behind terrible o-lines which he was but now it's not showing at all in what is at best and I'm stretching a mediocre o-line. I understand the Achilles so it's either fixed or mental. Last option it's not and career over bleak but true
2. Hendo watching all his film I was so excited I mean who would be this dude was leaving people in the dust patient with finding the hole then kicking it into a gear where everyone was just trailing in his smoke a take it to the house guy. I watch now and I don't see that speed I don't see that potential to break one off and take it to the house where did it go? Or a screen bang blink he was in the endzone. Has not translated in the NFL. However he has shown improvement on things that they said he was lacking power he has shown he can push a pile drive with his legs and pass pro was weak he improved that. Akers hasn't or doesn't want too.
All in all at this time trusting my eyes along with the stats Henderson is more effective if he can stay healthy he may be even more so. Akers may be more talented but right now either his effort confidence and mental awareness is not there. Making him 2nd
-Better back rt now Hendo
-More upside Akers (unless Hendo finds that speed that was destroying everyone in college)
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I would love nothing more than to see Henderson become a top RB. I'd eat that crow gladly. But he has no wiggle to him, no shake 'n bake like you get with Akers. He has been better than Akers thus far, but we are four games into a 17 game season and over the course of it chances are Akers overall game will win out.
And for the record I don't think Akers is some amazing back either. I just think he is the only one who has a chance to be an every down back in this offense.
The Williams injury must have been infuriating for McVay. I have to think he is not blind to our problems in the backfield, after all, even if he won't admit it. So it would be nice if the rook were to return and factor in. He's very much an unknown for me, I admit that.
And for the record I don't think Akers is some amazing back either. I just think he is the only one who has a chance to be an every down back in this offense.
The Williams injury must have been infuriating for McVay. I have to think he is not blind to our problems in the backfield, after all, even if he won't admit it. So it would be nice if the rook were to return and factor in. He's very much an unknown for me, I admit that.
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Hendo is nice but I like Cam more. Though I will give him credit Hendo finally broke a few tackles this year. But if we're going to get a run game going again for the first time in a couple years it'll be Akers that leads it. Besides Hendo is a free agent after this year and that in mind I wouldn't mind showing him off a bit to up that comp pick we'll get for him.
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Yeah I think I’d go with Cam being the guy who if, all things were equal…is the better back. I’m a fan of both and Hendo has been running harder this season.
The eye test for me sees Cam with an advantage in being better at the second level. It’s not the speed I’m talking about either. Cam will punish defenders out in space, but I think he has better vision as well.
Neither back is a “take it to the house” guy but Hendo should be better than he’s shown when he gets to the second level.
If Cam is truly healthy right now he’s been a disappointment. Hendo should be the guy right now but I suspect that McV is going more for matchups week to week.
The eye test for me sees Cam with an advantage in being better at the second level. It’s not the speed I’m talking about either. Cam will punish defenders out in space, but I think he has better vision as well.
Neither back is a “take it to the house” guy but Hendo should be better than he’s shown when he gets to the second level.
If Cam is truly healthy right now he’s been a disappointment. Hendo should be the guy right now but I suspect that McV is going more for matchups week to week.
OntarioRam
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Since coming back from his achilles injury, Cam Akers has not looked even close to being the same RB, IMO.
Hopefully, Cam can turn it around, but at present, Hendo is the better back to my eye, and it is not even close.
I'd keep both decently involved, in hopes that Akers can get going. Henderson is injury prone in any event, and unlike many other RBs (including Akers), has never really seemed to benefit greatly from or even need heavy volume to get into a rhythm. So he could likely benefit from splitting carries to stay fresh and healthy. But Hendo needs to have the majority of snaps until Akers can prove otherwise. I'd go 60% Hedno at this point, at a minimum, barring Akers having a hot hand or earning more reps.
I'd love to see Williams get some opportunities once healthy.
Hopefully, Cam can turn it around, but at present, Hendo is the better back to my eye, and it is not even close.
I'd keep both decently involved, in hopes that Akers can get going. Henderson is injury prone in any event, and unlike many other RBs (including Akers), has never really seemed to benefit greatly from or even need heavy volume to get into a rhythm. So he could likely benefit from splitting carries to stay fresh and healthy. But Hendo needs to have the majority of snaps until Akers can prove otherwise. I'd go 60% Hedno at this point, at a minimum, barring Akers having a hot hand or earning more reps.
I'd love to see Williams get some opportunities once healthy.
TexasRam
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Hendo is the more consistent back at the moment. He’s not fumbling, reading the hole and being in the right spot in pass pro etc.
Akers, is the better back but needs to get his shit together. The fumbling, not knowing where to be or where the hole is etc.
Akers has exceptional ability to make defenders miss in the open field and can get up to full speed very quickly. Henderson has almost no lateral ability or juke ability. He also takes forever to get up to full speed which makes him a liability as a Wr out of the backfield.
They both lack the necessary power to be everydown backs IMO. Hendo is almost purely a north south backup type.
But to each their own.
Akers, is the better back but needs to get his shit together. The fumbling, not knowing where to be or where the hole is etc.
Akers has exceptional ability to make defenders miss in the open field and can get up to full speed very quickly. Henderson has almost no lateral ability or juke ability. He also takes forever to get up to full speed which makes him a liability as a Wr out of the backfield.
They both lack the necessary power to be everydown backs IMO. Hendo is almost purely a north south backup type.
But to each their own.
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Where? In the video I show you every instance where Hendo hits the hole, shows quickness, burst, lateral agility that Akers doesn’t. Akers isn’t better than Hendo at literally anything besides yards after contact
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If Akers has better vision than why does he have fewer yards before contact? Why does he miss way more holes than Hendo? I don’t see it.
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I would disagree based on his 12 stuffed runs to Hendo’s 2. Bottom line is this offense is going to get the passing attack going and when it does I want the contact hitter who hits for average and gets positive yards and not a ton of homers over the guy who strikes out or hits the homer and it results in negative yards and killed Drives.
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We are all welcome to our opinion. I disagree and you can cite all the stats you want. They're all situational and should be taken with a grain of salt. The last description I'll ever attribute to Henderson after watching him for 3+ years when he's actually healthy is contact hitter.
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Speaking about at the second level. Hendo seems to run into defenders at the second level. He’s got the speed to be more elusive than that.
Cam isn’t tremendously elusive either but he can run through defenders at that level.
Elmgrovegnome
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Neither is good enough to be this teams lead back.
Right now, Henderson is looking like the better back.
At the end of 2020? Akers was great. He looked like a great lead back. But we haven’t seen that guy since, then. I keep thinking that McVay is waiting for him to reappear but he hasn’t and until he shows signs that he has, Henderson is the better option. I wouldn’t force feed Akers.
The Oline is not going to open gaping holes consistently, except maybe against the Cardinals. They need a guy with burst who hits the hole hard and fast and falls forward at the end. That’s what Henderson does. Akers looks tentative and lacking in explosion.
Right now, Henderson is looking like the better back.
At the end of 2020? Akers was great. He looked like a great lead back. But we haven’t seen that guy since, then. I keep thinking that McVay is waiting for him to reappear but he hasn’t and until he shows signs that he has, Henderson is the better option. I wouldn’t force feed Akers.
The Oline is not going to open gaping holes consistently, except maybe against the Cardinals. They need a guy with burst who hits the hole hard and fast and falls forward at the end. That’s what Henderson does. Akers looks tentative and lacking in explosion.
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My take is this, I would love for any back in horns to emerge as a clear winner. I have defended Hendo more because he gets somewhat unjustly bashed for some of the same issues that Cam gets a pass on.
Both are lower end starters and neither will prevail with a porous offensive line and sputtering passing game.
Both are lower end starters and neither will prevail with a porous offensive line and sputtering passing game.
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Arizona, for one. Akers is the harder back to tackle, and I see more lateral agility in his game (better jump cut, especially). I also expect him to keep getting better as the year goes. My money is on him being our lead back by the time the playoffs come around. DH is more of a weapon in the passing game, but he simply doesn't evade enough tackles as a runner.
I think you're right that DH has a better feel for the blocking scheme and is better at finding holes. That's not surprising considering he has a lot more experience. As the blocking improves, I expect Akers will separate himself. With bad blocking, DH might be a better option. With good blocking, I'm taking Cam, as long as he stops fumbling.
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But… we don’t have an elite back. Not sure they’re even “above average”. While I do agree on the 20+ plus carries/100+ yards barometer, there just aren’t that many guys out there. Off the top of my head I can only think of barkley, elliot, taylor, and henry.
Even an “above average” back like chubb splits time with hunt.
Us deciding on the best Ram back doesn’t change the situation. A bigger back who can eat carries and absorb hits (until he starts dishing some out) is an absolute must for next year’s shopping list—unless we can find one sooner.
…I understood the business part of it, but I was disappointed to see michel go, nonetheless. He’s exactly what the Rams need in their rotating backfield.