McVay gives lengthy response to question about revamping Rams’ running game

McVay gave a thorough explanation of what it would take for the #Rams to get their running game back on track in the coming weeks

With a rotating cast of offensive linemen, the Los Angeles Rams have had their share of struggles in recent weeks. Quarterback Matthew Stafford has faced constant pressure on his passing attempts, and some talking heads have suggested that the team turn to their ground game to take some of the heat off him.

But they haven’t shown much ability to run the ball either. Running back Cam Akers only gained 33 yards on 13 carries against the Cowboys, and it seems that his lack of production forces the hand of Los Angeles’ play-caller to push the ball through the air.

Head coach Sean McVay addressed the team’s inability to establish the run in his Monday post-mortem of the Rams’ loss to Dallas in Week 5. He gave a lengthy response to a question about why the running game has failed the team in 2022 and told reporters that there was no easy explanation.

“I think the full answer would take a really long period of time,” He said, “but ultimately, it’s about versatility, consistency in terms of our operation, everybody doing what they’re supposed to do. I know you look at the game through a very great lens in terms of the nuanced understanding. Sometimes it’s missing a block, a combination, sometimes it’s maybe getting a play off that we don’t like versus that look that we can help with as coaches, and then sometimes it’s the back missing it. There is so many layers to the run game.

“It depends on the types of concepts and things that we’re trying to activate, but we’ve been at our best when there’s an identity but enough versatility to be able to alleviate the stress off of some of your core concepts, and it takes all 11 (players). It has been a challenge because we’ve never had the same guys up front. We’ve had backs that haven’t really practiced, we’re trying to get a bunch of different things going, all of which is an excuse that just is what I think is for weak-minded people. I’m not going to make them, but we just got to continue to keep swinging and keep plugging along and figure it out because nobody cares and we’ve got to fix it.”

The urgency with which he responded to the question was palpable. Nobody knows how a one-dimensional offense can tank a team’s chances of contention better than McVay, and finding solutions to the team’s ground attack woes will be a top priority for him in this week’s matchup against the Carolina Panthers.
Against a favorable opponent who just fired their head coach, the Rams will have an opportunity to get their season back on track and build needed momentum heading into the meat of their 2022 schedule. If Akers and the rest of Los Angeles’ running backs can put together a promising performance, this game could be a pivotal point in the Rams’ season and set them up for more competitive outings in the coming weeks.