On Monday night, when the Rams’ offense seemed to gain no traction against a Miami defense that came to play, rookie Blake Corum looked like someone ready to provide a spark.
After two three-and-outs to start the game, Corum got the nod on the Rams’ third drive, during which he had three straight touches for 7, 5, and 3 yards. Corum picked up the first first down of the game for the Rams and he was rolling. The drive only stalled due to an illegal formation penalty committed by Alaric Jackson, which brought back a 4-yard run by Corum.
The drive ended on an interception thrown by Matthew Stafford but it looked like Corum was getting going. Sean McVay inexplicably sidelined Corum, with those three touches ending up being the only ones he saw for the rest of the game.
Corum was a matchup nightmare for the Dolphins as his short stature allowed him to get underneath defenders for solid gains. Linebackers could not locate him and he’d pop out into open spaces in both the pass and run.
He’s a player full of confidence who’s also waited his turn. And despite the list of injuries suffered by the Rams, he has yet to get his opportunity.
Not only has Corum waited patiently, but McVay and the coaching staff have repeatedly taken away confidence-building moments for him.
He’s been active for three games this season in which he did not receive a single touch of the ball on offense. His career-high in carries came in the first-ever game he played, which was against the Cardinals – eight garbage-time carries on the final drive of a 41-10 loss. The Rams held Corum out during the preseason, meaning not only was the Arizona game his first taste of NFL action, but his development – especially in pass blocking – has been severely hindered for no reason. McVay has robbed Corum of picking up his first NFL touchdown on multiple occasions.
Corum was on the field when Xavier Smith took a jet sweep to the Raiders’ two-yard line. McVay pulled Corum out and put in Kyren Williams, who punched it in on the next play.
Against Green Bay, the Rams started a drive at their 45-yard line. They got it down to the 1-yard line of the Packers with Corum accounting for 28 yards on a 55-yard drive. Corum got one shot on second-and-goal to punch it in but was stuffed. McVay then pulled Corum for Williams. Williams proceeded to score. It was the Rams’ first score of the game. Corum, despite being the catalyst for the drive, only touched the ball on offense one more time. A 5-yard gain for a first down.
It would be comical if it wasn’t so sad the lengths McVay and the Rams go through to deprive Corum of a rightly deserved opportunity. Anyone with eyes sees he runs with a passion and an intensity on every play.
There is a legitimate reality where Corum is a contender for Offensive Rookie of the Year if he had been selected by another team. There’s no reason to sideline him in the manner in which the Rams have, especially considering they rank 26th in rushing yards per game and 31st in yards per carry (3.8). It’s not as if the ground game is thriving with Williams back there.
Corum has caught every pass thrown to him, he’s found running lanes behind backup offensive linemen time and time again, and the kicker is that while there’s a massive gap in carries between Corum and Williams, Corum is averaging 3.5 yards per carry to Williams’ 3.8. Seems a bit outrageous to run Kyren Williams into the ground when there’s a capable backup right behind him.
Don’t draft a running back in Round 3 if you’re not going to play him.