The Los Angeles Rams appear to be moving away from having a true workhorse in the backfield and toward utilizing a committee at running back. At least, that’s what the decision to cut Todd Gurley and the selection of Cam Akers would seem to suggest.
And based on the way Sean McVay and Les Snead have talked about the running back group this offseason, it seems like the Rams will spread out the touches much more than they did with Gurley in the backfield.
New running backs coach Thomas Brown spoke recently about the Rams’ ball carriers and although he spoke highly of all of them, he only mentioned Akers as potentially becoming an every-down back.
Here’s what he told TheRams.com in a phone interview this week.
“Really excited about (him), know a little bit about from a history standpoint, just from trying to recruit the guy when I was (coaching) in college,” Brown said. “But a guy that can potentially grow into an every-down back, that can I do it all I think. Can play between the tackles, can play in space. Obviously the pass protection aspect of it is going to be the biggest part for any running back, especially young backs, coming into this league with the different number of looks and pressures you’ll have a chance to go against week in and week out.”
“A guy that I’ve continued to grow some confidence in, just meeting with from a virtual standpoint, of him understanding more about the offense and having the chance to come in and compete.”
The Rams haven’t committed to one back over the others, and they probably won’t. Not until one truly emerges out of the group, at least, which may take weeks into the regular season. Akers doesn’t have the NFL experience that Darrell Henderson and Malcolm Brown have, either, which doesn’t help his case entering his rookie season.
But Brown is right: Akers seems like the best fit as an every-down back, and it wouldn’t be the least bit surprising if he turns into one at some point this year.