Tag: blake corum 2024 nfl draft

Rams rookie RB Blake Corum is the perfect fit in Sean McVay’s run game

The Rams got Michigan RB Blake Corum in the third round of the draft, and Corum fits Sean McVay’s offense as well as he possibly can.

In 2023, the Rams and head coach Sean McVay decided to engineer a drastic change in their overall run game. McVay had been one of the NFL’s most effective proselytizers of the zone run game for years. But last season, McVay (and primary running back Kyren Williams) called and ran more gap power stuff than any other team in the NFL — on Wham and Duo alone, the Rams gained 510 yards and 284 yards after contact, and scored eight touchdowns, on 115 carries. The Patriots ranked second with 82 carries, so this was a Real Thing for McVay.

Now, when you look at backs in this draft class with the most success in those concepts, you can start with Michigan’s Blake Corum. In the 2023 NCAA season, no back ran more out of Wham and Duo than Corum, who gained 276 yards, and 81 yards after contact in those two concepts, scoring three touchdowns on 38 carries. Notre Dame’s Audric Estime, who went to the Broncos in the fifth round, ranked second with 27 such carries. Troy’s Kimani Vidal ranked third with 24 such carries. So, Blake Corum to the Rams with the 83rd overall pick in the third round is one of the tighter scheme fits you’ll see in any draft.

Moreover, McVay isn’t bringing Corum in to replace Williams — he sees them as two backs who already know how to do what he wants his backs to do.

“For me, one of the things that jumped off is there’s a lot of traits that reminded me of Kyren Williams,” McVay said of Corum after the pick was made. “Obviously I love Kyren and he’s been so important and just the human being, but then also when you just look at the way he works at it, the production and the things that he was able to bring to our offense last year and even really some of the things that he worked through his rookie year. I think there’s a lot of similarities.

“Kyren will put Blake under his arm and be a great mentor and kind of a leader but [running backs coach] Ron Gould was really excited about him, [Offensive Coordinator] Mike LaFleur, I obviously loved his game and he’s got a bunch of tape to be able to evaluate. He’s been a part of an incredibly successful program. He’s been the bell cow for them in the midst of the successful runs that they’ve had the last few years. And so we’re really looking forward to getting to work with him.”

2024 NFL Draft: Michigan RB Blake Corum scouting report

Michigan running back Blake Corum might sneak up on you as a prospect, and then take it to the house. That’s been his style all along.

We continue our 2024 NFL draft scouting reports with running backs, and we begin with Michigan’s Blake Corum, who gained 1,245 yards and scored 27 (!) rushing touchdowns on 258 carries for the National Champion Wolverines last season. Corum had 624 yards after contact, forced 30 missed tackles, and had 13 runs of 15 yards or more in the 2023 season.

Corum ran a 4.53-second 40-yard dash at the 2024 scouting combine with a 1.58-second 10-yard split. Those aren’t outstanding numbers for a back of Corum’s size and projected NFL skill set, but when you watch the tape, he certainly doesn’t look that slow. Any team in need of a rotational back in a heavy gap-scheme offense would do well to pay attention to his potential… and that probably includes the Los Angeles Chargers, whose head coach Jim Harbaugh coached Corum pretty well at the collegiate level.

PLUSES

— As good a gap runner as you’ll find in this class; had 128 runs for 787 yards and 15 touchdowns out of gap schemes in 2023.

— Outstanding vision and acceleration to and through gaps, and he can make the most of a small opening.

— As a zone runner, his proclivity for low-to-the-ground runs and really quick cuts makes him a natural for getting on the track and defying defenders.

— Adept with swings, screens, and release routes; could become more of a factor at the NFL level.

MINUSES

— Blocking can be an adventure; he’s as prone to bounce off a defender as he is to square up.

— Fumblitis is something he’ll have to shore up.

— Unlikely to be a “franchise back” at 5′ 7¾” and 205 pounds. He’s a rotational star.

— Impressive power for his size, but negative runs happened in the NCAA, and they could happen more in the NFL.

Corum reminds me a lot of Isiah Pacheco, who has become a figure of some importance in the Chiefs’ offense. He’ll never have 250 carries in an NFL season, but his skill set may project to 250 touches in the right system.