Akers’ breakout game on ground bodes well for Rams’ future

[XXXIVwin]

What I see with Cam is a guy who uses his blockers really well. He doesn’t outrun them, stays patient, uses them as long as he can. I think his previous Olines at FSU were so bad, now he’s loving the extra help from a competent line, doesn’t have to do it all himself anymore.

 

[kurtfaulk]

Yeah, Cam is so smooth that you don't SEE the acceleration, you just watch and it looks like the other guys are just kinda slow.

That kind of acceleration, that "sneaky fast" type of back is hell for defenses because their eyes trick them. They think they've got an angle and then... he just glides past them.

When you combine that with his very sudden ability to change direction without losing speed or balance... yeah.

There's a reason I said he was a slightly slower Marshall Faulk after we drafted him.

Many of his runs that woulda had Hendo and Brown in the backfield, Akers turns into 4 yard runs. How many times did Akers turn a 3 yard run into a 9 yard pile moving run?

I will say that I'm glad McVay isn't going full Bum Philips. That should have the kid fresh for the playoffs.

That's exactly the word i thought the first time he ran through a hole, smooth. You don't even notice his legs pumping. Like you said he glides across the field.

He looks like a generational rb. Not saying he is but he runs like he's the best player on the field. Like you're watching a highlight film 20 years from now. If that makes sense.

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[kurtfaulk]

.

Having said that that's what i thought the first time i saw Larry Johnson glide through a hole and take it to the house. I really thought he was gonna be one of the best rbs ever.

Then vermeil left town and Herm Edwards took over. He started using Johnson as a sledge hammer. He was even less imaginative than Jeff fisher. He ruined a great back's career, wrecking his legs after asking him to run into a brick wall over and over again. Sad really.

.

 

[ProGen]

What I see with Cam is a guy who uses his blockers really well. He doesn’t outrun them, stays patient, uses them as long as he can. I think his previous Olines at FSU were so bad, now he’s loving the extra help from a competent line, doesn’t have to do it all himself anymore.

Yep. He is a patient runner that takes what the play gives him.
Let's hope he continues his upward trajectory.

 

[CGI_Ram]

That's exactly the word i thought the first time he ran through a hole, smooth. You don't even notice his legs pumping. Like you said he glides across the field.

Yeah, kind of like the coleco handheld.

The technique was to move side to side as quick as possible, then BOOM! Through the hole.... press, press, press, press, press!

 

[FrantikRam]

He's going to be a beast for YEARS. It's clear as day now that Gurley is done, so awesome job by Snead and McVay to cut ties.

I thought for sure we'd draft Dobbins but I'm so glad we took Cam

 

[Faceplant]

Akers was a great pick. We're just now starting to see what he brings to the table, after a little no-preseason learning curve and bruised ribs heal up.

It's pretty obvious now that with any decent blocking Akers is dynamite. To me at least he does recall some shades of LeVeon Bell and Faulk.

Quick, patient, then sudden and explosive, then powerful and dragging tacklers. A constant threat to break out downfield. Catches the ball, and then an immediate threat in open space.

Smart, level headed, and totally self confident. 21 years old.

Akers may well be the difference maker the Rams' O needs to break out again. Just in time for the stretch run and the playoffs.

You're brilliant. Ya know why? Because you think like me.

I see so much Bell and Faulk when I watch this kid. The way he sets up blocks. The burst. All the things. He may not be as explosive as either of those 2, but he doesn't need to be. He has his own style, and it's a punishing one. That dude is a straight up football player. I can't wait until he throws his first touchdown pass.....

 

[CGI_Ram]

I want to type in small font, like a whisper or something... I do hope coaches are talking ball security over and over with him.

His grip looks good and tight, but he needs two hands on the ball quicker, sometimes. Or I think I see that. Anyone else?

 

[Mojo Ram]

If we account for QBs ‘that run’ (at least 5 come to mind) padding teams rushing stats, then is our rushing attack even better than advertised?

Yes. Look no further than the two teams in our division. SF can lineup and run the ball with backs and receivers like us. AZ is not a team that can do that yet they're ranked 3rd in rushing yds/gm, obviously padded by Murray's gawdy scramble numbers. Seattle has had injuries at RB like they do every year, but Wilson is a few yards short of being their leading rusher. He's miracled them into contention yet again.

1. Baltimore is ranked 1st. Jackson is the lead runner.
2. Cleveland. Chubb and a team that can run.
3. AZ (see above) Murray is the lead runner.
4. Tennessee. Obviously a team that can run.
5. New England can run but Cam is the #2 lead guy.
6. Minnesota can run with Cook.
7. New Orleans can run it with Kamara, Alexander.
8. RAMS.

As of now the Ravens, Cardinals and Patriots aren't in the playoffs while the other top rushing teams are.

QB runs are a weapon and that's great but it's not the same as being able to call a play, block, create lanes and get yards consistently with your backs and receivers. The Ravens could do both last year and wrecked defenses.

 

[badnews]

That's exactly the word i thought the first time he ran through a hole, smooth. You don't even notice his legs pumping. Like you said he glides across the field.

He looks like a generational rb. Not saying he is but he runs like he's the best player on the field. Like you're watching a highlight film 20 years from now. If that makes sense.

.

The word that comes to my mind when watching Cam run in college and now in the NFL is natural.

Special running backs usually stand out in some way that's easy to notice. Some guys have speed that just pops off the screen (CJ2K), others have power you can't miss (Henry) and occasionally you get a thoroughbred race horse type with all the measurables (Gurley). You can see those guys from space, espescially if they play on a good college team. When taking a RB high, you are normally talking about a player that has eye popping moves or speed or size or... something.
Akers was easier to miss from 10,000 feet. To fully appreciate him coming out of college, you had to go beyond his highlight reels and really observe him on a down-to-down basis IMO. The closer you get down to field level so to speak, the better Cam becomes.
It's all of the little things that don't jump off a chart or screen. Patience, vision, balance. He's just shifty enough to make someone miss, just strong enough to break a tackle, just fast enough to outrun pursuit.
He is a natural talent. He has all of the right tools and instincts for the position and has a mindset of a winner. Just listening to his teammates and you can tell that Akers has total confidence in himself. That can rub people the wrong way for a rookie to be that way but... he knows he can get it done. He wants the ball, wants to win and he wants to be great.

He is a rookie, he will continue to improve and before we start comparing him to our Mount Rushmore of Running Backs, the leagues best tradition of greatness at the position (followed by the Bears, Oilers/Titans and Cowboys imo) we should remember that he has yet to prove able to do this over the course of multiple NFL seasons. If he can, McVay will have a guy smart enough to do all sorts of different things with. Cam can also throw the ball and sooner or later McVay will use that wrinkle to give Defenses more to worry about.

 

[Classic Rams]

I was trolling some Patriot fans online this week. One of the many posts I did went something like "about that runaway truck that left broken Patriot bodies strewn all over the field, the license plate said AKERS."

I'm loving this kid and the 3-headed monster at RB.

When I first got on with the Rams, the 3-headed monster they had was McCutcheon-Cappelletti-Bryant. But that was more ground and pound than breakaway threat, and as the season went on McCutcheon was more the bell-cow. When Tyler came in McCutcheon was in his last 1000 yard season so they weren't alternated much in LM's prime.

 

[badnews]

I mean, my God you guys. Look at his highlight reel again

Look at this kid play. He said the game slowed down a while ago. Now its just about getting the reps and the blocking. It's starting to look like it.

 

[XXXIVwin]

I want to type in small font, like a whisper or something... I do hope coaches are talking ball security over and over with him.

His grip looks good and tight, but he needs two hands on the ball quicker, sometimes. Or I think I see that. Anyone else?

Totally agree

 

[RentonRamsFan]

The word that comes to my mind when watching Cam run in college and now in the NFL is natural.

Special running backs usually stand out in some way that's easy to notice. Some guys have speed that just pops off the screen (CJ2K), others have power you can't miss (Henry) and occasionally you get a thoroughbred race horse type with all the measurables (Gurley). You can see those guys from space, espescially if they play on a good college team. When taking a RB high, you are normally talking about a player that has eye popping moves or speed or size or... something.
Akers was easier to miss from 10,000 feet. To fully appreciate him coming out of college, you had to go beyond his highlight reels and really observe him on a down-to-down basis IMO. The closer you get down to field level so to speak, the better Cam becomes.
It's all of the little things that don't jump off a chart or screen. Patience, vision, balance. He's just shifty enough to make someone miss, just strong enough to break a tackle, just fast enough to outrun pursuit.
He is a natural talent. He has all of the right tools and instincts for the position and has a mindset of a winner. Just listening to his teammates and you can tell that Akers has total confidence in himself. That can rub people the wrong way for a rookie to be that way but... he knows he can get it done. He wants the ball, wants to win and he wants to be great.

He is a rookie, he will continue to improve and before we start comparing him to our Mount Rushmore of Running Backs, the leagues best tradition of greatness at the position (followed by the Bears, Oilers/Titans and Cowboys imo) we should remember that he has yet to prove able to do this over the course of multiple NFL seasons. If he can, McVay will have a guy smart enough to do all sorts of different things with. Cam can also throw the ball and sooner or later McVay will use that wrinkle to give Defenses more to worry about.

Thanks for linking that throw by Cam - I wonder if the coaching staff is going to draw up some wildcat plays for Cam, where he actually has the option to throw? McVay seems to be a bit conservative in his play calls, but something like this could be useful to break out when the Rams need a spark in a critical game, let's say if they're behind and are desperate for something.

 

[den-the-coach]

I will say that I'm glad McVay isn't going full Bum Philips. That should have the kid fresh for the playoffs.

Back then nobody was going to sit Earl Campbell, who was supposed to be a Los Angeles Ram. True Story, Rams had a deal in place for Campbell, Houston came in at the last minute and upped their ante. Carroll Rosenbloom was very upset at Klosterman for that one.

 

[Mackeyser]

Back then nobody was going to sit Earl Campbell, who was supposed to be a Los Angeles Ram. True Story, Rams had a deal in place for Campbell, Houston came in at the last minute and upped their ante. Carroll Rosenbloom was very upset at Klosterman for that one.

Before Bum Philips died, he saw the toll that his overuse of Earl took and he told the interviewer that in retrospect, he shoulda found other ways because he hadn't ever wanted Earl to pay the price he did.

It's a hindsight thing, but yeah.