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Alden Gonzalez ESPN Staff Writer
http://www.espn.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/30302/rams-deep-at-rb-even-without-tre-mason
IRVINE, Calif. -- Nearly four weeks into training camp, the Los Angeles Rams' most impressive department is their backfield. Perhaps that was predictable, given the presence of star running back Todd Gurley. But it's the personnel beyond Gurley that makes the collective group so formidable, which is surprising when you consider the absentee.
In the wake of Tre Mason's bizarre disappearance, Benny Cunningham and Malcolm Brown have stepped up. The two have combined to rush for 195 yards on 28 carries through the first two preseason games, comeback victories against the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs. That's nearly 7 yards per carry. The NFL leader in that department last year, Thomas Rawls of the Seattle Seahawks, averaged 5.6.
"It’s a good feeling to see the work everybody’s put in kind of pay off," Cunningham said. "We want to just continue to compete and try to contribute to the offense."
Aaron Green, all of whom joined the Rams as undrafted free agents, are the ones taking advantage.
Green amassed 64 yards and caught the winning touchdown in Week 1. He sat out Week 2, but has since returned to practice and will probably play in Week 3. Cunningham rushed four times for 38 yards in Week 1 and four times for 23 yards in Week 2. And Brown has led the Rams in rushing each of the first two games, going 66 yards on eight carries in Week 1 and 68 yards on 12 carries in Week 2.
Brown also caught the winning touchdown on Saturday, reaching across his body to haul in a 10-yard pass from rookie quarterback Jared Goff.
"From last year to this year is a complete difference in my head," said Brown, who played in only one game as a rookie in 2015. "Confidence was really my biggest thing. I had to trust in myself, I had to trust in the offensive line, I had to trust in what the coaches were telling me. Confidence can go a long way.”
http://www.espn.com/blog/st-louis-rams/post/_/id/30302/rams-deep-at-rb-even-without-tre-mason
IRVINE, Calif. -- Nearly four weeks into training camp, the Los Angeles Rams' most impressive department is their backfield. Perhaps that was predictable, given the presence of star running back Todd Gurley. But it's the personnel beyond Gurley that makes the collective group so formidable, which is surprising when you consider the absentee.
In the wake of Tre Mason's bizarre disappearance, Benny Cunningham and Malcolm Brown have stepped up. The two have combined to rush for 195 yards on 28 carries through the first two preseason games, comeback victories against the Dallas Cowboys and Kansas City Chiefs. That's nearly 7 yards per carry. The NFL leader in that department last year, Thomas Rawls of the Seattle Seahawks, averaged 5.6.
"It’s a good feeling to see the work everybody’s put in kind of pay off," Cunningham said. "We want to just continue to compete and try to contribute to the offense."
Aaron Green, all of whom joined the Rams as undrafted free agents, are the ones taking advantage.
Green amassed 64 yards and caught the winning touchdown in Week 1. He sat out Week 2, but has since returned to practice and will probably play in Week 3. Cunningham rushed four times for 38 yards in Week 1 and four times for 23 yards in Week 2. And Brown has led the Rams in rushing each of the first two games, going 66 yards on eight carries in Week 1 and 68 yards on 12 carries in Week 2.
Brown also caught the winning touchdown on Saturday, reaching across his body to haul in a 10-yard pass from rookie quarterback Jared Goff.
"From last year to this year is a complete difference in my head," said Brown, who played in only one game as a rookie in 2015. "Confidence was really my biggest thing. I had to trust in myself, I had to trust in the offensive line, I had to trust in what the coaches were telling me. Confidence can go a long way.”
