Running Back

[Oregonram]

I love Akers, Henderson, and Michel…who will most likely leave for free agency. Funk is possibly exciting. But…….other than Michel, all of our backs are not durable. It would nice to add a bigger back with some speed and durability. Are there any out there that can be had in the mid rounds of the draft?

 

[ottoman89]

I can't disagree with this. Every back we have outside of the FA to be had durability issues. Need to find a bruiser.

 

[Riverumbbq]

Here's a list of pre-Senior Bowl prospects at every position, and there will be many changes between now and the Combine which is yet to come. There will be many mid & later-round RB's available.

The Draft Network

TDN

thedraftnetwork.com

 

[Alaskan Ram]

Best to have a stable of good RBs and make sure they can all pick up the blitz and catch out of the back field. Durability at that position is sometimes a matter of luck.

I'll admit Henderson has too much fluky shit happen to him. Maybe some Judo classes to teach him to fall correctly would help.

 

[thirteen28]

I love Akers, Henderson, and Michel…who will most likely leave for free agency. Funk is possibly exciting. But…….other than Michel, all of our backs are not durable. It would nice to add a bigger back with some speed and durability. Are there any out there that can be had in the mid rounds of the draft?

I agree. In addition to re-thinking our running game and our approach to OL (we need to be more physical on the interior and more focused on simply pushing people out of the way), we need a grinder who can always get the tough yards, always fall forward, and always make tackler pay for taking him on. He'll still have to be good in pass pro, and he will be one of a committee with each back having a different role ... but we still need that.

 

[I like Rams]

Every single one of our rbs is injury prone. I think the increased use of Hendo over Michel in the Super bowl really showed what mcvay thinks of hendo, regardless of his injury history. I thought he might be on his way out, but I think we keep him for cheap and maybe Michel hits FA. Hendo has more burst and has shown good hands in the passing game compared to Michel, which we have been lacking since Gurley.

 

[André]

I don't like to bring this up, especially since we are all celebrating and the story of him returning was awesome, but ... Cam Akers didn't look great against San Fran and Cincy. Yes, yes - he was shaking off a lot of rust, and didn't have training camp, and those defenses were both impressive, but ... I think we have to consider that he might not be able to come back to 100% of what he was pre-injury. Achilles injuries can be career killers. I hope that isn't the case, but I can't rule that out after what happened this year.

 

[Alaskan Ram]

Akers looked good in post season to me until that shoulder injury. He likes to dole out the punishment and wasn't the same afterwards.

 

[Riverumbbq]

I don't like to bring this up, especially since we are all celebrating and the story of him returning was awesome, but ... Cam Akers didn't look great against San Fran and Cincy. Yes, yes - he was shaking off a lot of rust, and didn't have training camp, and those defenses were both impressive, but ... I think we have to consider that he might not be able to come back to 100% of what he was pre-injury. Achilles injuries can be career killers. I hope that isn't the case, but I can't rule that out after what happened this year.

I believe while our interior OL performs pretty well in pass pro, they are deficient run blockers, and since Mundt went down to injury, our TE blocking hasn't been up to par. Let's get ourselves a road grading OG in this upcoming draft and buy a quality free agent TE to up our game.

 

[Oregonram]

Akers, Henderson, Funk, soon to be departed Michele(most likely)
But every one of our backs have a durability concern/problem. I would like to know if any of you draftniks see any possibility of a larger thumper with some speed available in the mid to late rounds in the upcoming draft? Or would you be fine standing pat?

 

[BuffaloRam]

I don't like to bring this up, especially since we are all celebrating and the story of him returning was awesome, but ... Cam Akers didn't look great against San Fran and Cincy. Yes, yes - he was shaking off a lot of rust, and didn't have training camp, and those defenses were both impressive, but ... I think we have to consider that he might not be able to come back to 100% of what he was pre-injury. Achilles injuries can be career killers. I hope that isn't the case, but I can't rule that out after what happened this year.

I thought the same but had to remind myself that he had just returned REALLY early from a torn Achilles. I think it will be a good litmus test to see how he is moving, cutting in training camp - which would be when he was originally expected to recover

 

[Merlin]

Blocking needs to improve in the run game first off. A great run game starts there of course and our front wasn't quite up to snuff running the ball. And availability of our backs was indeed a problem so I agree they need a guy who can eat carries.

Doesn't have to be a big power guy, though I am like many here in that I would love to see that. I feel like McVay's offense is unstoppable with a strong run threat. But even just another speedy/passcatchy type back who has a history of staying healthy would be nice. And that's not a hard thing to find in the draft so yes I think we'll see an addition either that way or through a bargain type RB signing in FA.

 

[Riverumbbq]

The Combine will give us more information, but the two RB's that I like right now that are likely available in the mid to late rounds are Abrum Smith and Tyler Allgeier.

 

[Rams43]

I fully expect two things.

That Rams allow Michel to walk.

And that they draft a RB on Day 3.

 

[CGI_Ram]

Akers and Henderson are two to build with.

McVay doesn‘t appear in love with Michel. As soon as Akers and Henderson were available they got footballs. So, I do not expect Sony back.

I am not fully in the Funk camp. I’d like to be, but not sure I see it.

The draft and UDFA we will add to the running back room.

 

[FrantikRam]

Honestly I'd imagine we will draft two RBs late. McVay has to be sick of Shanny finding plug and play RBs late while we cannot.

Akers, Hendo, a bigger back in FA or the draft, then competition between Jones, Funk, a draft pick and a few UDFAs too. I'm done with this being a problem.

 

[ausmurp]

I like to constantly look back at drafts. And so I will remind you all that Johnathan Taylor was picked just 11 spots before Akers. Just 11 spots, means we had the trade capital to move up and get him. This reminds me that we can find that elite back in the second rd, so yeah just keep trying. If there's a RB that they think can be that next elite guy, trade up for him.

 

[Memento]

Personally would trade Henderson for a sixth round pick and draft Tyler Badie (Missouri). Why? Because I think Badie could be the next Jamaal Charles, and the last Mizzou player I was this hyped about was Nick Bolton.

 

[LARAMSinFeb.]

If durability is the concern, having a stable of capable backs seems to be the best solution. Even Derrick Henry went down this year--RB is just a tough position for anyone to remain healthy.

 

[dieterbrock]

I still hope they re-sign Michel.
He played well enough to earn a contract out there, but not well enough to earn a “break the bank” kind of deal.
With Akers and Henderson being injury questions, and on cheap rookie contracts, I think the investment in Michel would be well worth it. Assuming he’s in a the 4-6 mill per year ball park