The NFC West RB Units

[CGI_Ram]

I was hoping for a top RB this past draft as I feel we are behind the 49’ers and Seahawks in the running back room.

Seattle looks real good. Walker gained 1000yds last season, and they add Charbonnet. They also play a style to be tough running the ball.

McCaffrey is a top player if he stays healthy.

We need Akers ON HIS GAME starting week 1. Evans has a lot of sleeper to him but I think I see more in Akers game.

Cards are the Cards.

How do you see it? Did I miss any significant acquisitions?

San Francisco 49ers - Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell, Tyrion-Davis Price, Jordan Mason

Seattle Seahawks - Zach Charbonnet, Kenneth Walker III, Deejay Dallas, Kenny McIntosh

Los Angeles Rams - Cam Akers, Zach Evans, Kyren Williams, Tiyon Evans

Arizona Cardinals - James Conner, Keaontay Ingram, Corey Clement, Ty’Son Williams

 

[kurtfaulk]

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I reckon cam is gonna have the year we thought he was gonna have in 21 before he got injured.

.

 

[Londoner]

Maybe I’m wearing rose-tinted (or should that be Rams-tinted) glasses, but Cam and Evans have the potential to be every bit as good as any other duo in the division.

With the addition of Avila (and, hopefully, Bruss and others) up front, I can see our running game really taking off in 2023

 

[PARAM]

It may sound silly but don't rule out Tiyon Evans. I hope he makes the 53.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

In comparison the Rams running game looks weak on paper.

 

[NJRamsFan]

Akers keeps getting talked about like he’s ever done anything…I get we’re all homers but sheesh

 

[LARAMSinFeb.]

I think Avila will help us out here.

 

[Soul Surfer]

Maybe I’m wearing rose-tinted (or should that be Rams-tinted)

"Rams tinted".

Is that a real thing and tell us more.

 

[RamsSince1969]

Maybe I’m wearing rose-tinted (or should that be Rams-tinted) glasses, but Cam and Evans have the potential to be every bit as good as any other duo in the division.

With the addition of Avila (and, hopefully, Bruss and others) up front, I can see our running game really taking off in 2023

Loving your Rams-tinted glasses, I have the same pair! Thanks for the positive post!

 

[Soul Surfer]

Akers keeps getting talked about like he’s ever done anything…I get we’re all homers but sheesh

He said a few good teaser games and runs.

 

[rdlkgliders]

I agree our RB room is 3rd or 4rh in the NFC West, at least until potential is met by on-field performance and consistency

 

[Corbin]

Cam Akers hasn’t done shit.

Kyren Injured.

Zach Evans looks a bit above average to average.

For a coach that is an offensive genius I’m still floored we haven’t had RB that:

1. Blocks worth a shot on said passing downs (Sony Michelle)

2. Can carry the load, in this draft alone the pool of talent was deep especially where our picks were at.

3. Zach Evans was rated high up there, third best on NFL.com so I’ll keep my hopes up.



With things how they fell I have no clue how Sean Tucker, Mohammed Ibrahim, Keaton Mitchell weren’t hit up as UDFA’s and it boggles my mind.

Once again, instead of loading up they rely on expectation of potential than being prepared for the worst case scenario. Do they not remember our O-Line and D Line last year?

 

[NJRamsFan]

He said a few good teaser games and runs.

I agree, but in 3 years…that’s not a good thing.

He may breakout, but it becomes increasingly less likely every year that passes.

 

[Faceplant]

IMO, the Rams RBs are a distant 3rd on this list. Maybe tied for 3rd with the tards actually, but it looks like a looooong way up to #2.

 

[Flatlyner]

Akers was producing like a top 5 back for the last 4 games last year. I feel like the achilles injury lingered (he came back way to quickly IMO) and perhaps he is now 100%. Evans was also considered a top 5 back in the draft by many, but with red flags. I really liked what little I saw from Kyren last year also. I feel like we can get up there with the hags this season with best duo.

 

[nighttrain]

Akers was producing like a top 5 back for the last 4 games last year. I feel like the achilles injury lingered (he came back way to quickly IMO) and perhaps he is now 100%. Evans was also considered a top 5 back in the draft by many, but with red flags. I really liked what little I saw from Kyren last year also. I feel like we can get up there with the hags this season with best duo.

I think you nailed with regarding Akers, and with Evans I have high hopes.
train

 

[Loyal]

Akers was producing like a top 5 back for the last 4 games last year. I feel like the achilles injury lingered (he came back way to quickly IMO) and perhaps he is now 100%. Evans was also considered a top 5 back in the draft by many, but with red flags. I really liked what little I saw from Kyren last year also. I feel like we can get up there with the hags this season with best duo.

Man, I hope you are right and I am wrong about Akers. I have hope with Evans.

 

[snackdaddy]

I think we'll see a better Cam Akers. But yeah, I'd also rank the position 3rd best in the division.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

Akers keeps getting talked about like he’s ever done anything…I get we’re all homers but sheesh

Agreed. He’s had two years of good health and both of those years it took him half of the season to really get going.

In college he ran behind a lousy Oline and still ran well. So what could the reasons be for the late starts getting hot?

Did it take the Oline that long to play well? The Rams Oline wasn’t really good at all last season.

Is Akers not practicing with enough “urgency” ((coaches word, not mine) in camp and isn’t ready to go?

I’m not sure I recall a Rams runningback that took that much time in a season to heat up.

Maybe it was because it was a big adjustment his rookie year and then a big adjustment after the Achilles injury. But he did get snaps the winter before.

It’s hard to explain. I don’t think he’s earned that much praise. This is an important year for him imo. He needs to have a full season of good football.

 

[Merlin]

The good thing here is Akers is in a contract season. That ensures he's got every reason to maximize his snaps. We have no idea what went down behind the scenes, but no matter how it went down he probably shares in some of the BS of it all to some extent. So the contract season sort of removes a lot of that because the guy should be fully locked in mentally from day one of camp.

Williams looks like he might be a good change of pace. Year two generally you're gonna see what he is, by combination of looking at that first two years overall for a back. Hopefully he makes an impact.

Evans in style is more of that Henderson type. He can hit it and go if the seams are there. What killed Hendy is the Rams aren't good at opening the seams and he would wilt with carries running into stacked fronts.

So looking at the group as a whole we have one bellcow type and a couple guys who are probably change of pace types. Evans does have the talent to be more than that, so he has a very important role to play for this offense if Akers misses time.

That's my big concern looking at the group. What happens if Akers can't go. Does the offense stall out for lack of run game balance. Rams are rolling the dice here at that position once again IMO. Question is whether they can get away with it this year with Akers having a career season or the dice roll on depth coming up good for them.