The last two weeks, the Rams have shifted some snaps over to backup running back Blake Corum, both to utilize the explosiveness that the second-year player brings to the offense but also to take some of the burden off of lead back Kyren Williams.
Williams, who in August signed a contract extension tying him to the Rams through 2028, was on the field for 85% and 88% of the snaps each of the past two seasons. That was despite being on injured reserve for four games in 2023.
But it appears the new rotation, which sometimes involves Corum getting a full drive to himself, is keeping Williams fresher.
Against the Tennessee Titans in Week 2, with Corum playing 30.5% of snaps, Williams did his best work in the fourth quarter. He rushed six times for 34 yards to put Tennessee away.
While head coach McVay felt like they strayed from the plan by having Corum only play 24.2% of snaps in Sunday’s 33-26 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, Williams still had his most efficient game of the young season. He had 20 carries for 94 yards, at a 4.7-yard per carry clip, all season highs. Per Amazon Next Gen Stats, he had 14 yards over expected, also a season high.
“I thought he had a great vibe, a great energy,” McVay said. “I think those two play off each other really well. … I think [Williams has] been able to start and finish the games with great energy, great sense of urgency, great sense of enjoyment for going out there and competing to the best of his ability.”
Corum also added eight carries for 53 yards.
“Blake and I, feel like we fed off each other well today,” Williams said. “I think that we took charge of the game. That was a challenge coming into this week, how can we continue to allow the defense to feel us in the run game? And I think we both played a really major role in that.”
INJURY REPORT
As the Rams (2-1) try to turn the corner following Sunday’s defeat, they are still waiting to see if left guard Steve Avila will be ready to return from his lateral ankle sprain in Week 4 against the Indianapolis Colts (3-0).
Avila suffered the injury in the season opener, leaving in the first half before returning to finish the game after right guard Kevin Dotson left with his own ankle sprain. Avila, now in his third season, has missed the last two games with the injury.
“He’s making good progress,” McVay said over Zoom on Monday. “So we’ll probably have a better feel for that once we get back out there on Wednesday.”
The former second-round draft pick has yet to practice even in a limited fashion since his injury.
In his place, second-year lineman Justin Dedich has started each of the last two games at left guard. The former USC player has been praised by his teammates and McVay for how aggressively he plays.
“Really the way I judge it is he just doesn’t back down,” center Coleman Shelton said last week. “He doesn’t play anything safe. He’s going to go shoot his shot. He’s going to throw his hands, he’s going to go 100 miles per hour, he’s going to do his thing.”
McVay said the Rams did not suffer any “significant” injuries against the Eagles.