The Los Angeles Rams have been relatively quiet in the NFL Draft in recent years, but they made waves this time around by selecting Blake Corum, the National Champion running back from Michigan, with the 83rd pick in the third round.
Head coach Sean McVay now has another intriguing weapon in his arsenal, and he sees shades of a familiar running back in Corum.
During his press conference discussing the draft pick, McVay highlighted the qualities of his new running back.
“One of the things that jumped off is there’s a lot of traits that reminded me of Kyren Williams.”
#Rams HC Sean McVay on RB Blake Corum:
— The Coachspeak Index (@CoachspeakIndex) April 27, 2024
“One of the things that jumped off is there’s a lot of traits that reminded me of Kyren Williams”
McVay on what a rookie RB has to do to get on the field:
“I think they’ve gotta earn trust” pic.twitter.com/tmyX5NR0Yu
Corum comes into the league with ample experience, having excelled in his college career, which should earn him trust fairly quickly.
It’s intriguing to hear a coach draw comparisons between his new recruit and his current starter, prompting questions about how Corum and Williams will complement each other under McVay’s guidance.
Williams had a breakout season last year, rushing for 1,144 yards and 12 touchdowns in just 12 games, while also showcasing his receiving skills with 32 catches for 206 yards and three touchdowns.
Meanwhile, Corum had an impressive campaign, tallying 1,245 yards and 27 touchdowns on the way to a National Championship, following up on a solid performance of 1,463 yards and 18 touchdowns the previous year.
While Corum has the potential to be a primary ball carrier, he’ll need to adapt to sharing the backfield with Williams and finding alternate ways to contribute.
Although Corum wasn’t heavily involved in the passing game in college, Williams’ injury history suggests opportunities may arise for him to step up.
The dynamics between these two talented backs and how they mesh together will certainly be something to watch closely. Sean McVay is one of the best coaches in the business, so there is no doubt he’ll put Blake Corum in situations to succeed.
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