Sean McVay made national headlines this week when he announced that running back Kyren Williams would be returning punts for the Los Angeles Rams. Fans and analysts have raised an eyebrow at the decision, but what McVay says, goes. With Williams set to play offense and special teams this season, plenty of questions surround how things will look for Williams this year. Here are three implications of the move.
Kyren Williams Adds Punt Returning To Resume
#1 – Fewer carries
Put simply, the human body can only handle so much abuse. With injuries playing a factor in Williams’ first two seasons, giving him the same action this year in addition to punt return duties is asking for trouble.
As such, McVay has no choice but to limit Williams’ carries. Whether it is a snap limit or a plan to switch out the running back every other series, Williams’ total production won’t be the same on the stat sheet this year.
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#2 – Higher injury potential
Despite getting fewer carries, the injury risk will rise for Williams. Of course, this depends on how often he returns the punts and how frequently the Rams can force punts. However, punts are one of the most dangerous plays in the game. There is a reason why teams don’t generally use their best players on special teams.
Having two sets of bodies colliding at top speed is a recipe for injuries, especially on a body already softened by playing the running back position. As such, McVay knows what he is risking and most likely views the choice as an experiment.
#3 – More consistent returns
Once the punt is caught, every return becomes a running play. Receivers often play the role of punt returners because of their speed. However, they don’t have much experience cutting through holes and getting small to squeeze through. They also don’t have much practice utilizing blocks. That is, at least in comparison to Williams.
Even if Williams is told to slide down instead of taking hits, he might net more for the Rams than a receiver would. Receivers often catch the ball and run in open space until they get tackled, rarely running behind blockers. Williams runs behind blockers every time he gets the ball. As such, his experience serves a better purpose once he catches the ball.
If the choice works, it could net the Rams an additional first-down worth of yardage every punt. This could create an opportunity for an extra field goal per contest. In such a competitive league like the NFL, three points could lead to another win or two by that move alone. Of course, there are risks, but McVay is interested to see what the rewards could be.
If it works, this could set another trend in the NFL.