About a month ago Los Angeles Rams running back Kyren Willimas told Rich Eisen that Blake Corum’s addition to the team would allow him to be used in the passing game.
“I’m super excited that we went to go draft Blake Corum. Somebody who can run the ball very well. Hopefully that will allow me to get to the slot or allows me to just run routes out of the backfield, so that I’m able to really showcase my skills in the game.”
While at Notre Dame, Williams was a regular contributor to the Irish passing attack. He averaged 3.75 receptions per game, catching 42 of 45 targets. Last season with the Rams he was used sparingly and unevenly. In some games, he was targeted 10 times and in others he wasn’t looked to at all.
Los Angeles Rams OC on Kyren Williams in Passing Game
LAFB asked Mike LaFleur at Rams training if the 2022 fifth-rounder would be an uptick in his usage in the passing game.
“We got a lot of guys that can do a lot with the ball in their hands and he’s certainly one of them. I mean everyone knows we’re going to turn around and hand him the ball but anyway that we can get him the ball and all these playmakers the ball again there’s only one ball and a lot of these guys deserve to touch it cool part is they’re all made of the right stuff.”
LaFleur’s answer isn’t a full-throated endorsement of William’s desire for an increased target share and that may have legitimate reasons.
Williams’s drop rate last season may have had something to do with the up-and-down nature of his usage. Williams was second in drop rate on the team at 13.2. His drop rate in college was less than half that and in his three college seasons, he dropped a total of five balls thrown his way.
It’s evident that Kyren Williams continues to believe in his worth as a pass catcher, but there seems still to be some convincing he needs to do on the practice field.
