Kyren Williams invigorated by Rams' potential with addition of rookie RB Blake Corum

The 2023 season was packed with pleasant surprises, including the sudden emergence of Kyren Williams.

Williams had a slow start, rushing only 139 yards in 35 attempts during his rookie year. However, he had an explosive performance in 2023, with 1,144 yards and 12 touchdowns from 228 carries in only 12 games. Whenever Williams was on the field, the Rams offense became a versatile threat on all downs.

Having completed a breakout season, Williams is no longer concealed in the NFL shadows. He is prepared to capitalize on his recently gained fame.

“Honestly, it’s growing off of what I did last year. Being a leader out there on the field and being somebody that people could come to or watch, observe and see what they need to do to be successful,” Williams said Tuesday during an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show. “It really doesn’t take much. You have to be dedicated and work to where you want to be. The end goal may not happen tomorrow or the next day, but eventually if you continue to keep working each and every single day, that’s going to get to where you need to be.

“So, for me it’s just living by that and just picking off of what I did last year — being able to create more explosives in the run game, also being able to create more explosives in the pass game. I’m super excited that we went to go draft Blake Corum. (He’s) somebody that can run the ball very well and hopefully it allows me to get to the slot or run routes out of the backfield to showcase my skills.”

The reference to Corum by Williams is significant. Before the unexpected performance of Williams in 2023, Los Angeles had difficulty securing consistent production in its backfield. However, with the inclusion of the ex-Michigan star, the Rams could potentially have two backs capable of making a substantial impact.

Corum, known for his underhanded explosiveness, succeeded in the collegiate level due to his vision and burst – two attributes that should aid him in his future career. Given that he will be teamed up with Williams, the Rams are expected to always have a fresh back to challenge opposing defenses in every play, regardless of the circumstances.

“Obviously, we talk together about what we can do as a unit with every guy. Myself, Ronnie (Rivers), Zach Evans, Boston Scott and even Blake Corum, we talk about what we can do as a whole,” Williams said when asked about the potential of the Rams’ backfield. “We are just working each and every single day to be where we want to be. There’s not conversations where we are like, ‘Blake, I can’t wait until I hit this run and you hit this run.’ We are just grinding, and when those times come, those are conversations that you have on the sideline during the game.

It’s along the lines of saying, ‘I’m going to make this 15-yard run, and when you’re up, bro, try to get a first down.’ We engage in these types of conversations during the game, but currently, at practice, our focus is on improving. We are observing each other’s movements and coaching one another on areas that need improvement.

Last season, Williams was clearly the Rams’ best backfield option. The next closest rusher was Royce Freeman, whose numbers (77 carries, 319 yards, two touchdowns) paled in comparison to Williams’ totals. And when Williams was absent, so too was Los Angeles’ rushing attack, leading to three losses in the four games Williams missed.

Despite being a rookie, Corum is expected to bolster the backfield for the Rams should they lose Williams again. If both are available, Los Angeles will not need to rely heavily on a single back.

In an ideal scenario, Williams’ potential could increase even further with the inclusion of Corum. However, we can’t be certain until we observe how Coach Sean McVay plans to utilize them, whether together or separately.

Regardless of the situation, Williams has no intention of reducing his ambitions as he approaches 2024. He believes that he is just at the beginning of his journey.

Williams expressed his determination to secure the No. 1 spot when informed about being projected as the fourth-best running back in terms of fantasy football production. He stated, “I consistently strive for the top position. I’m not content with anything less than being number one. The way I see it, if you’re not first, you’re last. Thus, I will keep working hard.”