When it comes to the LA Rams, the urgency to win games has taken the utmost priority. While that is both understandable and logical, a lot of other priorities have been swept to the wayside as a result. We have talked about the depth of this LA Rams roster. But to be honest, the way the team leverages that depth has been rather disappointing. Despite surplus depth at multiple positions, the team seems to be fixated on a few players.
Until they fall to injury or burn out.
But with a losing record, and only six games remaining in the 2024 NFL season, the team has to change its approach. Even as the team wants to win, there has to be a sense of development for the future. And there has to be a focus on saving key players for any potential postseason appearance.
Who needs more work to keep key players fresh? We have four such players in mind:
(4) - OLB Brennan Jackson
The LA Rams continue to invest in pass rushers, but the return on that investment has been mixed. Yes, we all love and appreciate the huge contribution from OLBs Byron Young and Jared Verse. But what about the other guys, like Keir Thomas, Nick Hampton, or rookie OLB Brennan Jackson? So far in 2024, Jackson has seen action on 18 defensive snaps. Curiously, he has made the most of it with two tackles.
But 18 defensive snaps over 11 games is not cutting it.
Jackson is a chaos creator at the edge. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing 263 pounds, he is big enough to handle the physical demands of the role. But he is agile enough to outflank his blockers, and powerful enough to shed blockers in time to make plays. Like everyone on this list, he cannot make those plays from the bench. If he is meant to contribute in 2025, the team has to play him far more often in 2024.
(3) - WR Jordan Whittington
Rookie WR Jordan Whittington showed plenty of promise when he saw action earlier in the season. As of late? Not so much. He has hauled in 18 of 23 passes (a 78.3 percent catch rate) for 201 yards. The problem is that he is not experienced enough to warrant more playing time. But he only has 200 offensive snaps, which is unlikely to increase until someone decides to increase his workload.
He never should have suffered a reduction in snaps.
In his last active role in this offense, Whittington hauled in seven of 10 passes in a losing effort in Week 5 against the Green Bay Packers. That's pretty good against a team that is currently 8-3. So why is he no longer in the offensive rotation? The Rams welcomed back Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp. But there is plenty of offense to be shared. Hopefully, the team will figure out a way to do so.
(2) - DT Tyler Davis
The LA Rams have suffered some injuries to rotational players along the defensive front. So it is a bit mystifying to learn that rookie defensive tackle Tyler Davis has only played179 defensive snaps. Like all players on this list, he has made the most of his opportunities, coming up with 21 tackles, two quarterback hits, 0.5 quarterback sacks, and two tackles for a loss.
Over the past five games, Davis has seen his workload increase to an average of over 20 defensive snaps a game. That's a step in the right direction for the rookie. If the team expects Davis to step into a larger role in 2025, the team has to ramp up his workload in 2024 and see how he can handle the intensity.
So far, Davis appears to be on track for a much larger role.
(1) - RB Blake Corum
The LA Rams drafted rookie running back Black Corum on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft. At the time, I was not sold on that selection. No, it was not due to the quality of Corum's rushing for the University of Michigan. Rather, it was in spite of that. You see, the development track of rookie WR Puka Nacua was an anomaly. More often than not, rookies who fill offensive skill positions have a development track that follows one of WR Tutu Atwell, or TE/WR Jacob Harris.
The Rams are not known for many Puka Nacua success stories, particularly at the running back position.
So far, Corum has played in more of a cameo role than a backup running back role. I say that because he is not getting a third of the carries. Rather, he is getting just over 10 percent of the carries. With so much talent on the draft board when the Rams selected Corum, that opens the question over whether the team selected wisely.
The Rams need to get Kyren Williams to find better ball security. If the team runs Corum, not only does that send the right message to Williams, but it rests Williams to allow him to grip the ball more tightly when he runs.
