Blake Corum had simply accomplished the primary 100-yard dashing efficiency of his NFL profession, and Rams coach Sean McVay awarded him a recreation ball after Sunday’s rout of the Arizona Cardinals.
Corum, a second-year professional, was clearly elated.
However he didn’t spend a lot time reveling within the achievement.
“It’s on to the next,” he stated, an perspective he maintained as he filtered via congratulatory messages from household and pals.
“I expect to have those types of games,” Corum stated Wednesday, “so when they do happen, all right, this is great. … But it’s on to the next.”
The Rams offense is coming off a high-flying 45-point efficiency towards the Cardinals. Receiver Puka Nacua was named NFC offensive participant of the week. Quarterback Matthew Stafford bought again on observe for a run on the league’s most useful participant award.
The very best signal for the Rams, nonetheless, was the second robust efficiency by the dashing assault.
Because the Rams can attest — based mostly on their defeats by the Lions within the 2023 playoffs and the 2024 season opener — the Lions function one of many NFL’s greatest working again mixtures in Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.
However the Rams have made strides to develop a equally complementary pair in Kyren Williams and Corum.
Williams, 25, has rushed for 952 yards and eight touchdowns in 196 carries. He additionally has 26 receptions for 197 yards and three touchdowns.
Corum, two months youthful than Williams, has rushed for 550 yards and 4 touchdowns in 101 carries. He has six catches for 13 yards.
Rams working backs Kyren Williams, left, and Blake Corum have confirmed to be the most effective dashing tandems within the NFL this season.
(Chris Szagola / Related Press)
“We feed off each other,” stated Corum, a 2024 third-round choose from Michigan. “I love seeing the success he has when I’m watching, and vice-versa.”
The duo confirmed indicators of a breakout after they mixed for 153 yards dashing and each scored touchdowns in a 31-28 defeat by the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 30.
Towards the Cardinals, Corum rushed for 128 yards and two touchdowns in 12 carries, together with one scoring run that lined 48 yards. Williams gained 84 yards and scored a landing in 13 carries.
“We mix it up very good,” Williams stated, to the purpose that opposing defenses, “don’t know how to attack us both.
“The 1-2 punch that we got going on is something significant.”
Final season, Williams carried the ball 316 occasions, third most within the NFL behind Saquon Barkley (345) and Derrick Henry (325). Corum carried the ball solely 57 occasions for 208 yards.
The Rams chosen working again Jarquez Hunter within the fourth spherical of the draft, including him to a working again corps that additionally included veteran Ronnie Rivers.
In August, the Rams gave Williams a three-year extension that features $23 million in ensures. However the Rams aimed to extend Corum’s function for steadiness, and to maintain Williams bodily sound.
“Them being able to play off of one another allows them to just be fresher as the season and as games go on,” McVay stated.
With 4 video games remaining within the common season, and the playoffs forward, Williams stated he feels extra recent at this level of the season than in his earlier three.
“It honestly feels like I’ve only played a couple games this whole season … bodywise,” he stated.
Williams and Corum credit score the offensive line, tight ends and receivers for clearing the best way. And Stafford for masterfully working the offense.
After the victory over the Cardinals, Stafford stated he had full belief in each backs.
“There is no, ‘Hey, this guy’s in, we have to do this. This guy’s in, we have to do that,’” Stafford stated. “We just call our offense and both of those guys feed off of each other.”
The subsequent problem for Williams and Corum can be constantly performing the best way they did towards the Cardinals.
“Now,” Corum stated, “we’ve just got to build on that.”
