Rams look to correct their ground game versus 49ers

The Rams, 0-2 and without top WRs Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua, are intent on getting RB Kyren Williams going in their home opener Sunday at SoFi Stadium

Sep 22, 2024 - 02:00

Rams look to correct their ground game versus 49ers

LOS ANGELES — The Rams know the stakes. You don’t have to tell an NFL player that few teams make the playoffs after an 0-2 start, and that fewer still do after going 0-3. That Sunday’s game with the San Francisco 49ers (1-1) could provide hope, or turn out any faint light at the end of the tunnel.

But there’s no point talking about something that everyone already knows. Better to focus on fixes that need to be made.

“I do know from experiences that pressing the panic button isn’t the way to get out of it,” Rams head coach Sean McVay said. “It’s going back to work, doing it with the right authentic spirit, the right enthusiasm, the right kind of vibe, the right focus and concentration with how you implement daily, weekly, and hourly rhythms that are in alignment with improving and playing the best quality of football that we’re capable of with the guys that are playing.”

Those corrections for both sides of the ball were largely focused around the run game this week.

Through two games, the Rams are currently averaging 68 rushing yards per game on offense, 31st in the NFL. That’s almost 50 yards below the Rams’ average last season, when running back Kyren Williams broke onto the scene and the offensive line consistently controlled the line of scrimmage.

Injuries along that line haven’t allowed the unit to have any cohesion so far this season. Combine that with how quickly the Cardinals jumped out to a 21-0 lead a week ago, and the Rams couldn’t even entertain handing the ball off to Williams.

The challenge doesn’t get any easier this week against the Niners and their all-world linebacker, Fred Warner. But with receivers Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua sidelined by injury, the Rams don’t have any choice but to get the run game going to take some pressure off quarterback Matthew Stafford.

“It’s really about the efficiency of the execution, the ability to hit blocks,” McVay said. “We have to do that to be able to sustain and run the ball efficiently, get a hat on a hat and then hopefully we’ll be able to throw it.”

The 49ers are dealing with their own set of injuries in the ground game. Running back Christian McCaffrey is on injured reserve, and San Francisco will be without George Kittle, one of the best run-blocking tight ends in the NFL. But reserve back Jordan Mason has still been successful through two weeks, averaging 5.1 yards per carry while rushing for a total of 247 yards.

And the Rams have invited opponents to pound the ball on the ground, giving up an average of 197 yards per game. Per Pro Football Focus, the Rams have missed 19 tackles in run defense through two weeks. They’ve struggled to get off blocks and stay in their gaps.

The Rams have spent the week tweaking their personnel groupings based on the looks they expect to see against San Francisco, not to mention reemphasizing technique and fundamentals.

“How do you want to take on double teams? How do you want to defeat individual blocks?” McVay said. “The players have responded in a great way. … San Francisco has a bunch of different, multiple looks and things that they can present from a run game scheme. … What a great challenge for us to see on Sunday.”

It’s a lot to work on, but the mood in the Rams’ locker room was loose this week. Guys were joking around after practices like any other week as they try to get back on track.

“I think the biggest thing is we’re just itching for another opportunity to get back out there,” Stafford said. “Obviously, last week didn’t go the way we wanted to from any phase really. … [We] kind of flushed last week, moved on and we’ll try to go attack this week with a bunch of excitement, a bunch of energy and go try to execute.”