Rams RB Kyren Williams is a man apart

THOUSAND OAKS (News4usonline) – After beating the Seattle Seahawks on the road in Week 1  and playing the San Francisco 49ers tough in Week 2, Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay likes the direction his team is trending toward. 

“I think the guys know that a lot of the work that they’ve put in gives them a chance to play at their best, and you got to love competing, love the opportunity to get better and really love playing with your teammates, and these coaches love watching these guys continue to improve,” McVay said. And I think when you really love the process and you love what you’re doing, you give yourself a chance for improvement.” 

He added, “And I do think that, hey, even though we didn’t get the result that we wanted, there was some improvements from Week one to Week two. Now, there were certainly some things that we can clean up collectively, coaches and players alike, but I think these guys know that the work that they put in every single day will allow them to go compete and play with a quieted mind.” 

Going into this season, McVay and the Rams were walking into the unknown with 15 rookies (not including the practice squad) on their active roster. Fourteen of the 15 rookies were selected by the Rams in the 2023 NFL Draft. 

Mixing in with all those rookies are a handful of second-year players like cornerback Cobie Durant and running back Kyren Williams, who are already making solid contributions to the team. 

Both Durant and Williams have taken over prominent roles in their respective units. Durant steps in as the starter for the traded Jalen Ramsey, who was shipped to the Miami Dolphins. Williams is now the main guy in the Rams backfield as team rusher No. 1, replacing Cam Akers, who was dealt to the Minnesota Vikings. 

Williams scored two touchdowns against both Seattle and San Francisco, giving him a total of four scores on the season thus far. In the team’s first two games, Williams has proven he is a running back with a do-everything quality, a trait that McVay likes.  

“Well, he’s a complete back,” McVay remarked. “I think he’s got the ability to play on all downs. He’s really put the work in. He’s earned a lot of trust from his coaches, from his teammates, and he’s a guy that just continues to take steps in the right direction. I think he’s a great example for those guys. It was really about you just continue to evaluate every single day and you couldn’t deny some of the improvements in the things that he was doing that were in alignment with saying, ‘We got to figure out ways to be able to get him involved.’”

Translation: Williams earned the top running back nod. After seeing his rookie season go awash because of injuries, the former Notre Dame star has flexed his duality role as both a pass-catcher and as a runner.  

“He’s a conscientious guy and he’s incredibly mentally tough. He’s resilient,” McVay said. “I think people saw, he’s passionate about the game and you look at a guy that had a couple different setbacks as a rookie, didn’t let it phase him, and just controlled the things that he could control. He’s put a lot of really good work in. He’s one of those guys, similar to what I was saying about Tutu, he’s put the work in. He’s got a growth mindset. He’s just continuing to love the opportunity to go compete and to continue to take steps in the right direction. I love what I’ve seen from him.”

While his numbers are not super eye-popping or dazzling through the first two games, Williams gives the Rams something they haven’t had in a while at the running back position, and that is sustainability, stability, and reliability. Over the last couple of years, the Rams have shuffled Akers, Darrell Henderson, and Sony Michel in their offensive backfield. 

With Williams, the Rams could have a very productive starting running back for years to come. Quarterback Matthew Stafford is impressed by Williams’ astute attention to know what’s going on.  

“Every single detail matters to him and lots of times, we get to the end of a play call and I’m tagging the back’s route or something and he’s already on it, knowing exactly what he’s got,” said Stafford. “He and I have great conversation in the backfield when we’re back there, whether it’s in protection or who we might be hot off of in some protection or whatever it is. He’s super dialed in on that stuff. That makes it easy for me back there. With the ball in his hand, he’s been pretty special as well.”