Rams’ running-back-by-committee plan has produced Jeckyll and Hyde results

LOS ANGELES — In four seasons with the Rams, coach Sean Mcvay has often drawn praise for an offense that features exotic motions, change-of-pace tempo and creative passing-route combinations.

But as the postseason nears, it's clear the Rams should stay committed to a simple strategy: Run the football, early and often.

In their last two games, the

Rams laid bare what can happen when the team produces Jekyll and Hyde performances.

In a 24-3 blowout victory over the New England Patriots, the Rams rushed 13 times for 99 yards in the first half. In the first two quarters of their 23-20 loss to the previously winless New York Jets, the Rams rushed for only 26 yards on eight carries.

“It was a lot of things we weren't doing, and that's uncharacteristic of how we want to play,” offensive lineman Rob Havenstein said after the loss Sunday. “We're going to learn from it and move on.”

Much of Mcvay's offense hinges on the success of the run, which enables quarterback Jared Goff to execute play-action fakes, bootlegs and rollouts. In six of the Rams' nine victories, they ran the ball at least 30 times.

After relying on since-released running back Todd Gurley for five seasons, the Rams began this season with a running-back-bycommittee approach. Rookie Cam Akers has rushed for a team-best 591 yards, second-year pro Darrell Henderson has 562 yards and veteran Malcolm Brown 372 yards. But Akers suffered a high-ankle sprain against the Jets and will not play Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field.

Receiver Robert Woods has rushed for 154 yards and two touchdowns in 22 carries on jetsweep reverses. Receivers Cooper Kupp and Van Jefferson and tight ends Gerald Everett and Tyler Higbee also have carried the ball on running plays. The Rams average 127.9 yards rushing per game, which ranks ninth in the NFL. They are tied for third in the league with 19 rushing touchdowns.

“Part of our jobs as coaches is making sure you're utilizing all the pieces that you do have,” McVay said. “The more guys that can contribute, the more we can activate and the more multiple and versatile we can be.

“It allows you to feel like you can stay in alignment with what you want to do offensively from a philosophical standpoint.”