During the 2023 season, the Los Angeles Rams bounced back from a miserable 2022 campaign by discovering a new identity offensively.
Head coach Sean McVay used the offseason and the hiring of offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur to rebuild his run game. McVay and LaFleur used the offseason to install a more physical, gap-scheme for the running game that worked wonders behind the offensive line.
Kyren Williams was named the starter after the team traded away Cam Akers midseason and went on to become the NFL’s second-leading rusher behind only Christian McCaffrey. However, Williams missed five games, which likely influenced the team’s third-round selection of Michigan star running back Blake Corum.
Los Angeles took Corum No. 83 overall and he later posted a throwback photo of himself playing for his youth team ironically enough named the Rams, via his personal X account:
It was written in the books!! Been a RAM since 6 years old!! pic.twitter.com/eItgPmJ41d
— #2⃣BeSavage (@blake_corum) May 9, 2024
The odds of Corum getting drafted to the Rams after spending his youth on a team with the same name must be slim but it represents the type of full-circle moment that sports has a knack for producing. In the photo itself, it notes that Corum was a linebacker that was apparently good at stopping the run which is funny considering the position he ended up playing.
While it must be fun for Corum to relive some of his earliest memories playing football, he’ll now get the chance to play for a franchise that is set up well to win going forward. McVay and company have done an excellent job getting their next wave of players game-ready and this draft class has a chance to be special given the collective talent it has.
Los Angeles not only covets good football players, but also people who they feel will contribute and add to the special culture that McVay’s built since coming to the team. By all accounts, Corum fits the mold of the kind of player they typically chase after and it’ll be fun to see how much he can bring to the offense in his rookie year.
Blake Corum excited to build relationship with Rams running back Kyren Williams
McVay acknowledged that the Rams wanted to draft a running back that was similar to Williams so they didn’t have to change up their playbook. Although the two have only talked briefly, Corum expressed how much he’s looking forward to building a relationship with Williams.
