The 2023 season represents a fresh new start for the Los Angeles Rams as they are embarking on their first year in their remodel phase.
The Rams made the tough decision to part with several of their high-priced veterans like Bobby Wagner and Leonard Floyd in the offseason, opting to lean on the young talent remaining on the roster. The defense is expected to take a major step back, though the offense remains mostly intact.
Matthew Stafford and Cooper Kupp are 100 percent healthy and ready to go, while the backfield appears to belong to Cam Akers. Akers had a strong close to the 2022 season and is poised to remain as Los Angeles’ starting lead back next year.
It’s a pleasant turnaround for Akers, who appeared he was going to be traded after some internal disagreements on his role. The running back reflected on that time and seemed to learn more about himself in the process, via Stu Jackson of TheRams.com:
“I learned that I’m a resilient young man,” Akers said Monday as Los Angeles began its offseason program. “Even when times get tough or cloudy and I don’t know what the end result is, I know to keep working and doing whatever I’m doing to put myself in the best position. Remain resilient, remain God-fearing and just keep working.”
As far as his issues with the coaching staff and the organization, Akers said it’s all water under the bridge:
“All behind me,” Akers said of what happened last season. “Can’t harp on the past or things that have happened in the past. It’s a business, I treat it as such. You live and learn, and when you’re not learning, that’s when it’s a problem. I’m learning.”
Akers seemed to mature both as a person and player during that rough stretch of last season, a positive sign for the Rams who’ll need him to pick up where he left off. Akers blew up the final three weeks of the season, rushing for over 100 yards each game and showing why Los Angeles took him in the second round in the 2020 NFL Draft.
With his ability to burst through gaps and create yardage after contact, Akers is an ideal back for Sean McVay’s offense. With a new offensive coordinator in Mike LaFleur who has experience with scheming up plays for running backs, Akers could be in line for a career year assuming good health and improved offensive line play.
