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Los Angeles Rams: Why the Rams won’t draft a running back

By Jason Reed

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 08: Running backs Todd Gurley #30 and Malcolm Brown #34 of the Los Angeles Rams walk out of the tunnel before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 08: Running backs Todd Gurley #30 and Malcolm Brown #34 of the Los Angeles Rams walk out of the tunnel before the game against the Seattle Seahawks at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on December 08, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Meg Oliphant/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Rams
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) – Los Angeles Rams /

1. The trio of running backs is more than capable

The Los Angeles Rams could run a three running back offense in 2020, oftentimes switching between backs depending on the situation. And while the team does not have an elite running back like it had with Gurley, it has some talent that meshes very well together.

The ‘primary’ back would be Malcolm Brown. Brown has not hit his full potential on the Los Angeles Rams as an every-down back because he has played behind Gurley. One of his best traits in college was his ability to wear down defenses and get better as the game went along, something that he finally will get the chance to do in 2020.

Then you have Darrell Henderson, who the team selected in the third round of the 2019 NFL Draft. I have been critical of the Rams before in selecting Henderson that early in the draft if the team hardly used him, but now it is paying off.

Henderson has not proven to be an every-down back but he does not need to be. He is an excellent option to be the change-of-pace running back to bounce off of Brown. Henderson is extremely athletic and can extend plays with the ball in his hand, making him a threat in both the passing and running game.

Finally, we have a back that a lot of people have forgotten about in John Kelly. Kelly was solid splitting time with Alvin Kamara at Tennessee in college and showed very promising signs in his first preseason with the Rams.

He has not gotten his opportunity to play much in the regular season but that does not mean that the practice squad running back is useless. The Rams have kept him around on the practice squad for a reason.

He is a great pass blocker and is someone who can fight through contact and get extra yards while also being an asset in the passing game. Kelly is a perfect third-down back, especially if you pair him in two running back formations with either Brown or Henderson.

They do not have that typical workhorse back, but the playstyles of all three men bounce off of each other perfectly.

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