Rams rookie Cam Akers is ‘hard on myself’ after first game
THOUSAND OAKS — Call them baby steps.
Cam Akers, the Rams’ top draft choice, was on the field for the first snap of his first NFL game last Sunday but wound up averaging under 3 yards a carry and watching another running back steal the show.
Not everything the 21-year-old rookie was hoping for, but it was, well, a start.
“To come out in my first NFL game ever going to, and be starting in it, is just a blessing. It kind of shows the hard work and dedication (paid off),” Akers said two days before he plays his first NFL road game when the Rams face the Philadelphia Eagles.
“I definitely think it showed the coaching staff trusted in me. I want to keep earning that trust.”
Akers, the second-round pick from Florida State, carried 14 times for 39 yards, nothing longer than 6 yards, in the Rams’ 20-17 victory over the Dallas Cowboys at SoFi Stadium.
“I was kind of hard on myself,” Akers said Friday. “I didn’t have the showing I wanted to. Not to necessarily say it was bad, but it wasn’t what I was expecting or what I was shooting for.
“Looking to get better, that’s what I take out of the game.”
After Akers’ first two carries went for 4 yards and no gain, veteran Malcolm Brown came in and immediately ran 5 yards for a first down and dove 1 yard for a touchdown to cap off the Rams’ first drive in their new stadium.
Brown finished with a career-high 79 yards on 18 carries and two touchdowns to take the early lead in the three-running back rotation the Rams hope will replace Todd Gurley.
Darrell Henderson, limited in practice by a bad hamstring, got three carries for 6 yards.
“We felt good about those three,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “Malcolm ended up doing a phenomenal job, and we expect him to do the same this week. And maybe Cam will get a couple more opportunities as well.”
McVay said he and running backs coach Thomas Brown didn’t decide who to start until game day, and emphasized that the decision was purely symbolic since the trio would divide carries.
Still, it mattered to Akers when his position coach told him he’d start.
“I think it was probably a really cool thing for Cam,” McVay said Friday.
McVay sounded pleased with Akers’ early strides.
“Number 1, he protected the football. I thought he had some tough, hard-earned runs,” McVay said. “Sometimes, if it’s a dirty run game where they (the defensive line) do a good job of getting off and there’s not a lot of space, putting your pads down and getting from a first-and-10 to a second-and-6 is a positive thing for us.
“I thought our rookies did a nice job, but like anything else those first experiences are going to be really good learning ops for them.”
Akers, who had 1,144 yards and 14 touchdowns rushing and 225 yards and four scores receiving as a Seminoles senior, was asked what he hopes to show in coming weeks that he didn’t show against Dallas.
“A lot. That’s a broad statement, but a lot,” he said with a smile. “I’ve got a lot in the tank.”
Notes
Gerald Everett (back) was listed as questionable for the Eagles game on the Rams’ injury report, but the tight end took part in Friday’s walk-through practice, and McVay said he expects him to be ready to play Sunday. … The Eagles’ injury report looked better as the week wore on. Wide receiver Alshon Jeffrey (foot) is out, but tackle Jason Peters (knee) is among the players declared good to go. … Maybe that’s why the Eagles became one-point favorites in Las Vegas again Friday afternoon, after the Rams moved to one-point favorites Thursday. … McVay appeared for his daily media Zoom session wearing his Rams-logo COVID-19 mask, playfully making the point that he will abide by the NFL’s sideline mask-wearing mandate at the Eagles game after failing to do it at the Cowboys game. He said it’s one of three styles he could wear.
Comments
Post a Comment