The Los Angeles Rams’ rushing attack was lackluster last season. In fairness, that is underselling it. Without Cam Akers for much of last season, the run game was putrid.
The Rams finished the year with a bottom quarter earning in rushing yards. Sony Michel was the top rusher for the team last season, but he left in free agency.
However, Akers returned late last season from his torn Achilles sustained at camp. He is a breakout player for the team. With an offseason to recover from the injury, after miraculously returning at the end of the season, he sounded as if he was ready to go.
Akers aims to be more consistent
Akers said, in a post-minicamp interview, “This offseason, I really wanted to focus on being more consistent.”
He was just about as automatic as it got in his rookie year. Akers had 340 yards down the stretch of that season. As a sophomore, Akers suffered that aforementioned torn Achilles and did not look like he did as a rookie.
He was not spectacular after coming off such a debilitating injury, especially at his position, nor was he expected to be. Akers did not look like himself after returning, rushing for 2.63 yards per carry on average. Additionally, he had a pair of near-game-deciding fumbles that allowed the Buccaneers to crawl back into that Divisional game.
With the effort he has put in this offseason, Akers should be more consistent.
Akers wants to be held in high regard
Consistency is not the only thing on the third-year running back’s mind, though. Akers wants recognition, or he will not be happy.
“Win first, and I do my part second and I’ll be happy,” Akers said of the upcoming season. “Until y’all can mention me with the top three running backs in the league, outside of winning, I won’t be happy.”
If Akers wants to be considered a top running back in the NFL, he will need an incredibly fast recovery from his injury. However, with the work that he is putting in, who knows. Maybe Akers will be ready to take that step into stardom at the position.
He is in the proper city, Los Angeles, to do so, after all.