Why Kyren Williams' versatility can at times be a conundrum for the Rams

LOS ANGELES -- Kyren Williams came out against the Denver Broncos like a man who couldn't be stopped in any phase of the game.

There he was on a handoff, hesitating ever so slightly in the hole to create a cutback lane up the middle and through the seam before cutting back inside on that "stiff ankle" he's worked on all offseason to rip off a 30-yard gain.

And there he was on a wheel route up the left sideline, going airborne between two defenders to reel in a pass from Matthew Stafford before dropping two feet inbounds for a first down.

And there he was in pass protection, blocking two blitzers on a shotgun play, allowing Stafford to throw away the ball.

Williams played 71 percent of the snaps, rushing 15 times for 88 yards and catching six passes for 70 yards in a 30-26 loss to the Broncos on "Sunday Night Football."

He played one of his best games in a Rams uniform, and that begs a question: In a game in which they threw the ball 55 times versus 23 runs and blew a 16-point halftime lead, why didn't they hand off more to their hot running back?

It's more nuanced than that -- because Williams is more nuanced than that.

"I think it depends on being able to stay on the field," coach Sean McVay said. "I do think it's important to get a feel and ride the hot hand. You know the confidence that I have in Blake (Corum), but I thought he was able to bring a lot of really cool things to life. I thought he got everything and that much more on some of his runs and then made a bunch of big-time plays in the pass game.

"Really, some of the plays he made in the pass game, particularly on that second two-minute drive, were key and critical and gave us an opportunity to even be able to win the game when I think a lot of the percentages were stacked against you. He was one of those guys that gave us a chance. I love that guy and everything he's about and want to continue to have him be a focal point of what we're doing moving forward."

As consistent and dynamic as Williams was in Denver, the opposite was true for his running mate. Corum had a strong first two games of the season, averaging 6.0 yards per carry, but Sunday just wasn't his night. He ran six times for 15 yards. He gained seven yards on one carry and eight on the other five.

The Rams have built this year's backfield into a 50-50 split in the run game. The first two games showcased it: Williams entered Sunday with 126 yards on 23 carries, and Corum had 133 yards on 22 carries.

The two complement each other in many ways: Williams is the traditionally safer between-the-tackles option and a stronger third-down choice with his full physical development in his fifth season. Corum is more explosive, as he showed by averaging 6.9 yards per carry on outside runs a year ago, according to Sports Info Solutions.

Williams was bound to get more snaps because of his catching ability, where he is a more trustworthy and dynamic receiver and is also regarded as one of the league's best pass-protecting backs, which is essential to how Stafford survives and dices up teams that blitz.

"They (the coaches) put me in these positions to be able to come out of the backfield and catch those passes, to go into the slot, to do those things like that and also run the ball and do pass pro," Williams said. "I've always worked my whole life. I've always been a hard worker. But this offseason, being keen on those little details I need to do to be a complete back with the passing and the catching and the blocking and the running as well."

Because Corum is in just his third season, he is largely confined to his rushing success, and an off night, as he had against the Broncos, can create a dilemma.

The Rams' game plan was to lean on Williams in the passing game, given their limited options outside of Davante Adams. All-Pro wide receiver Puka Nacua missed the game with a hip injury, and the Rams are still searching for a third receiving option behind him and Adams.

Tight end Terrance Ferguson might have the best chance to be that, but he dealt with injuries throughout the game and left with an ankle sprain. Tight end Colby Parkinson suffered an AC joint sprain. The Rams only had four wide receivers active for the game.

That allowed Williams to see rare volume as a receiver, as he had seven targets. He converted a fourth down with a contested catch on the Rams' first touchdown drive. He caught two key passes on the final drive, giving them a chance at a comeback.

"I wasn't a running back until I got to college," Williams said. "I played receiver my whole life. I wanted to be a slot receiver, but didn't grow. That's OK, but now I continue to create these mismatches with linebackers."

The Rams knew Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph would throw blitzes their way with their lack of perimeter receiving options, which made Williams essential in pass protection, both to the health of Stafford and to the operation of everything else. And pass protection can be one of the most physical tolls on a running back's plate.

The Rams value Williams' pass protection, leadership and overall versatility so much that his durability has become paramount. He has missed just one game since the start of the 2024 season.

It doesn't mean the Rams couldn't have leaned more on Williams situationally. They began their first drive of the second half with Corum while backed up at their own 10-yard line, went three-and-out and gave the ball back to the Broncos at the Rams' 42-yard line, which ignited Denver's comeback effort.

Los Angeles stuck with its plan to throw to tight ends early once injuries began to take their toll on the group. Arguably, a player who leads the NFL for a second straight season in rushing success rate at 63.2 percent should carry the ball more with a second-half lead.

But Williams' value isn't often shown by giving him 30 carries in a game, just as his value to the team isn't always evident in a highlight reel or box score.

In many ways, he has become the emotional heartbeat of the Rams' offense. It's what has made him a two-time captain and last year's Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee.

It helps explain why the Rams keep believing in him in moments when others might find trepidation.

The previous week against the Giants, Williams fumbled before halftime to give New York a red zone possession that could have cut the Rams' lead to one score. It was his first fumble in nearly a calendar year, but it could bring back memories of the 10 times he put the ball on the ground from 2023 to 2025.

Aaron Donald shut down a run on third down to force a field goal. On the Rams' next offensive snap in an end-of-half situation, McVay called for a stretch run to Williams, and he bounced it to the sideline for 13 yards.

"With Kyren, what you've seen from him is his ability to respond, his ability to come back, his ability to make the next right play," offensive coordinator Nathan Scheelhaase said. "There was no doubt that that's how he was going to approach it."

That trust led to one of Williams' best games Sunday night in Denver, and the pain lies in how it felt like they could have pulled out even more and still blew a 16-point lead. It's a window into how Corum playing as he did for the second half of last season and in the first two games can unlock a more versatile Williams who doesn't have to live in an old-school, high-carry way.

Rather, the Williams they need is the one he's become in so many different areas.

This article originally appeared in The Athletic.