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How can Rams improve on special teams, and should Kyren Williams get more carries?

Nate Atkins

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7672769/2026/10/09/rams-special-teams-improvement-kyren-williams/?unlocked_article_code=1.HVE.MNm4.FGPtTMDSRhch&source=emp_shared_article&smid=ta-ios-share

LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Rams finally got the monkey off their back by beating the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday in a dramatic, 10-point fourth-quarter comeback.

They are 2-2 at the quarter pole of the season. It’s already been a year of highs and lows, hype and adversity, and they have 13 more games before a potential postseason run.

It’s a good time to take stock of the questions people have about a team with these kinds of expectations. And readers had plenty about special teams, Chris Shula’s defensive approach, Kyren Williams’ usage and why the rookies aren’t seeing the field much.

(Note: Questions have been edited for length and clarity.)

***

* Matthew Stafford threw over 50 passes in Weeks 3 and 4. For the season, Williams is averaging 5.4 yards per carry and has yet to reach 20 carries in a game. Why do you think Sean McVay has seemingly moved away from running the ball so far into the season? —

ATKINS: The main reason that jumps out is that it doesn’t feel like McVay has the personnel or the scheme to run the ball at the volume he would like right now, or the way they did late last season. If you remember, the Rams were the heaviest three-tight end offense in the league, and that culminated with Blake Corum’s second-half breakout.

Something feels off about how Corum is running in these single-tight-end sets over the past two weeks with Terrance Ferguson and Colby Parkinson hurt, and the playing time has shifted heavily to Williams, who outsnapped Corum 70-13 on Sunday.

Part of that is leaning into Williams, given how great he’s playing in every facet. Part of it is the blocking stress on the receivers, which was more challenging than usual in Puka Nacua’s first game back after two weeks off. But it’s notable that Corum started the year with 133 rushing yards on 11 carries per game in the first two weeks and has dropped to 29 yards on 5.5 carries per game the past two weeks.

Williams has emerged so much as a receiver that he’s this team’s de facto No. 3 option behind Nacua and Davante Adams, with 21 catches for 173 yards. Between that and his immense value as a pass protector to keep a 38-year-old Stafford upright, the Rams feel challenged to give him 20-plus carries in a game. So if they don’t have a quarterback rushing threat, Corum isn’t producing, and they don’t have a third running back they trust with Ronnie Rivers on injured reserve, the natural result will be a pass-heavy script.

One of three things has to change to shift the dynamic: Either a third pass catcher will need to emerge to limit Williams’ receiving touches, tight ends will need to get healthy to strengthen the hole for Corum, or Corum will need to improve as a runner in 11 personnel and as a pass-down option that doesn’t make the run so obvious when he’s on the field.

Ideally, the Rams will get a mix of all three in due time and return to the balanced, versatile juggernaut they were last season with the same starting unit.

* The special teams are especially bad again this year. Since multiple coaches have produced the same outcomes, what is lacking in Les Snead’s personnel decisions?

* What is wrong with our special teams? It was said to be McVay’s priority during the offseason, but we’re still ranked at the bottom of the league. … It will continue to haunt us all season. … How can they fix this? —

ATKINS: As you can see, many questions this week are about special teams. And it’s fitting because it’s the biggest long-term question the Rams face as they look to contend this season, especially after how their playoff run ended last season.

It’s been a tough start for Bubba Ventrone’s group in several notable areas. The Rams have given up punt returns of 28 and 41 yards, respectively, in the past two weeks to set up short touchdown drives. They released their starting punt returner, Xavier Smith, just one week ago. The seemingly steady rocks of Harrison Mevis and Ethan Evans have struggled some already this season. And penalties continue to pile up for this group.

Ventrone is still new, and he’s attacking different issues at a time. He put a lot of effort into correcting the field goal protection, and that has been the best part of the group so far. But seeing Mevis and Evans struggle despite the addition of veterans like cover man Grant Stuard and long snapper Joe Cardona is a tough swing, and those two will likely have to work through the early issues because it’s hard to find suitable in-season replacements.

I do wonder if Eric Kendricks, whom the Rams just signed to the practice squad, can become a factor on the coverage units as a game-day elevation. The 12th-year pro saw roughly double the playing time on special teams as on defense last year in three games with the San Francisco 49ers. In theory, more veterans playing on these units should mean increased technique to avoid penalties, though that only works if they can get in the right positions and not overcompensate.

The Rams could use a midseason trade for a return man like the Seattle Seahawks found last season with Rashid Shaheed. If not, I think they should try Dean Connors at kick returner, given the wiggle he showed in the preseason.

Ventrone’s success in this league has come with franchises that draft specifically for special teams needs on Day 3, such as in New England and Indianapolis. Without that same approach, his units weren’t as strong in Cleveland. I think the Rams’ front office should take a closer look at this in future drafts.

In the interim, a couple of personnel tweaks and simply playing better have to become the solution. Wholesale changes are hard to make in-season. The structure has to stabilize so confidence and baselines can rise. That will be the bet on Ventrone.

* What adjustment made Shula switch from mainly zone in Week 1 to more man and heavy blitzes? —

ATKINS: Week 1 was certainly a dud for the Rams’ defense — and for Shula specifically — but in hindsight, it was a feel-out game in some ways, like their version of the preseason. I think Shula learned a little more about his personnel in that game — both that the pass rush wouldn’t be the line-up-and-dominate four-man group we expected with a healthy Myles Garrett, and that Trent McDuffie really is that kind of lockdown man cornerback who changes the math on the back end.

Personnel has dictated it, too. The Rams faced Jameis Winston for much of Week 2, and the Eagles were without DeVonta Smith, which limited how much Shula had to fear getting beat deep. The risk in sending blitzes is the big plays that can happen if protection picks it up or a quarterback eludes pressure. That happened essentially once in the Eagles game, when Darius Cooper stole the ball over Quentin Lake for a touchdown catch.

I think we’ll see much more of a mix going forward, because the offensive personnel will rarely be as limited as Philadelphia’s was. The returns of Aaron Donald and eventually Garrett should change the need to blitz, as their presence already manipulates offenses to create one-on-one opportunities. But to gain the effect of unblocked rushers, they’ll need to blitz some, too.

* What’s going on with CJ Daniels and Max Klare not getting any time? — Mark R.

ATKINS: The reasons these two rookies combined for just one offensive snap in four games boil down to two areas: readiness in the scheme and special teams ability.

It’s rare for a rookie to get much playing time in this offense. It’s possible, of course, as Nacua came in and not only played but dominated with 105 catches for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns in 2023. But I think we know Nacua is an outlier. Corum and Ferguson went through this. Ty Simpson was drafted with this understanding in mind.

McVay runs a complex offense with motions, option routes and, now, a balance between one-receiver and three-receiver approaches. His offense demands physically versatile players — running backs who can run and catch, tight ends and wide receivers who can catch and block so they can bounce between these concepts and leave the keys of optionality to McVay and the man controlling the audibles in Stafford. It’s hard to trust too many rookies to adjust to that early on.

Because Daniels and Klare don’t have built-up special teams skill sets or experience yet, they can get lost when making the game-day roster. If the Rams have receiver injuries, they can activate more veteran tight ends and run three-tight end sets, and vice versa with tight end injuries.

Between the lack of trust in the offensive readiness and the lack of special teams juice, these kinds of players can fall into early redshirt scenarios on a team like this.

LOCK DOWN 🔒

🥇 Trent McDuffie
🥈 Deonte Banks
🥉 Dee Alford pic.twitter.com/aKvliUz5IN

— FTN (@FTNFantasy) October 7, 2026

InvaderRam wrote:

i’d venture to guess that the difference has been turnovers and special teams.

But as for the offense and defense, they’re doing this without Garrett, Donald, and Watson on defense and Nacua (for a couple of games), Parkinson, and Ferguson on offense.

Imagine when they get them all back. 😮

Though yes they also need Stafford to get in sync and for the special teams to at least rise to the level of nearly adequate, ie. mediocre.

Working on a story on Kobie Turner's impact as a run defender so far this season. Byron Young on Monday said Turner was the reason he got a TFL on one play because of how Turner shut off the entire left side and forced the ball carrier back the other direction. pic.twitter.com/GJBRMKPiEt

— Stu Jackson (@StuJRams) October 7, 2026

from PFF, 2026 NFL offensive line rankings: https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-offensive-line-rankings-2026

12. Los Angeles Rams (down 3)

LT: Alaric Jackson
LG: Steve Avila
C: Coleman Shelton
RG: Kevin Dotson
RT: Warren McClendon Jr.

Four of the five starters on the Rams’ offensive line have earned PFF pass-blocking grades above 60.0, with left tackle Alaric Jackson leading the team at 74.3. Even at 31 years old, center Coleman Shelton has continued to improve and is on track for a career-high PFF grade through the first four weeks of the year. The one concern has been the play of right guard Kevin Dotson, whose 46.5 PFF pass-blocking grade and 13 pressures allowed are both the worst marks on the team.

Run game consistency through week 4👇
4+ yard rate vs. stuff rate (0 yards or fewer).

Which offenses consistently create productive runs while avoiding plays that go nowhere?

Upper left = good
Lower right = room to improve pic.twitter.com/23XN1kSCVl

— Ryan Paganetti (@RyanPaganetti) October 6, 2026

Ryan Paganetti@RyanPaganetti
Percentage of runs with 0 or fewer yards before contact through Week 4

1.) Rams: 32.6%
2.) Bengals: 35.6%
3.) Bears: 36.6%
4.) Panthers: 36.8%
5.) Bills: 36.9%
6.) 49ers: 37.2%
7.) Lions: 39.1%
8.) Falcons: 40.0%
9.) Broncos: 41.6%
10.) Jets: 42.0%
11.) Giants: 42.1%
12.) Saints: 42.5%
13.) Ravens: 42.6%
14.) Chiefs: 43.1%
15.) Vikings: 43.4%
16.) Dolphins: 44.4%
17.) Packers: 44.6%
18.) Cardinals: 46.1%
19.) Cowboys: 46.2%
20.) Eagles: 46.4%
21.) Titans: 46.8%
22.) Colts: 47.0%
23.) Steelers: 47.4%
24.) Buccaneers: 47.4%
25.) Seahawks: 48.5%
26.) Jaguars: 49.0%
27.) Chargers: 51.0%
28.) Commanders: 51.5%
29.) Patriots: 51.5%
30.) Raiders: 54.4%
31.) Browns: 54.4%
32.) Texans: 60.3%

wv wrote:

zn wrote:

Ryan Paganetti@RyanPaganetti
Since 2013, the Eagles are 122-63-1 when Lane Johnson started and 18-30 when he did not.
…

Damn. That says a lot dont it. Reminds me of that Trent Williams stat with the 49ers.

• With Trent Williams: 61–32 (.656 win percentage)
• Without Trent Williams: 4–13 (.235 win percentage

w
v

IcyVert@IcyVert
In 14 NFL seasons Lane Johnson allowed 20 sacks

10 of those sack came in his rookie year

So in the last 13 SEASONS he allowed 10 SACKS 🐐

.@RamsNFL @Eagles @AsapPuka picks up +12 on this tunnel screen…Where is the Defensive Line? Hello! This is your play. #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/cvC6kXIMTw

— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) October 5, 2026

Davante getting a little dirty here makes the Puka sweep TD easier here.

Blocks his man, recognizes the safety shooting to contain, but Davante puts his body in the way to jam it. pic.twitter.com/Vmvcodf232

— 1st & Tuna 🏈 (@1standtuna) October 7, 2026

zn wrote:

Zooey wrote:

Eagles’ Lane Johnson retires from NFL due to personal reasons after Week 4 absence

Ryan Paganetti@RyanPaganetti
Since 2013, the Eagles are 122-63-1 when Lane Johnson started and 18-30 when he did not.

Eagles offensive EPA per play in that time frame:

Lane On the field: +0.06
Lane Off the field: -0.05

Build a statue for him.

Geoff Schwartz@geoffschwartz
I’ll try my best to sum this up in enough words but I think Lane’s had the biggest positive impact in how we view a single OL position in my lifetime. It’s a combination of his play but also the beginning of public grades (PFF) for offensive lineman. We started to talk about right tackles differently. I think my brother was also part of this renaissance for the position as well. This was also in conjunction with teams moving more elite pass rushers over the RT which made that position more important.

Anyways … Lane was the first RT to make Pro Bowls, etc … hope that all makes sense.

Ryan Paganetti@RyanPaganetti
ESPN team pass block win rate through Week 4

1.) Raiders: 63%
2.) 49ers: 59%
3.) Commanders: 58%
4.) Bills: 58%
5.) Lions: 57%
6.) Rams: 55%
7.) Texans: 54%
8.) Steelers: 53%
9.) Eagles: 53%
10.) Jets: 53%
11.) Patriots: 53%
12.) Giants: 52%
13.) Cowboys: 52%
14.) Chiefs: 52%
15.) Bears: 50%
16.) Vikings: 50%
17.) Browns: 49%
18.) Falcons: 49%
19.) Bengals: 48%
20.) Ravens: 48%
21.) Titans: 48%
22.) Buccaneers: 47%
23.) Broncos: 46%
24.) Dolphins: 45%
25.) Saints: 45%
26.) Seahawks: 44%
27.) Colts: 44%
28.) Panthers: 44%
29.) Jaguars: 40%
30.) Chargers: 37%
31.) Cardinals: 30%
32.) Packers: 22%