[/zn/]

DH w/10+ carries (2020): 7 games, 5.3 ypc.

Buh-bye.

Yeah if he could do that consistently he might have a stronger case for being a feature back. I also think that Akers passes the eyeball test as the better, more complete back...not that Henderson is a bad one or even an average one, he's good, just not Akers level good.

I agree with this, just probably with a slightly different emphasis than you: We’ll definitely miss Akers, but you can do a lot worse than DH as the next guy up. So, Henderson is good IMO but I don;t think he can carry the load the way Akers can and did.

Oh! And. Snarky juvenile closing line.

[/zn/]

Akers and Henderson have 2 different styles of running. As the year went on, Akers seemed to show more than Henderson but he was also featured more. It was a tale of 2 halves. Akers played 5 of the first 9 games (45 carries; 186 yards; 4.1 ypc) was inactive in 2 and didn't get a carry in 2 others. During that time Henderson had 102 carries for 486 yards (4.8 ypc).

In game 10, against Tampa, Akers had 5 carries for 15 yards, Henderson 8 carries for 5 yards. At that point in the season Akers had 50 carries for 191 yards (3.8 ypc) and Henderson 110 for 491 (4.5). The next game against SF, Henderson had 19 yards on 10 carries and Akers 84 yards on 9 carries, thanks to a 61 yard run (23 yards on the other 9 attempts). After that, Akers was the feature back getting 21, 29, 15 and 21 carries over the next 5 weeks (he was inactive in the 4th game of that stretch). Henderson got 3, 2, 1 and 12 carries before he went on IR, though it should be noted he was 12 for 62 (5.2) the week Akers was inactive.

Can he stay healthy over 17 games?
Will he produce the way we thought Akers might?

If you count the postseason (which Henderson missed), Akers had 645 yards on 141 carries (4.6 ypc) over the last 8 games. Over the first 9 games, when Akers wasn't the feature back, Henderson had 486 yards on 102 carries (4.8 ypc). I think either are capable of producing well and both seem prone to injury.

I;ve said that Akers is just the better back if you're going to rank them, and also said that doesn't make Henderson chopped liver. I have even said before that it looks like years from now (if he stays healthy) Akers will qualify for a "Rams top 10 RBs of all time" list. He's not at the Faulk Dickerson Gurley (pre-knee) and Jackson level but to me it looks like he was going to earn being on that list.

Yes they featured Akers more after a while and that was partly due to injuries to Henderson but I also think it's because that was their plan all along--they talk about Akers like they see him as a prime feature back. In fact I think that's what he is.

I think the 2nd half of 2020 is more indicative of what Akers is and will be (if he can come back the same from an achilles). The first half of 2020 what we saw was a rookie who did not have a training camp so I think he hit his stride in the 2nd half of the season.

Henderson will be fine, but I see Henderson as part of a rotation. If he proves me wrong it would surprise me a bit but I wouldn't complain.



...

[Hacksaw]

It stands to reason the Rams wouldn't have taken Cam Akers if they felt they could feature and rely on Hendi.

[PARAM]

It stands to reason the Rams wouldn't have taken Cam Akers if they felt they could feature and rely on Hendi.

True. Maybe similar reasoning in drafting Jefferson? I mean as far as Kupp's penchant for injury?

[/zn/]

True. Maybe similar reasoning in drafting Jefferson? I mean as far as Kupp's penchant for injury?

I think Jefferson was more a replacement for Reynolds. Though it doesn't hurt to have depth there in case of injuries.

Though...both Akers and Henderson have been banged up, and I keep hearing that an achilles is hard to come back from. We'll see how that goes. It's possibke they add another back next draft.


....

[Hacksaw]

Are the Rams holding high hopes for this guy?

[Joe Pendleton]

.. wouldn't it be ironic if another SMU Pony ends up in our backfield.. Kid has a wicked stiffarm (beginning of Hacksaws clip)

[PARAM]

I think Jefferson was more a replacement for Reynolds. Though it doesn't hurt to have depth there in case of injuries.

Though...both Akers and Henderson have been banged up, and I keep hearing that an achilles is hard to come back from. We'll see how that goes. It's possibke they add another back next draft.


....

Sure. I get that. But it could have been two-fold. Replacement for Reynolds in 2021, insurance for Kupp (who btw, missed the playoff game in GB). I'm sure Akers was drafted with the idea being he could be the leader of the run game.....if he stayed healthy, unlike Henderson.

Xavier Jones? 5 years at SMU. Hamstring and shoulder injuries in his sophmore season (2016). No broken bones or torn ligaments, so there's hope we may have found a durable RB. He went undrafted though. After 244 carries and a 5.2 avg (1276 yds) in 13 games? Plus 20 receptions with 2 TDs? Must be his size 5'11", 210 lbs made some teams think he might not be durable!!

[/zn/]

Xavier Jones? 5 years at SMU. Hamstring and shoulder injuries in his sophmore season (2016). No broken bones or torn ligaments, so there's hope we may have found a durable RB. He went undrafted though. After 244 carries and a 5.2 avg (1276 yds) in 13 games? Plus 20 receptions with 2 TDs? Must be his size 5'11", 210 lbs made some teams think he might not be durable!!

The "ding" on Jones that made him fall in the draft is probably speed.

from https://www.nfl.com/prospects/xavier-jo ... 104f6b4e56

Xavier Jones
5’11” 208
40 time: 4.59

from Weaknesses

Pedestrian burst through the line
Below-average speed and feet to win on the flanks

from https://247sports.com/college/smu/Artic ... 145996176/

NFL Draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said Sunday that Jones is his best running back that didn’t land an invitation to Indianapolis for the annual draft showcase.

“Spent the day watching RBs w/o combine invitation,” Jeremiah wrote on Twitter. “Best of the bunch? SMU RB Xavier Jones. 5’11 208 (no pro day) Excellent vision, balance and toughness. Lacks elite top speed. Reliable in pass game.”

[Hacksaw]

.. wouldn't it be ironic if another SMU Pony ends up in our backfield.. Kid has a wicked stiffarm (beginning of Hacksaws clip)

He's a bit of a longshot, but let's see what he's got.
The X factor !! Bring it !!!