Sean McVay hates excuses for Rams' woeful running game but makes several anyway

The Los Angeles Rams must fix their atrocious running game or they may be stuck on the sidelines for the postseason. Through the first five weeks, the Rams (2-3) are last in the NFL in rushing yards (312) and second-worst in yards per carry (3.2). 

During a news conference Monday, head coach Sean McVay offered a long, rambling answer when asked about the team’s rushing woes.

“It has been a challenge because we’ve never had the same guys up front,” McVay said, per USA Today. “We’ve had backs that haven’t really practiced, we’re trying to get a bunch of different things going, all of which is an excuse that just is what I think is for weak-minded people.

"I’m not going to make them, but we just got to continue to keep swinging and keep plugging along and figure it out because nobody cares, and we’ve got to fix it.” 

The Rams' Week 6 game at home against the Carolina Panthers (1-4) may be Los Angeles’ best chance to fix the running game. Carolina has allowed the sixth-most rushing yards this season (689), and the team recently fired head coach Matt Rhule, defensive coordinator Phil Snow and assistant special teams coach Ed Foley. 

If the Rams can’t run this week, it may be a while before they do. Their next three opponents — the San Francisco 49ers (3-2), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2) and Arizona Cardinals (2-3) — have stout run defenses.

Fantasy alert! Fantasy managers should consider playing Rams RB Cam Akers against Carolina. He is averaging just 4.6 points per game in PPR leagues, but the Panthers have allowed the seventh-most points to running backs, per NFL Fantasy.