Sean McVay: Rams Are Different Team When Kyren Williams Plays

The Los Angeles Rams have had some breakout young stars this season with one of them being running back Kyren Williams.

Williams didn’t even begin the season as the Rams starter although that changed quickly as he established himself early in the season not only as L.A.’s best running back, but one of the best in the league period.

In 11 games this season, Williams has rushed for 1,057 yards and nine touchdowns, averaging 5.1 yards per carry while also adding 30 receptions for 192 yards and three touchdowns through the air. Williams averages 96.1 yards per game on the ground, which is the best mark in the league.

The Rams’ success has largely correlated with Williams being on the field as they are 7-4 with him and 1-3 without him. Since he has returned from an ankle injury, the Rams have gone 4-1 with the lone loss being to the Baltimore Ravens in overtime. In those games, the team has scored 37, 36, 31, 28 and 30 points.

One person who doesn’t mind admitting that the Rams are a different team when Williams plays is head coach Sean McVay, via Jourdan Rodrigue of The Athletic:

“No doubt, we’re different when he plays,” McVay said. “I mean, you just look at it. I mean, now there’s enough inventory and the energy, the production, just the overall work ethic. I mean, there are so many guys on this team that you just say, man, they are exactly what we’re looking for in Rams. I love him.”

McVay added that the energy Williams has brought the team since returning from injury has uplifted everyone and played a major part in the Rams’ recent hot streak:

“He’s not naïve to the fact too that his energy just being out there, it’s uplifting to people,” coach Sean McVay said. “It’s uplifting to his teammates, to me, to his coaches and so once he got back out there, I think there wasn’t anybody that was more excited for his return than he was.

“We were all excited, but he was champing at the bit.”

Anyone who has watched the Rams over the last month or so will agree with what McVay is saying when it comes to Williams. Not only has he transformed the Rams’ rushing attack, but he also helps in the pass game with his receiving and blocking abilities.

In just his second NFL season, Williams has emerged as one of the best running backs in the league and should only continue to improve moving forward. The Rams have a real star at running back, their first since Todd Gurley, and they made it happen with just a fifth round pick in 2022.

Kyren Williams eager for more rushing yards

Even though Williams reached the 1,000-yard rushing mark in just 11 games this season, he is not satisfied there as he recently discussed how he’s eager for more.