Analysis

3/11/23

6 min read

RB Athletic Archetype Guide: Los Angeles Rams

By Nic Bodiford

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Welcome to The 33rd Team’s Athletic Archetypes series. These pieces will break down the preferred, position-specific athletic profiles utilized by NFL general managers. The purpose of the series is to help identify team-specific 2023 NFL Draft targets at the running back position.

NFL Combine data will be used whenever possible. Pro-day data will be used in a supplementary capacity if and when a player chooses not to participate in a combine drill or if the combine data is not available. Pro-day data is marked using an asterisk except for arm length and hand length, which is always collected at pro days.

NFL Draft Scout is the primary data source, with Relative Athletic Score used as the preferred backup. 

Other Archetypes: ARZ | ATL | BUF | CAR | CHI | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | KC | LAC | LV | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | SF | SEA | TB | WAS

Rams' RB Prototype

GM Les Snead (2012 - Present)

Sample Size: 11 NFL Running Backs

• Snead was hired as general manager by the then-St. Louis Rams before the 2012 NFL season. 
• He has drafted 10 running backs since in the NFL Draft. 
• Veteran running back Sony Michel was acquired via trade in the 2021 NFL offseason and has been included in the data sample. 
• Snead worked in the Jacksonville Jaguars' (1995-1997) and Atlanta Falcons’ (1998-2011) scouting departments before his St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams hiring. 
• The tables below show Snead’s preferred running back athletic archetypes based on data from 2012-to-present day.

• Snead drafted a pair of sub-200-pound running backs in his first draft (2012), and the experience left a negative impression. He didn't draft another sub-200-pounder until Kyren Williams (199 pounds) in 2022. 
• Since drafting Todd Gurley (222 pounds) in 2015, Snead’s running backs, acquired via trade or the NFL Draft, average 211 pounds. 
• After drafting the undersized yet hyper-athletic Daryl Richardson in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL Draft, Snead never approached the archetype again. Richardson’s 40.5-inch vertical is the group’s highest mark, and he is one of just three running backs to clear 35.5 inches. Richardson’s 11-foot-3 broad jump leads the sample by nine inches. He is one of just two running backs to clear 10-foot-2.
• Williams is a negative-threshold outlier, signaling either a need-based deviation or looser thresholds. He is the only running back possessing sub-30-inch arms (28.625) and a sub-33-inch vertical (32). The upcoming NFL Draft hopefully will provide clarity on these categories.
• Gurley (6-foot-1) is the only Snead-drafted running back standing taller than 5-foot-10. 
• Including Gurley, Los Angeles has added seven running backs to the roster via the draft or trade since 2015. Five of the seven weighed at least 208 pounds. Four weighed at least 215 pounds. 
• Three of Los Angeles’ last five running backs ran faster than a 1.51-second 10-yard split in the 40-yard dash.
• Snead appears to have de-emphasized the three-cone drill’s importance from 2014-2022. 
• In December 2018 Gurley was hampered by chronic knee issues, and Snead chose to sign journeyman running back C.J. Anderson to compete in Gurley’s stead. Snead largely held true to his preferred archetype with the signing. Anderson’s 32-inch vertical jump may be the harbinger for a change in Snead’s vertical jump bottom threshold. 
• Anderson is not included in the sample as he played only five games for Los Angeles. His data can be found at the bottom of the article.

Physical Traits Rams Will Target

• Roughly 5-foot-10
• 208 pounds or more, likely close to 215 pounds
• 30-inch minimum arm length
• Hands at least nine inches long
• Roughly a 4.53-second 40-yard dash (or better)
• A 10-yard split equal to or less than 1.53 seconds
• Roughly a 4.30-second 20-yard short shuttle
• Roughly a 10-foot-2 broad jump
• A vertical jump likely from 32-38 inches
• Roughly 20 bench-press repetitions

Potential 2023 RB Targets

• Bijan Robinson, Texas: 5-foot-11, 215 pounds, 31.25-inch arms, 9.75-inch hands, 4.46-second 40-yard dash, a 1.52-second 10-yard split, a 10-foot-4 broad jump and a 37-inch vertical jump (scouting report)
• Zach Charbonnet, UCLA: 214 pounds, 32-inch arms, 9.88-inch hands, 10-foot-2 broad jump and a 4.53-second 40-yard dash. Charbonnet’s height (6 feet), 10-yard split (1.54 seconds), and bench press repetitions (18) could remove him from consideration (scouting report)
• Chase Brown, Illinois: 5-foot-9.5, 209 pounds, 31-inch arms, 10-inch hands, 4.43-second 40-yard dash, 1.53-second 10-yard split, 10-foot-7 broad jump, 25 bench press repetitions and a 40-inch vertical jump (scouting report)
• Kendre Miller, TCU: 5-foot-11, 215 pounds, 32.38-inch arms and 9.38-inch hands. He did not compete at the NFL Combine (scouting report)
• Roschon Johnson, Texas: 6 feet, 219 pounds, 32-inch arms, 9.63-inch hands, 4.58-second 40-yard dash, 1.52-second 10-yard split, 10-foot-2 broad jump. His 31.5-inch vertical jump is 0.5 inches below the threshold (scouting report)
• Evan Hull, Northwestern: 5-foot-10, 209 pounds, 30.63-inch arms, 9.25-inch hands, 4.47-second 40-yard dash, 1.53-second 10-yard split, 10-foot-3 broad jump, 37-inch vertical, 4.38-second short shuttle and 21 bench press repetitions. His 6.90-second three-cone is very good
• Deneric Prince, Tulsa: 6 feet, 216 pounds, 31.25-inch arms, 9.25-inch hands, 4.41-second 40-yard dash, 1.53-second 10-yard split, 10-foot-4 broad jump and 35.5-inch vertical

Measurements for Rams' RB

Athletic Testing for Rams' RBs

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Nic Bodiford

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Nic Bodiford contributes to The 33rd Team's fantasy football department and works elsewhere as an analyst and editor in written, video and audio mediums. These works can be found at Pro Football Focus, 4for4, Nerdball and Fake Teams. Nic moonlights at Legendary Upside by editing Pat Kerrane's weekly article, The Walkthrough.