Kyren Is a Fumbler We have to live with it for now. But I hope this is his last year as a Ram; I really do.https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1191665#msg-1191665Wed, 13 May 2026 23:56:32 -0400 Phorum 5.2.18 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192522#msg-1192522 Thanks for thathttps://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192522#msg-1192522 Hazlet Hacksaw RamsFootballFans.comSun, 05 Oct 2025 13:01:02 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192521#msg-1192521 Well, in an important way... IMHO....https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192521#msg-1192521 JamesJM RamsFootballFans.comSun, 05 Oct 2025 13:00:09 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192517#msg-1192517 Re: Has two fumbleshttps://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192517#msg-1192517 Classicalwit RamsFootballFans.comSun, 05 Oct 2025 12:30:47 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192516#msg-1192516 Has two fumbleshttps://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192516#msg-1192516 Hazlet Hacksaw RamsFootballFans.comSun, 05 Oct 2025 12:19:56 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192504#msg-1192504 All true and yet....https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192504#msg-1192504
You say KW is coachable. I agree... in most ways yes.... but that instinct he has to release one arm I don't think he's going to overcome. Would have by now if he was going too.]]> JamesJM RamsFootballFans.comSun, 05 Oct 2025 10:05:54 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192502#msg-1192502 Re: Corum's dropshttps://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192502#msg-1192502
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mtramfan
Solution: Quit throwing or pitching to him.

Have him run the ball and block.

Corum has dropped the last 3 passes thrown to him and the dropped pitch. Yeah, agree.]]> six2stack RamsFootballFans.comSun, 05 Oct 2025 09:53:12 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192253#msg-1192253 Re: My guess on the fumblehttps://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192253#msg-1192253
Not in any form.]]> Classicalwit RamsFootballFans.comSat, 04 Oct 2025 04:15:38 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192250#msg-1192250 Re: I hate to say, ‘I told you so’, but…https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192250#msg-1192250
And as he played offense (tight end) why can't we use Verse as a short yardage back, not only to run but to set up some play-action rollouts into the end zone from a tight set?

I betcha Verse could hang onto a football so that NOBODY could punch it out.

And I betcha he could push a pile if there wasn't enough blocking to make a crease for him to run through.

I'd like to see Avila pull and Verse ride the Dotson-Avila train into the end zone.]]> mtramfan RamsFootballFans.comSat, 04 Oct 2025 02:37:57 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192236#msg-1192236 agreedhttps://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192236#msg-1192236 Speed_Kills RamsFootballFans.comFri, 03 Oct 2025 23:40:54 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192232#msg-1192232 Re: My guess on the fumblehttps://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192232#msg-1192232
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Classicalwit
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21Dog
Also not excusing Kyren, but that was a very good play by the SF rookie DT.

Why don't Rams rookie defenders do that? Or any of their defenders for crying out loud. They don't make plays like that against good teams when the chips are down.

Guess you missed Landman's punch out against the the Texans.]]> 21Dog RamsFootballFans.comFri, 03 Oct 2025 21:30:38 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192217#msg-1192217 Yeah, we can tolerate the lack of explosiveness…https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192217#msg-1192217
I’m not sure how much more of that McVay can take.

Myself? I now consider Kyren a net liability out there.]]> Rams_43 RamsFootballFans.comFri, 03 Oct 2025 20:40:59 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192216#msg-1192216 Thank ya kindly sirhttps://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192216#msg-1192216
Talk about a twofer.

And I mean, he woulda scored with two hands on the ball anyway.

Just unnecessary.]]> Drew2839 RamsFootballFans.comFri, 03 Oct 2025 20:38:53 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192212#msg-1192212 Re: I hate to say, ‘I told you so’, but…https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192212#msg-1192212
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Rams_43
Kyren has many fine qualities as a RB, teammate, and person. But his fumbles outweigh those other qualities. It was a major factor in that Eagle playoff game and now this loss to the hated 49ers.

I think this is part of the problem. The Rams place too much emphasis on qualities other than raw, athletic ability like size, strength, and speed.

At the end of the day they end up in physical mismatches with a lot of their opponents.]]> Classicalwit RamsFootballFans.comFri, 03 Oct 2025 20:31:04 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192210#msg-1192210 Re: Corum's dropshttps://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192210#msg-1192210
Have him run the ball and block.]]> mtramfan RamsFootballFans.comFri, 03 Oct 2025 20:23:47 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192208#msg-1192208 Re: My guess on the fumblehttps://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192208#msg-1192208
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21Dog
Also not excusing Kyren, but that was a very good play by the SF rookie DT.

Why don't Rams rookie defenders do that? Or any of their defenders for crying out loud. They don't make plays like that against good teams when the chips are down.]]> Classicalwit RamsFootballFans.comFri, 03 Oct 2025 20:18:02 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192205#msg-1192205 Re: Great post mt - thanks! One thing I'd add...https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192205#msg-1192205
Receivers can work out with the jugs machine to improve their hands. Kyren can't do that to improve ball security.

The coach has to develop and implement the live contact drills drills that will help the player 1.0 unlearn the old habit (takes time and repetition) and 2.) learn a new habit in its place, and 3.) practice it until it becomes automatic.

It's as easy - and as difficult - as 1-2-3.

And that 1-2-3 coaching hasn't happened with Kyren.]]> mtramfan RamsFootballFans.comFri, 03 Oct 2025 20:13:31 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192202#msg-1192202 I hate to say, ‘I told you so’, but…https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192202#msg-1192202
But nooooo…

Rams just had to extend him early for $33M so now we’re stuck.

Kyren has many fine qualities as a RB, teammate, and person. But his fumbles outweigh those other qualities. It was a major factor in that Eagle playoff game and now this loss to the hated 49ers.

Corum has developed hands of stone and fumbled once himself.

And McVay won’t let Hunter sniff the field through 5 games.

So I think it’s fair to say that Rams have painted themselves into a corner at the RB position. Unbelievable…]]> Rams_43 RamsFootballFans.comFri, 03 Oct 2025 19:52:45 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192154#msg-1192154 heres the play Drewhttps://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192154#msg-1192154x.com]

You can see here he actually does have two hands on the ball and begins to drops one just before he gets hit in the head, and the defenders follow through, extends to the ball, knocking it out

Not sure why Kyren would drop his arm other than thinking he was in the clear]]> Speed_Kills RamsFootballFans.comFri, 03 Oct 2025 16:51:20 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192138#msg-1192138 Great post mthttps://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192138#msg-1192138
Do you think KW has been told about this? Most likely more than once, I would assume. At some point it's up to the player to remember what he was taught since Pop Warner...3 points of contact. High and tight. Protect the ball at all times.

AI Overview
While "3 points of contact" isn't the standard term, running backs secure the ball with a minimum of five points of pressure: fingertips, palm, forearm, bicep, and chest. The term "three points" likely refers to the key parts of the hand-to-ball connection, which involves the fingers in an "eagle claw" grip, the palm, and the forearm wrapping the ball tightly against the body.
The "High and Tight" Technique
The goal is to keep the ball "high and tight" against the body to prevent defenders from stripping it. This involves:

Eagle Claw Grip:
The fingertips wrap around the nose of the ball, with the second and third fingers squeezing.

Palm and Forearm:
The palm then applies pressure to the front third of the ball, and the forearm covers the "belly" of the ball.
Bicep and Chest:
The bicep and chest press against the inside of the ball, creating a tight, compressed fit.

Why This Works

Harder to Strip:
The multiple points of pressure make the ball harder for defenders to dislodge.

Reduced Exposed Ball:
Keeping the ball against the body, with the elbow tight to the body, leaves less surface area for a defender to grab or hit.
Maintains Ball Tip Up:
The eagle claw and high-and-tight position naturally keep the ball's tip up, which is a key part of securing it and keeping the elbow tight to the body.]]> Ramsdude RamsFootballFans.comFri, 03 Oct 2025 16:20:56 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192129#msg-1192129 Re: It was an inexcusable decision by KW.https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192129#msg-1192129
Kyren is certainly coachable. To continue to make the same mistake is on coaching, not the player. but still - inexcusable.

Remember Kurt Warner learning to take the hit when releasing the ball by his high school coack's "kill Kurt" drill? Repetition in practice until the new habit is formed, and then repeating it again, and again, and again - until it become automatic - is how new habits become lmost instinctive. This is basic learning theory.

That's the reason players have drills instead of one-time demos. If Kyren were my player I'd teach him how to hold a football. Then I'd invent drills that he had to repeat until the old bad habit was unlearned, (tough to do, but certainly possible - repetitionis the key) and the new good habit was formed in its place. I'd vary the drill, using no dummys, dummys, live bodies, and have him repeat, and repeat, vary the drill slightly, repeat, repeat, and repeat, until he was sick of it. Then rinse and repeat again.

Then, like the great Lombardi did with a notorious fumbler who came into his camp, I'd have him carry a football everywhere - including cafeteria, lockerroom, meetings, and reward the players who could punch the ball out and penalize the guy if he let it happen.

Result: The Golden Boy from Notre Dame, who was a fumbler when he came into the league, became, in Lombardi's words, the greatest player he ever coached - Paul Hornung. I watched a lot of Green Bay football in the Lombardi era and I never - ever - recall seeing Paul Hornung fumble. He was as sure-handed as they come, but fumbling had to be coached out of him.

And like any skill that one must maintain, it doesn't maintain itself. Great musicians practice familiar passages that were once difficult again and again between performances. Spec ops guys, like my Army Ranger squad leader and sniper nephew, spend their time between missions doing PT and on the range, shooting.

If I were Kyren's position coach I'd have him doing ball security all through camp and extra sets of ball security drills between games every week - not as punishment for having fumbled, but to help and inspire him to achieve and maintain his highest possible level of personal excellence.

It's tough love among other things: I love you too much to watch you go through the agony you did against the Eagles and the 49ers ever again. I want to give you all I can to help you overcome that, take what was once gut wrenching defeat and turn it into game-winning victory that rests on your shoulders.

Cam Akers fumbled, Williams continues to fumble, and in a brief sampling, Corum fumbled. Only Ronnie Rivers didn't fumble as a running back since 2023 whern Ron Gould came on board as running backs coach, and Rivers came into the league having never fumbled in college. Whaty does that tell us?

Maybe it's time top hold Coach Gould's feet to the fire - for HC McVay to demand that he get this aspect of our running game cleaned up. The fundamentals never get outdated.]]> mtramfan RamsFootballFans.comFri, 03 Oct 2025 15:58:36 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192106#msg-1192106 Re: My guess on the fumblehttps://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192106#msg-1192106
Saleh is a detail-oriented coach. He no doubt has watched plenty of KW film and has no doubt spotted a weakness. The same weakness carries over to Corum apoparently.

Saleh has his guys coached up, has paid attention to this detail: Punch the ball out from underneath when Kyren Williams hits the pile running up the middle on short yardage plays.His left hand comes off the ball every time. Time the punch for that moment every time you have the chance.

Kyren has been to training camp often enough for this flaw in his game to be addresed and cured. In my view, (and I've written about it elsewhere,) his basic technique in carrying the ball is still wrong and needs to be changed. And that's on his position coach.]]> mtramfan RamsFootballFans.comFri, 03 Oct 2025 14:55:02 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192077#msg-1192077 Re: Someone on the GTF nailed it..Cleveland Gary ll...nmhttps://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192077#msg-1192077
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Arkansas Ram
.

Scary Gary....]]> Old Goat RamsFootballFans.comFri, 03 Oct 2025 14:26:35 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192074#msg-1192074 No Problem Drewhttps://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192074#msg-1192074
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Drew2839
Makes my stomach hurt thinking about that fumble.

Gonna take a bit for the sting to heal from this one.

I feel the same way as you! This one will sting for a while. The good news??? We get another shot at those whiners! We have to win that one!]]> Ramsdude RamsFootballFans.comFri, 03 Oct 2025 14:22:49 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192065#msg-1192065 Thanks for the clarification, 'Dudehttps://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192065#msg-1192065
Gonna take a bit for the sting to heal from this one.]]> Drew2839 RamsFootballFans.comFri, 03 Oct 2025 14:09:33 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192059#msg-1192059 He took his one hand off the ball to brace for contact with groundhttps://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192059#msg-1192059
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Drew2839
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Speed_Kills
(and yes by the way it could have been flagged for blow/punch to the head)

I guess I missed that but the guys on the radio were talking about that this morning.

I'll have to go back and re-watch it (do I really want to though????), but is it possible that pop to the head rung his bell enough to cause him to fumble?

Like I said, I haven't re-watched it, and in my seething anger at that moment I don't remember much of it in real time lol.

He took his one hand off the ball to brace for contact with ground but the defender punched out right as he went to one hand.

He should ALWAYS use 2 hands at the goal line or anytime running into traffic like that. It was an inexcusable decision by KW.]]> Ramsdude RamsFootballFans.comFri, 03 Oct 2025 14:00:14 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192054#msg-1192054 Re: I agree with all of thathttps://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192054#msg-1192054
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Speed_Kills
(and yes by the way it could have been flagged for blow/punch to the head)

I guess I missed that but the guys on the radio were talking about that this morning.

I'll have to go back and re-watch it (do I really want to though????), but is it possible that pop to the head rung his bell enough to cause him to fumble?

Like I said, I haven't re-watched it, and in my seething anger at that moment I don't remember much of it in real time lol.]]> Drew2839 RamsFootballFans.comFri, 03 Oct 2025 13:48:40 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192047#msg-1192047 they are very similar for sure nmhttps://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192047#msg-1192047 Speed_Kills RamsFootballFans.comFri, 03 Oct 2025 13:26:53 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192042#msg-1192042 Kyren seems better at....https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192042#msg-1192042 JamesJM RamsFootballFans.comFri, 03 Oct 2025 13:19:16 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192033#msg-1192033 that andhttps://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192033#msg-1192033 Speed_Kills RamsFootballFans.comFri, 03 Oct 2025 12:58:56 -0400 https://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192029#msg-1192029 Re: Someone on the GTF nailed it..Cleveland Gary ll...nmhttps://ramsrule.com/herd/read.php?19,1191665,1192029#msg-1192029 Ohiorams RamsFootballFans.comFri, 03 Oct 2025 12:56:27 -0400