Matthew Stafford sees Odell Beckham Jr. and Sony Michel gaining comfort in Rams offense

[theramswire.usatoday.com] Matthew Stafford sees Odell Beckham Jr. and Sony Michel gaining comfort in Rams offense

Skyler Carlin
January 6, 2022 10:23 am PT

Odell Beckham Jr. and Sony Michel were both notable additions by the Los Angeles Rams this year, with Michel being acquired before Week 1 and Beckham signing mid-season. While both of them took some time to adjust to their new team, they both have crucial roles in the offense now.

Ahead of Sunday’s second meeting with the San Francisco 49ers, Matthew Stafford iterated how Beckham and Michel have adjusted from earlier in the season to now, specifically pointing out how Beckham’s first game with the Rams was against the 49ers.


“Those guys are more integrated into what we’re doing. Odell, I think that was his first game here. He showed up on the Thursday and was able to play in the game on (Monday), which was really impressive and it’s (inaudible) to his ability to get ready to be a professional,” Stafford said. “But those guys feel a whole lot more comfortable going into this game as do I with them. And I think as seasons go on, teams evolve and change – both personnel and schematics. So, it’ll be a different game than when we played them the first time. But, it’ll still be a huge challenge for us.”

Michel was acquired by the Rams in a trade with the New England Patriots before the regular season began. The former first-round pick was brought in to provide depth at the running back position amid the injuries that occurred in the backfield.

After beginning the season in a limited role, Michel has become the go-to running back for the Rams over the past five weeks, providing a much-needed spark in the offense. In the past five weeks alone, Michel has rushed for 497 yards and three touchdowns on 108 attempts.

That being said, Michel’s role could alter in the coming weeks with the return of Cam Akers. Akers is set to make his season debut for the Rams on Sunday just five months after tearing his Achilles.

Meanwhile, Beckham arrived on the Rams later in the season, joining Los Angeles in Week 10 following his release from the Cleveland Browns. When Beckham signed with the Rams, it was on a Thursday, giving him only three days to prepare for the first meeting with the 49ers.

Since joining Los Angeles, Beckham has contributed 287 yards and five touchdowns — including the game-winning touchdown in Week 17 — on 25 receptions. Even though he’s not the run-blocker that Robert Woods is, Beckham has been a welcomed addition amid Woods’ unfortunate season-ending knee injury.

With the Rams gearing up to square off with the 49ers for the second time this season, Stafford believes Beckham and Michel will be more prepared this time around.