After Sunday's loss to the previously 1-4 Cardinals, Rams running back Kyren Williams had a simple explanation for the team's inconsistency on offense.
"Probably because I’m not out there," Williams said in the locker room.
On Monday, coach Sean McVay was asked whether he has spoken to Williams about his remarks.
“I have," McVay told reporters. "He brought it up to me. I wasn't aware of it. He's such an energy for us. He was emotional after the game. I know this guy's heart. He wants to make sure that he's influencing and effecting positive change. I think what he said it was more of, ‘I just always want to try to be that spark.’
"He was frustrated after the game, but his teammates know what he's about. When he explained it to me, I totally understood where he was coming from. He's a great leader for us. I think the way that it was interpreted was not what his intentions were. I know his teammates and I felt that way. He actually brought that up to me on his own. I was not aware of it until he brought it up to me.”
Against the Cardinals, Williams was on the field for 42 snaps, or 72 percent of the total workload. Blake Corum had 16 snaps, or 28 percent.
Williams had 10 carries for 50 yards, and Corum had nine for 42. (Williams had three catches for 17 yards, and Corum had two for 18 and a touchdown.)
Through six games, Williams's usage rate is at 71 percent, with 110 touches for 610 yards. Corum stands at 27 percent, with 56 touches for 314 yards.
The concern, then, doesn't seem to be just playing time. Corum gets the ball more frequently when he plays — 47.45 percent of the time. Williams gets the ball 35.94 percent of the time he's on the field.
Either way, Williams said what he said. And, as McVay explained it, Williams raised it with McVay and explained himself.