Todd Gurley – Page 14 – Syndication Server

Eagles Miles Sanders lands outside the top-20 in a ranking of NFL running backs

Miles Sanders is No. 21 in an NFL.com ranking of all 32 starting RB’s

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Miles Sanders is one of the most dynamic weapons on the Philadelphia Eagles offense, but he appears to be fighting for respect as the 2020 NFL season nears.

Maurice Jones-Drew was one of the top running backs in the NFL during his time with the Jaguars and now with the NFL Network as an analyst, the former UCLA star spends his time analyzing the running back position.

During a recent ranking of all 32 NFL starting running backs heading into the 2020 season, MJD ranked the Eagles star No. 21 on the list, right behind Jets star, Le’Veon Bell.

Miles Sanders
Philadelphia Eagles · Second season
2019 stats: 16 games | 179 att | 818 rush yds | 4.6 ypc | 3 rush TDs | 50 rec | 509 rec yds | 3 rec TDs

Sanders flashed during his rookie season, and we should expect to see more big plays out of him as the starter out of the gate in Year 2. The speed added in the passing game should open things up for the dual-threat back. He needs to prove he can be the player he was at Penn State consistently and that can handle the toll of being the guy for an entire season.

Sanders should be even more dynamic this season after making huge strides as a pass catcher during his rookie season. If the Eagles can open up things in the outside passing game, Sanders could have even more room to roam and wreak havoc.

Christian McCaffrey was the number player on the list followed by Ezekiel Elliott (2), Nick Chubb (3), Alvin Kamara (4), and Joe Mixon who rounded out the top-five.

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Falcons’ offensive weapons ranked No. 12 by ESPN

After two hype-filled offseasons yielded underwhelming results, Atlanta Falcons fans are taking a wait-and-see approach in 2020.

General Manager Thomas Dimitroff let starters De’Vondre Campbell, Austin Hooper and Vic Beasley walk out the door, and the team will be counting on several younger, inexperienced players to pick up the slack.

Offensively, Atlanta signed All-Pro running back Todd Gurley to replace Devonta Freeman. Plus, the team traded for Ravens tight end Hayden Hurst to replace Hooper.

The Falcons’ offense, which ranked No. 30 in rushing yards per game in 2019, enters year two under offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter. Will this be a bounce-back season for Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and company, or will the unit be bogged down by lack of balance yet again?

According to ESPN, the Falcons will be just outside of the top ten offensively. Bill Barnwell ranked all 32 offenses and Atlanta came in at No. 12:

The Falcons are in transition as they try to shift badly needed resources from their offense to their defense. They’ve downgraded by dropping from Mohamed Sanu and Austin Hooper to Russell Gage and Hayden Hurst, although I’m optimistic about the former first-round pick Hurst’s chances of repeating Hooper’s production with the expanded role. Running back Todd Gurley is likely an upgrade on the oft-injured Devonta Freeman and will certainly be better as a receiver. Gurley has a high ceiling thanks to this offensive line and a low floor as a result of his knee condition; he could be an Offensive Player of the Year candidate or he could sputter through five games and miss the rest of the year.

Gurley is perhaps the biggest question mark of the bunch. Released by the Rams only two years after signing one of the biggest contract extensions by a running back ever, Gurley has a lot to prove in 2020.

The Falcons should also benefit from an improved offensive line as both of the team’s 2019 first-round picks — Kaleb McGary and Chris Lindstrom — gained valuable experience during last year’s roller coaster of a season.

Familiarity with the system, more continuity up front and lower expectations could be just what Atlanta needs to sneak back into the playoffs in 2020.

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2020 CFB countdown: 63 days until Georgia Football

Join us as we count down the days until Georgia kicks-off in Atlanta!

There are 63 days until Georgia football kicks-off versus Virginia in Atlanta on Sept. 7.

Flash-back to Georgia versus Buffalo in 2012 – Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray finds receiver Tavarres King for a 63-yard touchdown to put the Bulldogs up 23-6 in the second quarter.

Watch it here:

It was the No. 6 Bulldogs’ first game of the season, as well as the first time Georgia star running back Todd Gurley suited up between the hedges. Gurley shined and Georgia would go on to win against Buffalo 45-23.

Here’s the moment we knew TG3 was special….

Georgia football play of the day

Join us here for the Georgia football play of the day!

It’s Monday, June 22, and today’s play of the day is from Georgia at Clemson in 2013.

Sophomore Todd Gurley took the infamous Georgia power-I toss off of the right guard and beat the Clemson defense to the end-zone for a 75-yard touchdown early in the first quarter.

The Tigers would go on to score a couple of late touchdowns to win 38-35 but Gurley torched Clemson for 154 yards on only 12 carries.

Unfortunately, this would also be the last play of the season for wide receiver Malcolm Mitchell, who actually roe his ACL while celebrating with Gurley in the end zone.

“They jumped up and chest bumped, and he landed in a bad way. That’s when we knew something happened,” former Georgia coach Mark Richt said.

Watch it here:

2 Georgia Bulldogs make list of top-10 NFL RBs for 2020

CBS Sports released a list of the top ten running backs for the 2020 NFL season and included two former Georgia football stars.

CBS Sports recently released its list of the top-ten running backs in the NFL for the 2020 season and included two former Georgia Bulldogs.

#9 – Todd Gurley, Atlanta Falcons

Though I agree with Gurley being ranked inside the top-ten, I was not expecting to see him on this list, as he’s been written off by almost every media outlet all year.

But when he gets the ball in his hands, whether is he knee is at 100% or even 80% he’s still one of the best in the game.

Via CBS Sports:

It’s easy to take the lazy route and write off Gurley as damaged goods, but there’s nothing that actually indicates he’s damaged — unsubstantiated narratives and headlines aside. Gurley is only two years removed from having been made the highest-paid running back in NFL history, and he was awarded that contract (and early) by the Los Angeles Rams for a reason. The team released him this offseason in a move that felt more for cap workings and to end a mushrooming rift with head coach Sean McVay than due to an actual regression on the field, considering Gurley delivered 1,064 yards from scrimmage and 14 touchdowns in 2019, and he did it despite seeing his utilization scaled down by McVay.

#5 – Nick Chubb, Cleveland Browns

Chubb may even be higher up on this list next year.

Via CBS:

Like Gurley, Chubb is a former Georgia Bulldog who has proven he can dominate at the NFL level as a runner and a receiver — landing honors as a Pro Bowler in his first season as a full-time starter. The Browns, yet again, have a lot to figure out, but the running back position isn’t one of those things. Chubb is an animal by any and all measure, and the fact Cleveland was able to secure him without using a first-round pick is a coup.

Former Georgia RB Todd Gurley makes ESPN’s NFC West All-Decade Team

Former Georgia football RB Todd Gurley makes ESPN’s NFC West All-Decade Team from his time with the Los Angeles Rams.

ESPN recently compiled an all-decade team for each division in the NFL.

For its NFC West team, one former Georgia Bulldog made the squad, and that was Todd Gurley, who spent five years with the Los Angeles Rams, the team that drafted him 10th overall in 2010.

Gurley is one of two running backs on the team, with the other being Seattle Seahawks legend Marshawn Lynch.

From 2015-19, Gurley tallied 7,423 total yards and scored 70 total touchdowns.

Gurley’s accolades include:

3x Pro Bowler
2x First Team All-Pro
Second Team All-Pro
NFL Offensive Player of the Year
2x NFL Rushing TD Leader
NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year
PFWA All-Rookie Team

Gurley was released by the Los Angeles Rams this offseason and is now with the Atlanta Falcons.

Georgia Bulldogs fantasy football rankings

Where do Georgia Bulldogs like Nick Chubb, Todd Gurley, and Sony Michel rank in NFL Fantasy Football heading into the 2020 season?

Where are the best Georgia Bulldogs ranked for 2020’s fantasy football season? If fans aren’t allowed at NFL games, then fantasy football will be a larger part of the NFL season than ever.

Todd Gurley has recently been a popular number one overall pick, but this year he’s ranked lower due to injury concerns. These rankings, by ESPN’s Mike Clay, are based on scoring in a standard league (non-PPR).

15th: Nick Chubb

Nov 10, 2019; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb (24) runs the ball during the second quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. Credit: Scott R. Galvin-USA TODAY Sports

35th: Todd Gurley

Oct 20, 2019; Atlanta; Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) catches a touchdown pass in front of a Atlanta Falcons defensive end during the first half. Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

55th: D’Andre Swift

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Georgia football play of the day

Watch the Georgia football play of the day here.

Today’s play of the day comes from Georgia at Missouri in 2014. Running back Brendan Douglas takes the ball off left tackle from the power-I and does a somersault over a Missouri defender into the endzone for a 15-yard touchdown late in the third quarter.

Watch it here:

The 13th ranked Bulldogs would go on to beat 23rd ranked Missouri 34-0 on their home field despite star running backs Keith Marshall (injury) and Todd Gurley (suspension) being out of the game. Freshman Nick Chubb led the Georgia backfield with 38 carries for 143 yards and one touchdown.

Who were the RBs with biggest cap hits in 2019 and how did they perform?

Take a look at the running backs with the biggest cap hits from the 2019 season and how they performed.

The Minnesota Vikings find themselves in a bit of a pickle. Running back Dalvin Cook wants a new contract. While Cook is a huge part of the team’s offense, we also know it’s not super smart to pay running backs big money.

Need proof?

Take a look at the running backs with the biggest cap hits from the 2019 season and how they performed:

All contract information courtesy of Spotrac:

David Johnson – Cardinals, $9.65 million

After running for 1,239 yards and 16 touchdowns in 2016, things haven’t been great for Johnson. Johnson ran for just 345 yards and two touchdowns last season to go with 36 catches for 370 yards. His 3.7 yards per attempt is downright miserable.

He’ll get a fresh start in Houston in 2020, but the three-year, $39 million deal with $32 million guaranteed he signed with the Cardinals was a mistake.

Todd Gurley – Rams, $9.2 million

Another player who will be on a new team in 2020.

Gurley ran for a career-low 857 yards last season at just 3.8 yards per attempt. The problem with Gurley has been his knees, which is obviously super concerning since he’s only 25 years old.

We’ll see if he can turn things around in Atlanta this season where he’s on a one-year, $5.5 million deal.

Le’Veon Bell – Jets, $8.9 million

After missing all of 2018 waiting for a new contract, Bell’s return to the league wasn’t ideal. In his first season with the Jets, Bell ran for 789 yards and averaged just 3.2 yards per carry.

His 1,250 yards from scrimmage was the lowest mark of his career outside of the 2015 season when he played just six games.

Leonard Fournette – Jaguars, $7.4 milion

Fournette is still on his rookie deal, but when you draft a player fourth-overall, this is the contract you get. There’s been talk about Fournette being traded, and it’s not because of his skillset. In 2019, Fournette ran for 1,152 yards (4.2 ypc) and three touchdowns to go with 76 catches for 522 yards. Not great numbers, but solid. It’s just hard to justify that cap hit.

Lamar Miller – Texans, $7.2 million

Miller missed the whole 2019 season after tearing his ACL. That wasn’t great timing considering it was the last year of a four-year, $26 million deal.

Miller was fine the three years before that, averaging right around 978 yards per season while averaging 4.1 yards per carry.

Miller is still an unrestricted free agent.

Matt Ryan praises the Falcons’ offensive weapons

The Atlanta Falcons have rarely been low on offensive play-makers during GM Thomas Dimitroff’s tenure with the team.

When the 2020 season kicks off, quarterback Matt Ryan will again be surrounded by a plethora weapons. The Falcons added RB Todd Gurley and TE Hayden Hurst. Plus, the team’s formidable wide receiver duo of Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley should be as good as ever.

In a feature by Falcons reporter Kelsey Conway, Ryan gave his thoughts on a few of Atlanta’s receivers and tight ends after working out with them this offseason. The former MVP QB was excited about what Ridley and Russell Gage will bring as they enter their third year with the team.

“Calvin Ridley, he’s been working extremely hard,” Ryan said. “He looks great, he’s been putting in a ton of extra time this offseason. We’ve spent a ton of time together. Russell Gage has been amazing. He’s a guy that I think feels a lot more comfortable after having played the second half of last season. He’s in a spot where he knows his role and he knows how we’re going to use him.”

Ryan was also very high on both tight ends Hayden Hurst and Jaeden Graham, saying the following in Conway’s article:

“You mentioned Hayden, he’s been traveling all across the country to make it work and to find a way to get together,” Ryan said. “Jaeden Graham is another guy who has [been there] every time I [have] and ready to go.”

The man everyone will be most excited to see is Gurley, a former All-Pro and NFL touchdown machine. Ryan pointed out how impressed he is with his new running back’s mind.

“He looked great, healthy and ready to go,” Ryan said of Gurley. “I was impressed with that. The thing that struck me the most though was how smart of a player that he is and his ability to retain information, to not have to circle back on things the next day.”

The Falcons’ running game was near the bottom of league, averaging 85.1 yards per game in 2019. Gurley’s presence along with a healthier offensive line should help the team get its rushing attack back on track.

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