Tag: Todd Gurley

NFL legend LaDainian Tomlinson skeptical about Falcons RB Todd Gurley

Hall of Fame NFL RB Ladainian Tomlinson is doubtful about former Georgia football RB Todd Gurley and his future in the NFL.

Former Georgia Bulldogs running back Todd Gurley had somewhat of an off-year last season by his standards.

Coming off seasons in which he won Offensive Player of the Year and the NFC Championship, he was released by the very team that drafted him 10th overall in the first-round of the 2015 NFL Draft.

Former San Diego Chargers running back and Hall of Famer Ladainian Tomlinson weighed in on the state of Gurley, his knee and his future in the league.

“I was the first guy that thought Todd Gurley would bounce back in 2019. I just figured that what happened to him at the end of 2018 was a fluke and he would be fine in 2019. And I didn’t see that,” Tomlinson said during Friday’s episode of NFL Total Access.

Gurley suffered an ACL tear his junior year at UGA and the public had not seen any complications until late in the 2018 season.

“He averaged less than four yards a carry for the second time in his career,” said Tomlinson. “But beyond that, his longest run was 25 yards. So I see a guy that doesn’t have that explosiveness to him no more. I don’t believe he’s a guy that can hit the home run on every-single play. He can still be very serviceable. He still has double-digit touchdowns.”

Tomlinson’s feelings are that Gurley will be useful in situations such as goal-line plays, but will need a supporting cast to get through the season, and hopefully the playoffs.

“But I believe that at this point in his career, he’s going to need a committee of backs to help him stay fresh.” Tomlinson said. “We still may see situations where he might break out and have 125 yards, but those days of him having seven-yard runs, I don’t think we’re going to see that ever again from Todd Gurley. I think his knee is just too bad at this point.”

Gurley feels quite different about the situation.

He turned 1,483 touches (1,265 carries and 218 receptions) into 7,494 scrimmage yards (5,404 rushing and 2,090 receiving) for the Los Angeles Rams, averaging 5.1 yards per attempt (4.3 per rush and 9.6 per reception) and accounting for 70 touchdowns (58 rushing and 12 receiving) in 73 games (72 starts) from 2015-2019.

After being released by the Rams this offseason, Gurley signed a one-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons in March. Although Atlanta is not his hometown, playing college ball 71 miles up the road in Athens has made Georgia a second home for him.

Gurley is hoping to shake off the 2019 season in which he averaged 3.8 yards per carry and had a long run of 25 yards. He pounded 12 touchdowns, but the numbers were down from his previous years.

“Obviously, no one wants to get cut or traded or what not, but some things you can see coming, man, you know?” Gurley said on an episode of UNINTERRUPTED: We Run This Station.

Gurley understands that the Rams made a business decision, but is still hoping to prove himself as an elite back in the league.

“I’m excited, though.” said Gurley. “I’m not even going to lie. It’s like a good feeling, like a fresh start, but you’ve already been there before. So it’s like the comfortable feeling of just being able to go back to Georgia.”

CBS Sports analyst: ‘I think people are sleeping on the Falcons’

After entering the past two seasons with big expectations, back-to-back 7-9 finishes have caused the Atlanta Falcons to fall out of the national spotlight.

After entering the past two seasons with big expectations, back-to-back 7-9 finishes have caused the Atlanta Falcons to fall out of the national spotlight.

It’s understandable that NFL analysts are somewhat skeptical of buying into the Falcons this season, especially considering the Tampa Bay Buccaneers added quarterback Tom Brady and tight end Rob Gronkowski.

Not everyone is sleeping on Atlanta, though. CBS Sports analyst Danny Kanell recently suggested the team has one of the best offensive trios in the league, with Matt Ryan, Julio Jones and Todd Gurley.

Watch Kanell’s segment, as shared by CBS Sports HQ’s Twitter below:

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3 factors that could make or break the Falcons in 2020

No NFL team is without flaws when the season begins, although some have more concerns than others.

No NFL team is without flaws when the season begins, although some have more concerns than others. After missing the playoffs in 2018 and 2019, the Atlanta Falcons were more aggressive this offseason.

The team moved on from six of last year’s starters, and signed some of the biggest names on the free-agent market. Still, there are a few question marks surrounding the Falcons’ 2020 roster.

Here are three factors that could determine Atlanta’s success or failure this season.

Is Todd Gurley healthy?

Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

After the Rams bit a $10 million bullet by releasing running back Todd Gurley, the Falcons swooped in and landed the 25-year-old All-Pro on a one-year, $5.5 million contract. Gurley replaces Devonta Freeman — who wasn’t the same last season — in an attempt to improve a running game that averaged just 85.1 yards per contest in 2019. But is Gurley healthy? Last season, he averaged 3.8 yards per carry and didn’t look anywhere close to the player he was in previous seasons.

Even in a down year, however, Gurley still went over 1,000 all-purpose yards and accounted for 14 touchdowns. With a left knee that’s been rumored to be arthritic, it’s worth wondering if the former first-round pick can get back to being the play-maker that nearly won the NFL’s MVP award two years ago. The Falcons had numerous chances to select a running back in the 2020 NFL Draft but opted against it, indicating the team is confident that Gurley will return to form.

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Falcons OC says only question mark for Todd Gurley is durability

Atlanta Falcons OC Dirk Koetter talks about the concerns with former Georgia football star, new Falcons running back Todd Gurley.

Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter was pretty straight forward with the media about new running back Todd Gurley and his health concerns.

The 25-year-old sixth year pro is reportedly dealing with arthritis in his surgically repaired left knee.

Per ESPN‘s Vaughn McClure:

“He can still do it. It’s just a matter of how often can he do it,” Koetter said.

After being released by the L.A. Rams, Gurley returned to Georgia to sign a one-year $5.5 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons this offseason. The former Georgia football star was drafted by the Rams in 2015 NFL Draft and in his five seasons Gurley made three Pro Bowls while being named to the All-Pro team twice, in addition to winning NFL Offensive Player of the Year in 2017.

However, in 2019, Gurley’s knee issues surfaced and the Rams questioned his durability – ultimately leading to his release just two years after signing a four-year extension worth $45 million guaranteed.

“This guy, when he’s at his best, he’s got speed, he’s got power, he can break tackles, he’s elusive, he can catch the ball out of the backfield,” Koetter continued. “We’ve all seen what he can do. His accolades speak for themselves. We just have to see how healthy he is and how consistently he can do it.”

Gurley’s deal with the Falcons is still awaiting a physical and due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Falcons staff hasn’t been able to evaluate him just yet.

“I know from talking to Todd that he’s fired up to be coming back to Georgia. He can do everything. He’s an excellent runner. He’s good in the pass game. He can protect. The main question that no one seems to know is, ‘What’s his health status? What’s his workload?’ He averaged about 17 touches a game last year, which is a little bit lower than he had been when he was All-Pro. We’re just going to have to find that out once we get here and get him working, get him up and running.”

Video: Falcons OC discusses health of RB Todd Gurley

The Atlanta Falcons brought home a Georgia favorite by signing running back Todd Gurley in free agency.

The Atlanta Falcons brought home a Georgia favorite by signing running back Todd Gurley in free agency. Since the team opted against adding another back in the 2020 NFL Draft, the pressure will be on Gurley, along with backups Ito Smith, Brian Hill and Qadree Ollison to carry the load this season.

Considering the Rams were willing to release Gurley despite the hefty salary cap ramifications, it’s fair to wonder if he can get back to being the All-Pro player he was a few years ago.

Talking with local media on Thursday morning, Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter gave his thoughts on Gurley’s expected role this season and uncertainty of his health due to the COVID-19 restrictions.

Watch the video below, as shared by ESPN’s Vaughn McClure:

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Falcons OC is already questioning Todd Gurley’s health

Dirk Koetter made a surprising statement about Todd Gurley on Thursday.

One of the biggest moves the Los Angeles Rams made this offseason was cutting Todd Gurley, who spent the previous five years with the team. It was a cap-saving decision, but also one that had to do with Gurley’s past knee issues.

He missed time at the end of the 2018 season and was limited throughout the playoffs that year, and last season, his workload was lessened in an attempt to keep him fresh. Now a member of the Atlanta Falcons after signing a one-year deal with them, Gurley’s knee has already become a question within the organization.

On Thursday, offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter said he doesn’t know the status of Gurley’s health.

“The main question is, that no one seems to know, is what is his health status? What’s his workload?” Koetter said on a conference call. “He averaged about 17 touches a game last year, which is a little bit lower than he had been when he was All-Pro. We’re just gonna have to find that out once we get here and get him working, get him up and running.”

That’s a shocking statement for the offensive coordinator to make after the team just paid Gurley $5.5 million. It also indicates there might be a disconnect between the front office and coaching staff with the way they view Gurley.

There are obvious questions about Gurley’s knee after his trainer said last year that there’s an “arthritic component” to it. His limited workload in 2019 would seem to indicate the Rams knew something was off, as did their decision to cut him.

Devonta Freeman is no longer in the picture in Atlanta, which leaves Gurley as the top running back on the depth chart. But how Koetter uses him remains to be seen.

Regardless, Gurley’s tenure in Atlanta isn’t off to a great start.

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Giants’ Saquon Barkley still feels like he ‘has something to prove’

New York Giants RB Saquon Barkley says he still has something to prove and isn’t thinking about his next contract.

When the New York Giants selected Saquon Barkley with the second overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, there were a significant number of people who were skeptical about the decision to take a running back that high despite the amount of hype surrounding the Penn State product.

Barkley is a star and there is no denying his talent when he is on the field. As he enters his third year in the league, the end of his rookie contract is becoming a bit more imminent.

The running back market was set earlier this year when the Carolina Panthers signed Christian McCaffrey to a four-year, $64 million contract — which Barkley addressed on Wednesday.

“I always feel like I’ve got something to prove. That’s always been my mindset. Always going to try to be the best player and person that I can be, not only for myself but for my team,” Barkley said. “For me, I’m a big believer of taking care of the little things first. That’s right now coming into the meetings and try to be the best leader, the best player I can from this, I don’t know what size of a box you would call it. I feel like if you take care of that the other things take care of themselves in the future.

“[But] when Christian signed that big contract the first thing that came to my mind was I’m happy for him.”

The “shelf life” for a running back is not considered long, which is something Barkley saw up close and person when the Rams released the 25-year-old Todd Gurley earlier this year.

“Yeah, definitely shocking. I know TG pretty well,” Barkley said. “Obviously it sucks that he had to leave the Rams, but he’s got a fresh new start and hopefully he can remind the league of how dominant of a player he is. No, I don’t need Todd Gurley getting traded or cut or however it happened to remind me how the NFL is. That’s just the NFL that’s the business. That’s why you have to try to take advantage of it every single day you can.”

Barkley and the Giants offense are now working with offensive coordinator Jason Garrett. Garrett was with the Dallas Cowboys where his offense had some success in the rushing game before coming to the Giants this offseason.

“I like watching running backs and learning from them. It’s cool to be able to go back and see some plays that I’ve watched before, now actually be on this side and actually understanding the play behind it, how it works for [Ezekiel Elliott],” Barkley said. “For me, I’ve just always believed and was always taught to believe in yourself. I feel like every year I’m going to try to improve and with the help of not just Jason Garrett’s offense but with my work ethic and my team that’s around me. Not only myself as an individual, I feel like we can be more productive on the offensive side of the ball and obviously all three phases of the game, playing complementary football.”

Barkley is certainly among the league’s best running backs and could get even better in years to come. Barkley seems focused on taking care of business on the field instead of worrying about his future contract.

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Former Georgia RB Todd Gurley reacts to LA Rams new uniforms

Georgia football great Todd Gurley, now on the Atlanta Falcons, responded to a tweet discussing the new LA Rams uniforms.

On Wednesday, the Los Angeles Rams revealed their rebranded uniforms that  the franchise will wear this season.

From ESPN, describing the new look:

The new look includes a blue jersey featuring yellow gradient numbering, with interchangeable blue or yellow pants. There is also an off-white jersey and pant combination. The Rams’ new helmet is a metallic chrome blue, with a gradient yellow horn and blue face mask.

Former Georgia running back Todd Gurley, a first round pick by the Rams in the 2015 draft, will not get a chance to wear LA’s new unis.

The Rams released Gurley back in March and he has since signed with the Atlanta Falcons.

And though Gurley did not express his thoughts on the new uniforms, which have received some mixed reviews, he did reply to a tweet that said he “dodged a bullet” by being cut.

His response was not much, just a few laughing emojis. But either way, Gurley looks best in red and black, which he’ll don again this year in Atlanta.

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2020 Fantasy Strength of Schedule: Rushing

2020 fantasy strength of schedule for receiving

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The strength of schedule for running backs only considers rushing yardage and scores. Since there is a great difference between how teams use them as receivers, that impacts the stats allowed by a defense. For a simpler and more 1:1 consideration, this is the strength of schedule for what only rushing production was allowed by defenses including each home or away venue.

Total Points

For fantasy contests and such, only total points matter so below are the total points for each rushing offense derived from their schedule against the averages allowed in 2019 by those defenses.

Weekly Play

Three different views are below. Week 1 to 16 is the full season fantasy strength of schedule. “The Dorey Rule” says to draft like the season only lasted the first six weeks for a hot start. Finally, Weeks 14 to 16 represent the most common fantasy playoff weeks. “Good” games were when they faced one of the top 22 venues from last year; “Bad” was when they played in one of the worst 22. The middle 20 matchups were neither good nor bad.

Notable schedules

Kenyan Drake (ARI) – He blew up over the final month in Arizona last year and sent David Johnson packing. Now Drake takes over the primary role for an up-and-coming offense with as much upside as most any back. Drake never faces one of the tougher venues until Week 10. That’s the way to start a season.

Todd Gurley (ATL) – His production waned last year and the Rams paid dearly to part ways. There is little competition in the Falcon’s backfield and Gurley scored at least 14 touchdowns in each of his last three years. By Week 13, he’ll go against only one bad venue and yet seven of the easier.  He may not run as well as he once did, but he’s always been money at the goal line.

Miles Sanders (PHI) – His solid rookie season ended with 4.6 yards-per-carry and he assumed a more full-time role after midseason. Jordan Howard is gone and Sanders faces the softest defenses in half of his games. October is rougher with Steelers, Ravens, and Cowboys, but his final eight weeks contain just one bad venue.

Ezekiel Elliott (DAL) – Like Sanders, Elliott has a tougher time in Weeks 8 to 11, but otherwise enjoys one of the lighter schedules of his career. That only solidifies his value as one of the initial fantasy draft picks.

Christian McCaffery (CAR) – This is just not fair. Other than two meetings with the Buccaneers and one trip to the Vikings, the No. 1 pick in the draft has one of the lightest slate of games in the NFL. His one downside – a bye during Week 13 could be a killer in fantasy leagues and contests.

Alvin Kamara (NO) – His yardage and scores were down in 2019, and now Kamara faces the worst schedule of any running back.  Worst yet, the fantasy playoffs face the Eagles, Vikings, and Chiefs. Elite backs are usually better than their schedule but Kamara slid last year too.

Jordan Howard (MIA) – There’s already plenty to not like about the rebuilding Dolphins this year and newly signed Jordan Howard will likely share with Matt Brieda. Throw in one of the worst offensive lines and a schedule that features bad matchups most of the time, and Howard is rightfully dropping in fantasy drafts. Even worse, fantasy playoffs are all bad against the Patriots, Chiefs, and at the Raiders.

Devin Singletary (BUF) – He may have to share with the rookie Zack Moss, but the diminutive Singletary was impressive down the stretch in 2019. That promise is likely to be at least somewhat limited with one of the toughest schedules in the NFL. He not only faces just two soft matchups, but fantasy playoffs go off with matchups against the Steelers, at the Broncos and at the Patriots.

2020 weekly grid

Average passing fantasy points allowed

Fantasy values were derived from 1 point per 10 receiving yards and six-point passing touchdowns.

Falcons’ Todd Gurley hopes to mentor LA Rams rookie RB Cam Akers

Georgia football great Todd Gurley, now of the Atlanta Falcons, hopes to mentor to Los Angeles Rams rookie RB Cam Akers out of FSU.

The Los Angeles Rams turned to the NFL Draft to find their replacement for former NFL Offensive Player of the Year Todd Gurley, who now plays for the Atlanta Falcons.

The Rams, who released Gurley in March, selected Florida State running back Cam Akers with the 52nd overall pick.

The Rams and Gurley might not on the best terms right now due to Los Angeles still owing the former superstar a multi-million dollar payment, but Gurley said that he hopes to be able to mentor Akers as he begins his NFL career.

“Just because whatever I have going on with the Rams, (that) don’t make me upset or want to bash or downplay another man,” Gurley said on Friday’s episode of the UNINTERRUPTED: We Run This Station podcast.

“He’s making his dream come true, just like I made my dream come true in 2015. And they went and got this kid in the second round, so I just want to be able to just tell him or show him early too, just as far as like the way to move. And then everything that comes with LA is so much opportunity out here. It’s like even though I’m going to be playing in Atlanta, I’m going to still be out here during the offseason because I know the amount of opportunities and the relationships that I had and grew out here. So I want to be able to do the same thing for him, man.”

Coming out of high school, Akers was rated as the nation’s No. 3 overall prospect, playing for Clinton High School in his hometown of Clinton, Mississippi. Similar to Gurley, both came from a small-town and both played at a high level in college. Additionally, both had to learn how to adjust to playing in Los Angeles, one of America’s biggest markets, at a young age.

“He’s going to be a running back in the LA market. He’s going to be scoring touchdowns. He’s going to be making plays. So I want him to be able to be on the same type of thing I was on, but even more and at an earlier stage. So it’s just like everyone’s always talking a big game and saying they’re going to do this, they’re going to do that. It’s just about helping the youth. Whether they made it or not, just like when people go back in the communities and do community work, how about reach out to the young guy that’s coming up, that’s getting drafted or the young guy that don’t know anything and tell him.”

Gurley was taken with the 10th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. For four years, he was one of the best running backs in the NFL, if not the best. But after his knee began to bother him more and more, Gurley’s touches declined and the Rams would not say why. Gurley was criticized immensely, but never complained. He tuned out the noise and continued doing his thing. In five seasons, Gurley racked up 7, 494 total yards and 70 total touchdowns. His 5,404 rushing yards ranks sixth all-time in Rams history.

“He just made his dream come true, so why not make this guy even better? And obviously, he’s got to focus on the field and stuff like that,” Gurley said, still speaking of Akers. “And that’s going to take care of itself. He’s going to be with a great offense. He’s going to be making plays. He got (quarterback Jared Goff). He got (wide receiver) Robert Woods. He got (wide receiver) Cooper Kupp. He got the opportunity right there in front of him. So I just want to maximize it and take off.”

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