The Los Angeles Rams have been doing what they should have done for the past year: feeding their all-pro running back.
Todd Gurley’s knee and his lack of playing time has been one of the most talked about head-scratchers since the Rams’ Super Bowl loss to the Patriots where Gurley was basically irrelevant.
This season, Gurley has been used, but significantly less than one would expect from a player of his caliber.
Until recently, that is. The past few weeks, head coach Sean McVay has been feeding his workhorse the rock and letting Gurley get after it. When healthy, there may not be anybody better at carrying the football than the Georgia great.
Last week, in a win over the Seattle Seahawks, Gurley scored a touchdown that featured an absolutely nasty stiff arm.
RT SportsCenter Todd Gurley with the VICIOUS stiff-arm đ¤
(via NFL)pic.twitter.com/1TwgeqtUVl
— Ana Dolera (@AnaDolera1) December 9, 2019
When referencing Gurley’s recent level of play and when discussing the above stiff arm, Rams quarterback Jared Goff referred to the run as “vintage Todd.”
That did not sit well with Gurley.
“Sounds like I suck and then made a good play,” Gurley said when mentioning the âvintageâ label. “Not my first time stiff-arming nobody. Just a regular stiff-arm.”
Also, since Gurley has seen decreased playing time, he has been nothing but cool about it in the media. He would often make remarks noting that it’s a team sport and that the best players play.
From this quote below, I sense he’s done with that.
He knows what he’s capable of and he knows the team benefits when he touches the ball 25 times a game.
âYou donât really have to explain too much,â Gurley said, via Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times. âYou see the results over the last couple of years, when youâre running the ball, stuff is going well, stuff is opening up, so itâs like, not too much really to explain.â
For McVay, if he wants any shot at making the playoffs this season, a goal they are close to accomplishing, he knows what needs to be done.
Prepare for big Gurley numbers down the stretch.