Rams save Gurley for key times
Ever since his uncharacteristically quiet performances in last year’s postseason and his team’s loss to the Patriots in Super Bowl LIII, running back Todd Gurley has dealt with intense scrutiny.
After dominating both as a ballcarrier and a pass catcher throughout last season, Gurley managed minimal contributions (34 yards on 11 touches against the Patriots) on the game’s biggest stage. But since that time, neither he nor the Rams provided any real insight as to why the do-it-all back hit a wall.
His surgically repaired knee was fine, Gurley insisted. And coach Sean McVay assumed the blame for not better using his top offensive weapon both in the postseason and throughout the end of the 2018 campaign.
The coach believed he could have better handled Gurley’s workload during the regular season to ensure the back’s body wouldn’t wear down prematurely.
This summer, McVay started taking strides toward better preserving Gurley’s health for the most critical stretch of the year. Throughout training camp, the coaching staff limited Gurley’s workload, rarely having him practice on consecutive days and again holding him out of all preseason games.
Then, Sunday’s season opener revealed a continuation of that plan as the Rams used an approach that they hope will enable them to still capitalize on Gurley’s unique abilities while ensuring better longevity.
Los Angeles’ coaches stayed true to that plan by divvying up carries between Gurley and fourth-year pro Malcolm Brown for much of the 30-27 win over the Panthers. Together, the backs spearheaded a rushing attack that generated 166 yards and two touchdowns. The Rams used Gurley judiciously in the first half, giving him five carries, though for just 8 yards. Meanwhile, Brown had 29 yards on five carries of his own before halftime.
Both in the first and second halves, the Rams gave the 5-11, 222-pound Brown opportunities at the goal line, where he twice used his physical running style to force his way into the end zone.
In crunchtime, however, it was clear Gurley remains the Rams’ most trusted back. In the fourth quarter, with his team fighting to maintain a lead over the hosting Panthers, McVay set up Gurley for seven touches, including a stretch that featured four consecutive run plays. His legs fresh, Gurley churned out 60 fourth-quarter yards and helped L.A. seal a 30-27 win.
Gurley finished the game with 97 yards on 14 carries.
“It was great to see Todd Gurley finish out that game,” McVay said in his postgame news conference. “You get into a four-minute situation and he’s able to close it out.”
It’s just one week, but it appears that this balanced approach suits Gurley, who averaged 6.9 yards per carry and with runs of 25, 17, 15 and 15 yards accounting for four of the Rams’ 10 longest plays. Additionally, the healthy return of Cooper Kupp (seven catches, 46 yards) meant Los Angeles didn’t need to use Gurley as a passcatcher as often as the team did late last year after the slot receiver tore his anterior cruciate ligament.
McVay had previously discussed wanting to limit Gurley to the 65-75% range for snap counts. On Sunday, he played 54 snaps (70%). McVay said after the game that scenarios in a given week will dictate how much they use Gurley. But if they’re able to duplicate Sunday’s use, it greatly will reduce the amount of wear and tear that Gurley’s body absorbs. It might mean his touchdown total goes down, with Brown handling goal-line situations, but preserving Gurley for the stretch run of the regular season and playoffs certainly trumps that element.