Rams new approach in 2019 by monitoring Todd Gurley seems concerning
By Dan Parzych
Unlike previous years, it looks like the Los Angeles Rams will be taking a different approach with Todd Gurley for 2019.
Plenty of players on the Los Angeles Rams have benefitted from Sean McVay‘s system over the last two years, but the argument can be made that no one has watched their game elevate as much as Todd Gurley.
From finishing second in the MVP race during the 2017 season after recording 2,093 yards from the line of scrimmage to go along with 19 touchdowns to totaling 40 trips into the end zone over the last two seasons, Gurley owes a ton of his success to McVay.
As expected, Gurley entered the 2018 season with the same approach as the last two years in which the former Georgia star was ready to handle a heavy workload since he’s been described as an absolute workhorse throughout his career.
However, things were different towards the end of the regular season in 2018 for Gurley after a knee injury that stood out in Week 15 came into play, and prevented him from playing in the final two games.
While it was great to watch C.J. Anderson step up the way he did during those final two games and the postseason, Rams fans are still trying to figure out exactly what is going on with Gurley’s mysterious knee injury.
After looking like his normal self in the Divisional Round win over the Dallas Cowboys by rushing for 115 yards with a touchdown, Gurley made it clear in the NFC Championship and Super Bowl that something was still going on with his knee, no matter what McVay would claim.
No running back with the kind of talent Gurley possesses should be limited to just 14 carries for 45 yards with a touchdown in the two biggest games of their professional career, but this was exactly the case for Los Angeles.
Even after the conclusion of the Super Bowl, McVay made it clear there was nothing wrong with Gurley, and the poor level of play was simply just bad coaching decisions on his end, as he took full responsibility for not getting Gurley more involved.
However, with the recent comments by McVay and Les Snead at combine in which they made it clear that Gurley’s workload would be monitored in 2019, this seems even more concerning for Rams fans, especially since the injury in general still appears to be a mystery.
Rightfully so, McVay and Snead have every reason to take this approach since the last thing Los Angeles can afford to do is overwork Gurley to the point where they deal with a similar situation next year like the final month or so this past season.
Up there with Jared Goff, Gurley continues to be one of the most valuable members of the Rams on offense moving forward, and while it’s great to see the team have the proper mindset over playing it safe for 2019, the comments are still somewhat concerning.
Once again, these comments in regards to monitoring Gurley’s workload makes it seem like there really was more to the story than McVay and company are willing to admit, but maybe Rams fans just need to accept these are the best answers they’re ever going to get.