In 2016, Todd Gurley’s stats took a hit as a result of the Los Angeles Rams’ porous offensive line.
If it happens again in 2017, Gurley’s career could be at a crossroad as well.
The third-year pro out of Georgia had the fewest yards ever in the NFL for a running back with at least 275 carries, according to ESPN.com. He had 885 rushing yards on 278 carries yield a 3.18-yard average per attempt.
In fact, after his first four starts of his rookie season in , in which Gurley rushed for 566 yards, the back hard 531 yards in his last eight games for a 66.4-yard average.
Those meager stats led to the development of some bad habits that Rams running backs coach Skip Peete says Gurley must eliminate. Both Peete and Rams offensive guard Jamon Brown talked about Gurley and the offensive line not working in unison last season.
Peete told ESPN.com:
“Everybody has to be cohesive and be on the same page. The key is the timing of the block, you as the runner setting the front for the linemen, so when they come off the double team, the back is in a certain position so he can come off the block. You can’t predetermine and say, ‘OK, I’m going to make it look like I’m going to do this, and then I’m going to go over here.’ It’s got to naturally happen that way; you can’t predetermine. It’s kind of a combination between all of that.
Brown said as much in an earlier ESPN.com report:
“A lot of times you could see where it just seemed like we were on different pages. I don’t know if that’s being coached differently. How it’s being conveyed in each room, we don’t know. The big thing is we have to get back on the same page, because when we’re on the same page, we’re pretty damn good.”
Peete added that Gurley began to anticipate a plugged hole and ran differently, going away from the called play.
“He started changing what he was trying to do,” Peete said. “The most important thing, like we talked about, is you have to have total confidence in the scheme of the play.”
Los Angeles also wants Gurley to improve his pass-protection. But after a year and a half without a lot of lanes to run in, Gurley must rid himself of the bad habits he’s acquired because of subpar blocking up front.
Improving the play of quarterback Jared Goff is the Rams’ highest priority, but that can’t happen unless Gurley rediscovers his mojo.
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