- Joined
- Dec 5, 2014
- Messages
- 1,340
How Cowboys view Rams star RB Todd Gurley, who told Michael Irvin he'd 'whoop up' on Dallas
https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/da...b-todd-gurley-told-michael-irvin-whoop-dallas
Harry How/
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: Todd Gurley #30 of the Los Angeles Rams leaps over Bashaud Breeland #26 of the Washington Redskins before scoring a touchdown during the third quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) ***BESTPIX***
By Jori Epstein, Staff writer Contact Jori Epstein on Twitter: @JoriEpstein
FRISCO - The Cowboys know a solid running game when they see it.
They've built their system around it Jason Garrett's entire tenure, from DeMarco Murray when he arrived to Darren McFadden in 2015 to Ezekiel Elliott the last two seasons. The Cowboys invested in their run game taking Elliott with the fourth overall pick in 2016.
So the Cowboys know that the Los Angeles Rams, their opponent at noon on Sunday, have done the same. The centerpiece of that game: Todd Gurley, the Rams' 10th overall pick out of Georgia in 2015.
What challenges does Gurley pose to the Cowboys defense?
"Oh, a lot," defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said Thursday after practice. "He's a unique man, he runs hard and he is fast. He can take the edge of your defense away in two seconds, and if he gets outside your edge, he's gone.
View: https://twitter.com/camdasilva/status/909818113776009217
"He's upfield, down... screens, good hands release. He's a terrific back, a big-time back in this league."
Marinelli isn't taking Gurley lightly. He considers Gurley, who ran for 1,991 yards and 16 touchdowns his first two seasons, a top-five back in the league. Gurley's production hasn't slowed this season. Through three games, he's rushed for 241 yards and caught 13 balls for another 140. He was named NFC offensive player of the month for September. The real kicker: He's reached the end zone six times in the three games, twice in the air and four times on the ground. He had six touchdowns total in 2016.
Oh, and he's waiting to beat the Cowboys.
"We're gonna whoop up on your boys," Gurley told Cowboys great Michael Irvin on Thursday Night Football last week.
Elliott praised Gurley's season.
"There's a lot of good backs in the league right now and Todd Gurley's one of the best guys," Elliott said. "It's going to be fun to be able to see him play in person."
The defense is looking forward to seeing Gurley in person, too, but knows the challenge is on. Defensive captain Orlando Scandrick said the unit will need to go after the ball constantly in hope of stripping it. Marinelli said it helps that his defense practices against a running game the caliber of Elliott and the Dallas offensive line.
Still, Gurley told NFL Network he plans to "whoop up" on Dallas.
Elliott will need to take responsibility for limiting Gurley too. The more time he spends carrying the ball, the less time Gurley can. Against the league's highest-scoring offense in the Rams, time of possession only becomes more important.
"We haven't done a good job at all this year keeping our defense on the field," Elliott said. "We've got to do a lot better at that. That comes from being better on first and second downs so we can convert those or have easier third downs to convert. That's something we've got to focus on moving forward."
If they don't, they may be watching from the sideline as the Rams and Gurley do.
Twitter: @JoriEpstein
https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/da...b-todd-gurley-told-michael-irvin-whoop-dallas
Harry How/
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 17: Todd Gurley #30 of the Los Angeles Rams leaps over Bashaud Breeland #26 of the Washington Redskins before scoring a touchdown during the third quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) ***BESTPIX***
By Jori Epstein, Staff writer Contact Jori Epstein on Twitter: @JoriEpstein
FRISCO - The Cowboys know a solid running game when they see it.
They've built their system around it Jason Garrett's entire tenure, from DeMarco Murray when he arrived to Darren McFadden in 2015 to Ezekiel Elliott the last two seasons. The Cowboys invested in their run game taking Elliott with the fourth overall pick in 2016.
So the Cowboys know that the Los Angeles Rams, their opponent at noon on Sunday, have done the same. The centerpiece of that game: Todd Gurley, the Rams' 10th overall pick out of Georgia in 2015.
What challenges does Gurley pose to the Cowboys defense?
"Oh, a lot," defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli said Thursday after practice. "He's a unique man, he runs hard and he is fast. He can take the edge of your defense away in two seconds, and if he gets outside your edge, he's gone.
View: https://twitter.com/camdasilva/status/909818113776009217
"He's upfield, down... screens, good hands release. He's a terrific back, a big-time back in this league."
Marinelli isn't taking Gurley lightly. He considers Gurley, who ran for 1,991 yards and 16 touchdowns his first two seasons, a top-five back in the league. Gurley's production hasn't slowed this season. Through three games, he's rushed for 241 yards and caught 13 balls for another 140. He was named NFC offensive player of the month for September. The real kicker: He's reached the end zone six times in the three games, twice in the air and four times on the ground. He had six touchdowns total in 2016.
Oh, and he's waiting to beat the Cowboys.
"We're gonna whoop up on your boys," Gurley told Cowboys great Michael Irvin on Thursday Night Football last week.
Elliott praised Gurley's season.
"There's a lot of good backs in the league right now and Todd Gurley's one of the best guys," Elliott said. "It's going to be fun to be able to see him play in person."
The defense is looking forward to seeing Gurley in person, too, but knows the challenge is on. Defensive captain Orlando Scandrick said the unit will need to go after the ball constantly in hope of stripping it. Marinelli said it helps that his defense practices against a running game the caliber of Elliott and the Dallas offensive line.
Still, Gurley told NFL Network he plans to "whoop up" on Dallas.
Elliott will need to take responsibility for limiting Gurley too. The more time he spends carrying the ball, the less time Gurley can. Against the league's highest-scoring offense in the Rams, time of possession only becomes more important.
"We haven't done a good job at all this year keeping our defense on the field," Elliott said. "We've got to do a lot better at that. That comes from being better on first and second downs so we can convert those or have easier third downs to convert. That's something we've got to focus on moving forward."
If they don't, they may be watching from the sideline as the Rams and Gurley do.
Twitter: @JoriEpstein
