The Rise and Fall of Todd Gurley. A film breakdown of what really happened.

[Corbin]

View: https://youtu.be/wbnXxu4ZkUg

 

[Corbin]

I see a ton of very wrong opinions based on bad info by Rams fans. This video breaks down what happened to our ‘scheme’ that started as a blueprint against the Bears in Chicago and was perfected by Bellicheat.

All others used the same defensive scheme (5-2 or 6-1 what we you want to call it) against us in 2019. Excellent video break down for concepts, blocking responsibilities and scheme matchups if you’re interested.


I think the maker is wrong as there is a noticeable difference in Gurleys sprint, 5th gear and top end speed but he’ll be able to play still, just not as the early Gurley unfortunately. Combined with the shitty attitude it makes a ton of sense releasing him.

Thinking Akers is going to be a beast tbh! Maybe even a offensive rookie of the year candidate if he's able to kinda get near half of what Gurley produced.

 

[Bootleg]

Wow. Great video! I've been waiting to see a break down like this that details what the Patriots (and Bears and Lions) did to the Rams offense at the end of 2018 and beyond.

Interesting how McVay countered with double (and triple) TE sets. He was having some success with that last year but then abandoned it for some reason at the Dallas blowout last season. But I digress.

I'd have to agree that it was more scheming and inexperience on the Oline that doomed Gurley last year. And it makes sense because Gurley didn't have a good year either in 2016, stuck in Boras' middle school offense.

McVay must know all this. So did the Rams cut Gurley more because of attitude?

 

[Liberator]

Nice video that outlines a lot of the scheme stuff. That said, I would wager 99 percent of the reason Gurley is gone is he just didn't have the burst. In the rare times he did get in the open field he clearly wasn't the same guy he was in 2017 and early 2018.

The proof is in what the Rams did. They drafted a RB at 52. That isn't the kind of thing you do if you feel like you're schematically incapable of running the ball on a regular basis.

Speaking of the Superbowl and the cheaters, I still can't believe they didn't roll Goff out more during the superbowl. He had no time to throw roll him out and create some lol. It was so frustrating watching them finally adapt to that in the second half of last season knowing the result of the game could have been different had they adapted a little earlier.

 

[ramfan46]

I don't know what happened after the Carolina game. Ditched the spread out short passing game and those outside toss runs that would have the WR or TE block down while getting the T and G pulling.

 

[raised_fisT]

We may never know the complete story. I'm sure it's a combination of things. I'd always said the bright lights of LA and everything/everyone that comes with it, affected him.

 

[Flint]

I don't know what happened after the Carolina game. Ditched the spread out short passing game and those outside toss runs that would have the WR or TE block down while getting the T and G pulling.

I forgot about the toss crack, it did seem pretty effective, I wonder why it went away

 

[Legatron4]

I haven’t watched the video yet but one question I’ve always had is why we had so much trouble with the 6-1. Were we the only offense in NFL history to run 11 personnel that often? Did McVay not plan for a team to figure it out? It’s just so strange that this one type of defense completely derailed our potent offense.

 

[LA_Rams_#29]

I've had the theory myself that Gurley's injured knee flared up on the first drive in the Chiefs game. The games he sat out, and then sharing the backfield with CJ helped take some load of that injured knee. But in the playoffs on his last series vs. the Cowboys he injured the knee again. Then vs. Saints and in the Super Bowl he was really just a shell of himself. Last season he played through it. the first game of the season vs. the Panthers he shared the load with Brown, and honestly that was one of our better games on the ground. Then it seemed like Gurley wasn't with the sharing, and then us trying to use him as a workhorse just didn't work for us anymore. Sure the O-line played a role, but Gurley's not explosive and looks slowed now.

 

[Elmgrovegnome]

I haven’t watched the video yet but one question I’ve always had is why we had so much trouble with the 6-1. Were we the only offense in NFL history to run 11 personnel that often? Did McVay not plan for a team to figure it out? It’s just so strange that this one type of defense completely derailed our potent offense.

I think many of us were scratching our heads over this one. Why didn't McVay switch things up? Why so stubborn to change?

 

[LA_Rams_#29]

Interesting how McVay countered with double (and triple) TE sets. He was having some success with that last year but then abandoned it for some reason at the Dallas blowout last season. But I digress.

It's not a digression, it's a key component of all of this. The double we played better last year using double TE sets and we should have stayed with that. Why we abandoned it while it was working honestly cost us the playoffs. We were a better team than the Cowboys, and we were playing better going into that game.

 

[Jacobarch]

The story was obvious. Gurely's head wasn't in the game. He knew his time was up as a Ram and he in turn showed it on the field and off. He just wasn't the same guy. Look at him in 17' and 18' and tell me his attitude was the same those years vs. 19'. Even when the Rams started 3-0 he didn't seem content or happy.

I think he was becoming a cancer in the locker room, and the rams as a whole didn't seem like they were having fun anymore and I think Gurely was a big reason for that.

Leaders set the tone for any business.

 

[LA_Rams_#29]

Very solid breakdown in this video. I would still say that Todd's injury played a role in this beyond just teams scheming us different. When teams went to a 5-2 or 6-1 against us, it was up to McVay to make adjustments. We had the weapons to make adjustments, and when he did start using the 2 TE set, we played better. BUT.... if a team is lining up 6 man fronts on you, you need to have a running back that can effectively get yards outside of taking handoffs from a QB under center. You can run the ball out of a shootgun formation, you can throw the ball out of shootgun formation to your running back. If Gurley was not in a position to effectively do either of those things anymore, then that could have impacted McVay's ability to make adjustments. I also think that his over utilization of the 11 formation was a tougher habit to break for him because I mean when it looked like our season was back on track with us using 2 TEs, we go back to using 11 formation exclusively against the Cowboys and our season basically ends.

I also think that McVay's usage(over-usage) of the 11 formation over the years has something to do with Cooper Kupp as well. Kupp being such an effectively slot guy, I feel like McVay wanting to keep him in that situation had him sticking with the 11 formation more than he should. This actually leads to another issue involving Kupp with him being less of an impact lining up wide, than he is in the slot....and we need to utilize 2 TEs for us to effectively run the ball against 5 - 6 man fronts, doesn't that impact Kupp's value to us? I'm not saying get rid of him, but if he's most effective as a slot receiver, but we can't make the appropriate adjustments to schemes using the 11 formation as much, then Kupp shouldn't be paid as a #1 receiver. Not saying he shouldn't be paid, and also I believe his effectiveness as as a wideout can and is improving, but the bottom line is we need to be able to run the ball..and our coach needs to put us in the best position to be able to run the ball regardless if the formation that does that may keep certain guys on the sidelines for some plays. Plus when we use 2 TEs, we have one in Everett that can line up wide and stretch the field himself so we can still use Kupp in the slot and keep 2 TEs on the field. To me that should be our base offense now.

So yes, McVay has to scheme better, use effective personal packages by making adjustments. I believe this is a priority for him now and the recent assistant coaching changes show that. But I'll also say that Todd Gurley's health also played a role in hindering the adjustments we could make. Todd didn't have the explosiveness to run plays out of formations that could combat those 6 man fronts, and we threw the ball to him much less last year as well.

 

[Mojo Ram]

Exactly. McVay. Must. Evolve.

Great video breakdown.
I disagree with the Gurley narrative though. He clearly had lost quite a bit. Change of direction, speed, concentration in the passing game etc. This coupled with the bigger scheme issue crippled our running game and subsequently forced Goff to carry the load. He isn't that good yet.

 

[FarNorth]

Exactly. McVay. Must. Evolve.

Great video breakdown.
I disagree with the Gurley narrative though. He clearly had lost quite a bit. Change of direction, speed, concentration in the passing game etc. This coupled with the bigger scheme issue crippled our running game and subsequently forced Goff to carry the load. He isn't that good yet.

I still think that Gurley was also hurt by a restricted train regime and poor attitude in reaction to McVay's handling of him as much as directly by arthritis or injury to his knee. To me he looked like he was not in top shape, not just that he couldn't cut or run because of his knee. Lack of concentration catching the ball is not a result of an arthritic knee. Also think the relationship with McVay was beyond repair by the end of the year.

Maybe he's done, but... it will be interesting to see how he looks with the Falcons and whether he can return to anything like his prior form with a possibly different approach and attitude.

 

[Ram65]

It wasn't having 2 TEs helping the running game. The video showed it didn't help in the SB. It took too long but, eventually, Kromer and McVay started running a more straight-ahead power game between the tackles. I don't know what you call it but, it was more power blocking straight ahead.

The Rams finally started to take advantage of the open spaces in the middle of the field with passes to the TEs. They changed things up with screens in the middle to Higbee. They did a rare draw out of shotgun formation against the Bears with power blocking.

The Rams came out flat against the Cowboys. The Cowboys came out on fire. Payback for the playoff beating,

The Rams and McVay came out holding Gurley back trying to protect their investment. That was a big mistake. Gurley does not seem to cut as well as he use to, but he still has the power game. He is missing some burst/quickness. Combine Gurley's slight decline with the young offensive line, holding him back and the 6-1/5-2 (eight-man fronts) and the Rams had trouble running the ball.

McVay and Kromer learned a lesson. I think we see them mixing up the run scheme. They need to keep getting the TEs involved in the passing game while switching up the formations.

 

[ramsince62]

The story was obvious. Gurely's head wasn't in the game. He knew his time was up as a Ram and he in turn showed it on the field and off. He just wasn't the same guy. Look at him in 17' and 18' and tell me his attitude was the same those years vs. 19'. Even when the Rams started 3-0 he didn't seem content or happy.

I think he was becoming a cancer in the locker room, and the rams as a whole didn't seem like they were having fun anymore and I think Gurely was a big reason for that.

Leaders set the tone for any business.

Yup and he was not voted a captain by his peers last season. Outside of that, he repeatedly failed the look test, he's not as quick with his initial burst, nor did he appear as aggressive finishing plays. He was an animal, now he's more like a pussy cat. I do agree that McVay should have included him ion the passing game much more, knee or no knee.

In any event, I'd imagine Gurley will prove he can still play and outperform last seasons numbers....(typical Ram result).

 

[wolfdogg]

Watched the last rams niner game on nfl network and gurley made several impresaive runs including both tds. One up the middle and one outside beating the edge and sherman. Hard to see those runs and not be more confused about what the hell was going on with him

 

[Reddog99]

Its comical how 2019 TG was no longer the same back and hes done due to his knee then as soon as he is no longer a Ram the narrative changes to Gurleys fine it was just the Rams OL and scheme. Haters gonna hate I guess. I think TG will have a similar performance with the Falcons as he had in 2019 with the Rams.

 

[Corbin]

Its comical how 2019 TG was no longer the same back and hes done due to his knee then as soon as he is no longer a Ram the narrative changes to Gurleys fine it was just the Rams OL and scheme. Haters gonna hate I guess. I think TG will have a similar performance with the Falcons as he had in 2019 with the Rams.

I assume you didn’t watch the film?