The Todd Gurley Blues

[jap]

For those claiming Sean refused to use Todd, are you aware that from Todd's rookie season 2015 through 2018 no NFL player had more touches than the Gurley Man? This is one of the stats that registers as a very large neon sign in my mind. This high usage was not totally on Sean since he had little choice. Malcolm Brown managed to get himself dinged up in both the 2017 & 2018 campaigns and was unavailable down the stretch of both seasons.

All players get dinged up during seasonal play. You need players who can fight their way through ordinary pain as opposed to having legitimate injuries - where playing them is clearly counterproductive. I doubt there is another position that suffers from pain as much as the running back unit, where relatively 'little guys' (190-235 pounds) routinely absorb punishment from DL behemoths (260-330 pounds) and LBs (225-260 pounds). Anyone trying to claim that TG was 100% healthy is out of touch with reality with life in the NFL.

When Gale Sayers was a rookie (1965), he brought every hurt & ding to the attention of his team doctor until the doc finally sat him down and said (and I paraphrase),

"Gale, this is the NFL. Throughout your playing career you will ALWAYS have pain, and you just have to play through it. You only get rest & recuperation for real injuries."

 

[Ramlock]

But even if Gurley was a shell of himself that doesn't explain why McVay couldn't give other RB's some carries in place of Gurley.

Or pass protection snaps, probably 20-25 per game.

 

[OntarioRam]

Lots of people pointing to the KC game where Gurley went down hard near the sideline. I noticed that play too and remember thinking "please be okay". He did finish the game and continued to suit up thereafter, but as we all know, that does not mean a player is healthy.

Gurley also appeared to get dinged vs. Philly down the stretch.

It would be interesting to know at what moment his knee problems started - if there even is an acute cause vs. wear and tear.

I don't agree that Gurley passing a physical with the Falcons would render the injury hypothesis baseless. You can be healthy enough to be medically cleared to play, yet damaged enough to not function as well as you did in the past. Countless players have suffered injuries and never been quite the same after, whether that is a lack of strength or burst or whatever the case might be, yet still able to pass physicals without issue.

When Gurley retires, if we still don't have the answers, I'd be fascinated to read a book on what all went wrong and why, if he ever publishes one. I'd love to hear Gurley's take on it all. Could be a good opportunity to make some money, so I am cautiously optimistic that we will get our answer one day, assuming that Todd hasn't signed any confidentiality agreements on the subject.

 

[…..]

I think Gurley’s attitude was almost a bigger problem than his arthritic knee. JMHO.

I’m inclined to agree. Dude is a cool cat but there was also a bit of something there going on and I may not be able to pinpoint it but I bet the coach can.

 

[bluecoconuts]

I think Gurley’s attitude was almost a bigger problem than his arthritic knee. JMHO.

I've been trying not to think it came down to this, but the more and more I see, the more and more I think this is true.

Even just small things like on his Instagram. Goff made a little thing saying he's gonna miss him, all the best, and he hopes that Gurley balls out...

Then Gurley puts up a poll saying "Y'all think Goff is lying?"

The fuck is that about? He's making me get over this release a lot easier with shit like that. I can't tell if Gurley is just having some fun, or if a rift appeared between the two, but apparent parting shots like that is pretty lame.

 

[Stl2La]

View: https://m.imgur.com/ZmRvThf


Not sure how to take this but I think something clearly happened with Todd and the Rams behind the scenes. Hopefully it’s just a joke between friends but idk.

 

[tempests]

I can't tell if Gurley is just having some fun

From his and Goff's past interactions, I'm sure he is.

 

[Merlin]

Anyone notice that only Johnny Hekker, Ramsey, and Aaron Donald expressed themselves in anyway on social media about Gurely leaving?

Goff was quiet, saw nothing from the OL, WR's, etc...

Now maybe I missed it and maybe they talked to him privately, but it seems odd.

I've been trying not to think it came down to this, but the more and more I see, the more and more I think this is true.

Even just small things like on his Instagram. Goff made a little thing saying he's gonna miss him, all the best, and he hopes that Gurley balls out...

Then Gurley puts up a poll saying "Y'all think Goff is lying?"

The fuck is that about? He's making me get over this release a lot easier with shit like that. I can't tell if Gurley is just having some fun, or if a rift appeared between the two, but apparent parting shots like that is pretty lame.

You guys both make good points. Seems like Gurley may have been a bit more of a primadonna behind the scenes than anyone realized, and maybe not as good a teammate as everyone has always perceived him to be.

But either way the proof is that the Rams cut him, that shows something was up and probably more than just the knee situation (which has been done before like with Buffalo & Thurman Thomas). I suspect it had to do with the carry limits but it might well go back to 2018 so who knows.

And I also did not like Gurley's trolling of the Rams thanking them for that last check. That was some BS. So I agree that Gurley is helping me to get over this quicker than I would have thought.

 

[…..]

What’s wierd is that when I told my wife we released Gurley, I was expecting shock and panic just as I was feeling, but instead she calmly says without looking up at me “probably because of that shitty attitude he has”

wtf

You. Hush. Wifey.

 

[Faceplant]

I've been trying not to think it came down to this, but the more and more I see, the more and more I think this is true.

Even just small things like on his Instagram. Goff made a little thing saying he's gonna miss him, all the best, and he hopes that Gurley balls out...

Then Gurley puts up a poll saying "Y'all think Goff is lying?"

The fuck is that about? He's making me get over this release a lot easier with shit like that. I can't tell if Gurley is just having some fun, or if a rift appeared between the two, but apparent parting shots like that is pretty lame.

WTF?? Man that is some bullshit. I loved me tome TG, but nah....that's just lame.

 

[Cjcinec]

Everyone has an opinion so I will share mine. I think Todd Gurley got paid and was having a great season in 2018 until he got injured. After the injury he was never the same both physically and mentally. NFL players take a beating and it takes a big commitment mentally and physically to fight through the pain. I don’t think Gurley had that mental toughness after the injury and he just disappeared.

 

[sjm1582002]

A couple of years ago TG was clearly the best RB in the NFL. Rare combination of power and speed.

Based on the last year and a half of play of his play, I would say he is now viewed as a mid pack threat, at best.

Not surprised by the cut. Seems like he wanted to move on.

 

[shovelpass]

From his and Goff's past interactions, I'm sure he is.

Yup.

 

[shovelpass]

https://theramswire.usatoday.com/2020/03/21/nfl-rams-andrew-whitworth-todd-gurley-reaction-cut/

Whitworth on Gurley getting cut

“I think it’s tough. Obviously, Todd’s dealt with some stuff over the last couple years and a lot of pressure from the outside and everywhere else about his health and stuff like that. It’s been tough to see him have to go through that,” Whitworth said. “Have the most respect I have for him. He’s one of those guys that you list as your all-time teammates. Just a great human being, a great football player, just somebody every day made it fun and excited to go to work with. So it was hard, it was hard to see.”

Whitworth has been a leader for the Rams since he signed in 2017 and built a strong relationship with Gurley. It’s hard for him to see No. 30 no longer wearing horns, but he knows Gurley will go on to have success with the Falcons because of the way he brings a locker room together.

“The energy this guy brings in a locker room and really to his team and to the way he loves to compete, it’s infectious,” Whitworth added.

 

[kurtfaulk]

Yup.

BMW?

.

 

[TexasRam]

I think Gurley’s attitude was almost a bigger problem than his arthritic knee. JMHO.

I think McVay would never admit this. But I do think think his attitude also came into the equation. Gurley was sort of passive aggresssive with his comments and body language. I think everyone gets real uncomfortable with passive aggressive types. Don’t get me wrong, Gurley had
Reasons to get frustrated. Especially when Goff and Brown we’re running the goaline carries in for TD’s for example.

Gurley was supposed to be one of the trusted leaders. When you feel your leaders are talking behind your back, then they need to go.

But I still think the primary reason for Gurley being let go is he was a
Liability to the team with the production to cap value.

 

[shovelpass]

BMW?

.

Probably this.

 

[bwdenverram]

I don't know what to think to be honest. Was the OL the same last year? Did he look exactly the same? I don't know. But I don't see a guy that looks like he's washed up, has a major knee issue or whatever else has been said. I've only heard great things in terms of the type of teammate he is. So this one, outside of the cap piece leaves a lot to wonder.

Is what it is, I'll root for him in Atlanta for sure.



View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9Eq8gg0woQ

 

[Deac]

This reminds me a bit of Terry Allen's career.He Blew out his knee in co!lege and then a couple years later, he blew out his other knee, first running back in football to come back from 2 ACL injuries. He did however change from a slasher back to a power back. Where he was a home run hitter, h e went to a 3 yards and a cloud of dust runner. He had a great career and was a testament to resilience and determination. The way it parallels is I see Gurley going to have to change his style a little, but not sure his knee will agree with it, and he will need a better oline, but he could have a couple more really good seasons. I don't think his style will necessarily be the type of style the coaches here wanted, especially for the money.

 

[Raptorman]

Something was not right.

                                                   Rush                
Rk            Player From   To   G   Att   Yds    TD   Y/A   Lng  
1        Todd Gurley 2019 2019   15  223   857    12    3.8  25  
2    Adrian Peterson 2019 2019   15  211   898     5    4.3  32