In what was supposed to be a glorious return back to the homeland wound up being a disaster for the Los Angeles Rams. Despite getting off to an exciting 3-1 start, the team would manage to muster up just one more win the entire 2016 NFL season.
Among the most disappointing was watching running back Todd Gurley struggle mightily behind a sub-par offensive line as he was unable to get any momentum going all year long. Gurley even admitted in the latter part of the season he was not running as freely as he was during his rookie campaign. Recently, he even said it was like a nightmare during an appearance on the Rich Eisen Show:
“Like a nightmare. I still can’t believe the season,” Gurley said. “It was definitely a tough year, a learning experience for me. To be 4-12 this year? I don’t want to feel that feeling again.”
For Gurley, it was a huge step back from his breakout season a year ago when he was awarded Offensive Rookie of the Year despite missing the first four games. Since then, the young workhorse has yet to rush for a 100-yard game dating back to Week 15 of the 2015 season against the Detroit Lions.
Unsettling as it is, Gurley’s struggles hardly fall squarely on his shoulders. Aside from his less-than-mediocre line, he was under constant duress as teams loaded the box due to the lack of their equally unimpressive passing attack. However, with new head coach Sean McVay in town, he is hoping to open things up and boost the confidence of his Pro Bowl-caliber back.
