The Los Angeles Rams 2019 NFL season has certainly been a confusing one. Although they entered the year with Super Bowl aspirations after falling just short a year ago, they now would be lucky to get into the playoffs at 7-5, one game out of the final NFC Wild Card spot.
Despite that, the Rams have kept their playoff hopes alive with a convincing win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 13. Although the whole team played well, Todd Gurley finally started to look like the player many hoped and expected him to be this season.
Gurley had a great game and was looked to often, as opposed to earlier in the season when he would take a back seat to the passing game or other running backs. Rams head coach Sean McVay shared his reasoning as to why Gurley is playing more now than earlier this year, and he put the blame on himself, via Gary Klein of the L.A. Times:
Sean McVay on difference between Gurley usage of late compared to earlier in the season. “Me not being an idiot.”
— Gary Klein (@LATimesklein) December 4, 2019
In the game against Arizona, Gurley ended up finishing with 19 rush attempts, 95 rushing yards and 115 yards from scrimmage, his second-highest for each total this season. His best game this season was two weeks ago in the Rams’ win over the Chicago Bears when he finished with 25 rush attempts and 97 rushing yards.
Gurley’s limited usage earlier this season should not have been a surprise to many. His injury in his left knee was well documented last season, as well as this offseason. Although the Rams have and continue to claim that Gurley is not currently suffering from an injury, he was reportedly diagnosed with arthritis in his knee, which has clearly slowed him down.
McVay has gifted Gurley a limited practice schedule all season and a personalized practice regimen over the offseason in hopes of having a fully healthy star running back for the playoffs. Whether the limited practice has made Gurley feel more healthy or not, McVay has finally let him loose over the last few games.
Over the last three games, Gurley has averaged 16.7 rush attempts per game and 71.3 rushing yards. Over his previous eight games before that, he averaged just 13 rush attempts and 53.5 rushing yards. No matter how this season turns out, hopefully, this trend of Gurley being utilized more often will carry over to next year and the Rams can get back to being one of the best offenses in the league.
