There had been plenty of speculation regarding how Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay would temper running back Todd Gurley’s workload in the 2019 NFL season.
Through the first three games of the year, it is safe to say that Gurley has experienced quite a drastic decrease in touches. He has amassed no more than 16 carries in each of those games and it has led to him rushing for a mere 203 yards and a touchdown.
His lack of involvement became rather evident against the Cleveland Browns on primetime in Week 3 after he registered just 43 yards on 14 carries while playing 74% of the snaps in the backfield. McVay feels the time has finally come to get him back to being an integral part of the offense.
According to ESPN’s Lindsey Thiry, McVay takes responsibility to Gurley’s slow start to the year:
“I have to do better about being able to give him a chance to really get more into a rhythm than what I’ve enabled him to do in these first three games,” McVay said.
The Rams made it no secret that they intended to take some of the pressure off Gurley. Although many attributed their plans to the mysterious knee injury he dealt with all offseason, they were adamant that it was simply an effort to avoid any unnecessary wear and tear for later on in the season.
Unfortunately, Gurley’s lack of usage early on has only served to further confirm the suspicions of his ailing knee. The onus has now seemingly fallen on McVay to prove the rumors otherwise by having the All-Pro back show is still more than capable of taking on a workhorse role when he needs to, and McVay stated that he does not have Gurley on a load management program:
“We’re not doing anything like that,” McVay said. “It’s more along the lines of each week presents a different approach. It’s kind of the feel the flow of the game.”
Aside from his underwhelming rushing totals, the bigger concern may be Gurley’s lack of involvement in the passing game. He has long been one of the most dangerous offensive weapons in the NFL thanks to his versatile skill set as both a runner and a receiver. If Los Angeles looking to limit the amount of the hits he takes in between the tackles, it would make sense for them to alleviate those touches out in space where he can do the most damage.
The Rams’ inability to find a rhythm on offense could very well be tied to Gurley’s minor role thus far. They will have a chance to get back on track in Week 4 against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense that has already given up at least 30 points in two games this season.
