You don’t know need to tell Todd Gurley what opposing teams are doing to contain the Los Angeles Rams star running back.
He knows.
“We know what they’re going to do,” Gurley said, via Gary Klein of the Los Angeles Times. “They’re definitely going to stack the box … It all comes down to executing.”
Both the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks sold out to stopping Gurley during the season’s first two weeks. As a result, Gurley—who averaged 4.8 yards per carry as a rookie—has just 98 yards on 36 attempts (2.8 yards per attempt) to start 2016.
“It’s been crazy,” Gurley said, “I’m like, ‘There’s 12 people on the field!’ It’s definitely a lot of people.”
In reality, only 11 players have been required to keep the Rams from scoring a touchdown through eight quarters of football. While Los Angeles is 1-1, the team has only nine points—the least in the NFL—through two weeks.
Getting Gurley going would certainly help, but teams are going to continue stacking the box until the Rams establish a legitimate passing game.
Quarterback Case Keenum has thrown for just 369 yards and two interceptions, with a passer rating of 57.8. The Rams rank dead last in the NFL in passing yards, passer rating and total yards after two games.
The idea is simple, and logical: Teams would much rather risk Keenum beating them with his arm than Gurley with his legs. Once Keenum or a Rams quarterback proves capable of making a defense pay, the stacked boxes against Gurley will lessen.
“We just have to do our jobs,” guard Cody Wichmann said. “Once we start clicking, all 11 of us together, that’s when Todd’s going to break long plays.”
Gurley and the Rams take on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3.
