Todd Gurley’s grip on the 2015 NFL Rookie of the Year award might not be as vise-like as it was earlier in the season. He’s run for just 130 yards over the last three games.
But don’t expect the Rams running back to admit that he’s hit a rookie wall.
“What wall? I’m good.” Gurley told the team’s web site.
Rams coach Jeff Fisher said that Gurley is in “great shape,” and he didn’t even tell reporters who suggested he’s hitting the rookie wall to kiss his backside.
Gurley set the bar awfully high by running for 566 yards over a four-game stretch, averaging 6.43 yards per carry. Even the greatest running backs don’t gain 100 yards every single week. Adrian Peterson ran for 1,341 yards in his rookie season, but averaged just 2.66 yards per carry over the last four games that year.
.@roddywhiteTV feels bad for Todd Gurley (@TG3II) because they are stacking 9 guys in the box against the #Rams.
— Fantasy Sports Radio (@SiriusXMFantasy) December 1, 2015
Not only are teams getting more film on Gurley, but it’s hard to pile up rushing yards when your team falls behind. Gurley hasn’t reached 100 yards in four straight games, and the Rams have lost all four of those games. He ran for 19 yards in last week’s 31-7 loss at Cincinnati, his lowest total since running for nine yards in his debut in Week 3.
Because he sat out the first two games, Gurley has played in nine games this season. He played in 14 games as a freshman at Georgia in 2012. So the notion that a longer NFL season creates a rookie wall is somewhat of a myth in this case.
Don’t be surprised if Gurley churns out another big game or two before the end of the season. The Rams’ cupboard is bare at quarterback and wide receiver. They need to build their offense around Gurley.
[NFL.com]