Three questions with Rams RB Todd Gurley

Ron Clements

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Three questions with Rams RB Todd Gurley image

Eagles coach Doug Pederson really likes Todd Gurley.

As the Eagles prepare to face the Rams on Sunday in Los Angeles, Pederson said the 6-1 227-pound Gurley runs with power but has the same kind of patience that has made Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell successful.

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Gurley has 939 rushing yards and eight touchdowns in a bounce-back year after he ran for 885 yards last season. He was the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2015, when he ran for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns.

With just 61 yards needed for a second 1,000-yard season, he knows those yards won’t come easy against the NFL’s top-ranked rush defense.

"They have one of the best defensive lines and linemen (Fletcher Cox) in the league," Gurley told reporters Thursday. "(Cox) is a great player, pass rusher and run stopper. Their linebackers are great. They’ve just been playing good ball this year.

"It’s a big challenge. I love being in a game like this."

While many expected the Eagles (10-2) to be playoff contenders, not many thought the Rams (9-3) would be after last year’s 4-12 season. First-year coach Sean McVay has energized the team with an influx of new players like receivers Robert Woods, Sammy Watkins and rookie Cooper Kupp.

"Big credit to the coaches. They’ve put us in a great situations to be able to execute and play at a high level like we’ve been doing," Gurley said. "We’ve been able to do our job and win. If you’ve been consistently losing or not being able to perform like you want to, you kind of think you can’t do it.

"For us to be able to bounce back this year and get new guys who can come help with this offense is unbelievable. It’s great."

Three questions with Rams RB Todd Gurley

Q: You guys take a ‘one-week-at-a-time’ approach, but is this the type of game you guys have been looking forward to?

Gurley: "Not really. We’ve had some pretty tough ones. This is a game everybody’s been anticipating. You’ve got (2016 draft picks) No. 1 vs. No. 2 in (Jared) Goff and Carson (Wentz). That’s all they’ve been talking about, so it’ll be a good game. You get excited for games like this.

"You’ve got to beat the best to be the best and that’s what both teams are going out there to try to do."

Q: If you’d been told last year when they were drafted that a year later Goff and Wentz would be leading their divisions late in the season, what would have been your reaction?

Gurley: "Um, I don’t think anybody would have believed that. Obviously, Philly started off (hot), and then things didn’t go as planned and obviously things didn’t go as planned for us. Just to see the turnaround for both organizations, it started with the quarterback play. Goff’s been a great leader; been able to go out there and execute. Wentz has been playing lights out as well on the opposite site.  

"You just feel good and feel proud for two young guys to be able to go through what they did through their rookie year and be able to come back their second year and have the accomplishments."

Q: In the latest Pro Bowl fan voting, you’re No. 6 in the league, how do you feel about that?

Gurley: "I don’t know. I really try not to think about it that much. Obviously, I was blessed to be in it my rookie year and last year I wasn’t in it. Definitely excited, but my main focus is, I don’t even want to play in it. I want to be able to still be playing and competing for a Super Bowl.

"Obviously, that’s everybody’s goal. It’s a great accomplishment and thanks to my team, my line, everybody, for having me at the top of those votes. If I get in, I get in. If I don’t, it won’t be the end of the world.

"If they love you, they love you; if they don’t, they don’t."

 

Ron Clements