Even if he doesn’t want to put that label on it, Rams head coach Sean McVay has to keep managing Todd Gurley’s workload.
Despite a drop-off offensively from last year, the Los Angeles Rams are 3-0 this season. The running game has been just fine, from a surface (123.7 yards per game; seventh in the league) and analytic perspective, despite Todd Gurley having a notably reduced workload (44 carries for 203 yards thus far).
Gurely averaged 18.3 carries per game in 14 regular season games last year, with at least 17 attempts in seven of the first eight games. That average is down to 14.6 carries per game so far this year, taking his rushing yardage average down with it from 89.4 per game in 2018 to 67.7 per game this year.
Knee trouble limited Gurley late last season, taking him out of two regular seasons and diminishing his impact in two of the Rams’ playoff games. Reports have surfaced suggesting he’s dealing with arthritis in his left knee, which he also suffered a torn ACL in during his final season at Georgia.
So it would make sense to limit or manage Gurley’s workload, given the apparent less-than-ideal condition of his knee and his apparent injury-forced disappearances in last year’s NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl.
But speaking to reporters on Monday, McVay dismissed the idea Gurley is being subjected to any sort of load management.
We’re not doing anything like that. It’s more along the lines of each week presents a different approach. It’s kind of the feel the flow of the game … 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,
Malcolm Brown has gotten more run as Gurley’s backup this year, with 20 carries with two touchdowns as he’s averaging 4.9 yards per carry. Rookie Darrell Henderson only has one carry so far, so getting him a little more involved is probably on the radar too.
If the Rams have an eye on reaching the Super Bowl again, having Gurley at full strength late in the season and into the playoffs has to be a top priority. Even if McVay won’t acknowledge it as a driving force for limiting his work right now, and never will.