reporters on the "Henderson drafted cause of Gurley" discussion

Rams’ drafting of Darrell Henderson reveals new concern over Todd Gurley

By Vincent Bonsignore

https://theathletic.com/949320/2019/04/27/rams-drafting-of-darrell-henderson-reveals-new-concern-over-todd-gurley/

The​ situation​ surrounding​ Todd​ Gurley’s left​ knee has​ remained murky​ for months. But​ on​ Friday,​ the third round of the NFL​​ Draft provided some sobering clarity with the Rams’ selection of Memphis running back Darrell Henderson.

The Rams navigated up and down the draft board through a series of trades to secure extra picks and address various needs, choosing Washington safety Taylor Rapp in the second round and Michigan safety David Long and Oklahoma tackle Bobby Evans in the third round. The decision to select Henderson, though, reverberated throughout the NFL.

The Rams insist they identified Henderson as a dynamic weapon they can use as a change-of-pace complement to Gurley. It is a role they have been trying to fill ever since Sean McVay took over as head coach two years ago. That they made an aggressive move to trade up in the third round to secure Henderson’s services reflects the importance they placed on finally finding a player who can carry out those duties.

“This had to do with his skill set,” McVay said. “He was a player that we identified as a unique playmaker. He can obviously do some things as a runner, but the versatility that he provides and some of the things that he can do are what was so enticing about him for us.

“You see the explosiveness — over eight yards a carry. There’s a lot of good things that you’d seen with what he’s done and his resume at Memphis. We’re excited to get him in here and get to work and really learn under Todd and Malcolm Brown.”

That’s all true. All prudent, even. And it makes sense to play another running back off Gurley, not only to put as much mental and physical pressure on opponents but also to lessen the incredible load Gurley has carried the last few years.

Almost all offseason, the Rams have talked about managing Gurley’s usage going forward.

“Those things are really things that we will continue to evaluate as we get closer to the season,” McVay said.

But there has to be more to the story. And while the Rams can’t possibly know right now exactly what Gurley is up against or facing in the short or long term with his left knee, the drafting of Henderson sends a pretty strong message they are concerned enough to push other pressing needs to the side in order to provide coverage for Gurley just in case he can no longer perform to the level or extent he has throughout his career.

The Rams are preparing for the worst-case scenario. Even if they can’t bring themselves to admit it just yet.

And that actually makes sense. There is no reason for the Rams to assume the worst with their star running back, let alone come out and verbalize it. The best approach is to be hopeful, upbeat and confident that rest and proper management will help Gurley get through the 2019 season — and the foreseeable future — as effectively as he has been.

They just can’t assume that. They have to be prepared to deal with whatever the future holds.

Moving up in the draft to select Henderson represents a decisive step in that direction.

Ideally, Henderson becomes a versatile, dynamic weapon that McVay can unleash on opposing defenses as a runner or pass catcher while coming out of the backfield, in the slot or lined up wide. The threat of Henderson combined with the creativity and imagination of McVay has a chance to create nightmare matchups for opposing defenses.

But Henderson also becomes the long-range security if Gurley faces something much more sinister than just wear and tear of his left knee. As frustrating as it might be not knowing what Gurley is really up against, the fact is only time will tell.

Gurley keeps insisting he is fine. The Rams continue to have his back. Verbally, anyway.

As hopeful as the Rams have been about Gurley’s health, the decisions McVay made in how he used him during the NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl didn’t exactly reflect a high level of confidence that the three-time Pro Bowl back was completely fine.

In both games, McVay quickly turned away from Gurley to lean on C.J. Anderson, a late-season injury replacement for Gurley who ended up his equal, if not superior, even after Gurley returned to action from sitting out the last two games of the regular season. McVay was trying to win two big games by any means possible. He didn’t have time to figure out whether Gurley was completely up to the challenge.

Not long after the Super Bowl, a report surfaced that Gurley was dealing with arthritis. It’s a condition for which management is required rather than something that can be fixed. The Rams nor Gurley ever officially owned the report. But then no one ever vehemently denied it, either. As has been the case almost from the moment the knee began bothering Gurley late last season, everything has just been, well, odd.

Then came Day Two of the NFL Draft and the Rams made the somewhat shocking selection of Henderson early in the third round. They have starting job openings at defensive tackle and inside linebacker, yet they traded two late third-round picks to move up to No. 70 to secure the explosive running back.

Maybe Henderson really is just the dynamic back they have been looking for the last two years. But it sure seems like he might end up being something much more important.

The Rams are hoping for the best for Gurley, but they undoubtedly are also preparing for the worst.