Pro Football Writers of America name Gurley Offensive Rookie of the Year

A Fond Farewell to Todd Gurley, Rookie of the Year

Bernie Miklasz

http://www.101sports.com/2016/01/20/a-fond-farewell-to-todd-gurley-rookie-of-the-year/

I don’t hate the “new” Los Angeles Rams. And that’s especially true of the players that are making the transfer from St. Louis to LA because of their employer’s desire to move his business. Rams players selflessly dedicated hours and hours of their personal time to community endeavors in the St. Louis area and were financially generous through their charitable foundations.

It wasn’t the players’ fault that they played for a football team that suffered from poor ownership, disappointing drafts, botched personnel decisions and mediocre coaching. Under the circumstances, Rams players did the best that they could. Some, like defensive tackle Aaron Donald, did exceptionally well.

Rookie running back Todd Gurley was another radiant light in a dark and depressing final NFL season in St. Louis.

The Pro Football Writers Association of America did a smart thing this week by voting for Gurley as the NFL’s Rookie of the Year for 2015.

There were other fine candidates, but Gurley prevailed in the balloting. Before Gurley motors his way to the West Coast to continue his promising career, I wanted to congratulate him and thank him for being a wonderful source of entertainment. Other than the Blues’ Vladimir Tarasenko, Gurley was the best show in town last fall and into the winter.

Gurley, completing his rehab from knee surgery, didn’t play until the Rams’ third game and didn’t start until the fourth game. But he maxed out during his limited time, finishing third in the NFL in rushing with 1,106 yards. Gurley rumbled in for 10 touchdowns, and gained at least 100 yards in five of his 12 starts.

Gurley’s breakaway capability only enhanced the excitement. He finished second in the NFL with 11 runs of 20+ yards and was tied for first with three rushes that went 50+ yards.

Bulk yards are one way of counting a running back’s production, but how do we measure his true impact?

With Gurley, look to the fourth quarter. And take a hard look at the fourth quarter of close games, when a running back has the opportunity and the power to greatly influence the outcome.

Gurley was a closer, a finisher, a punisher that put away defenses. That was the most inspiring feature of Gurley’s performance. Gurley’s peak form often emerged late in games, with the result in doubt.

By a difference of 11 yards (414 to 403) Gurley was second to Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson in fourth-quarter rushing yards in 2015.

In the Rams’ six wins with Gurley as their starting back, he rushed 41 times in the fourth quarter for 256 yards, an average of 6.2 yards per attempt. He also had three touchdowns and eight carries that generated 10+ yards.

And in the fourth quarter of close games — with 7 points or fewer separating the teams — Gurley was arguably the finest back in the league. In those “money” situations he ran by, or through, NFL defenses with an astounding average of 8.5 yards per rushing attempt. Gurley had 262 yards rushing in the fourth quarter of close-game scenarios; no other RB had more than 221. And keep in mind that defenses were loaded up to stop him. The Rams’ feeble passing game posed no real threat, so with the game on the line the defense had one thing to worry about: stop Gurley, stop the Rams, and win the game. But Gurley wasn’t easy to control. In those fourth-quarter, close-game situations he gained 10+ yards on 30 percent of his carries.

You know a back is special when the defense does everything within its power to smother a running back — and he conquers them, anyway.

The regret, of course, is that we only saw the first chapter of Gurley’s NFL career here in St. Louis. It left us wanting to see more, and he’ll be running for an LA audience now. If Gurley can stay healthy, there are no limits in what he can achieve.

Gurley’s outstanding 2015 season was an appropriate capper to our town’s 49 seasons of NFL football.

The St. Louis football Cardinals and St. Louis Rams didn’t win very often, combining for only 16 winning records and eight playoff seasons over those 49 years. There were a few superb quarterbacks, especially Kurt Warner and Jim Hart. some talented wide receivers, ranging from Mel Gray to Isaac Bruce; Roy Green to Torry Holt; Pat Tilley to Ricky Proehl. A long list of offensive linemen was topped by Hall of Famer Dan Dierdorf. And STL had a Hall of Fame tight end in Jackie Smith. Two defensive players made it to the Hall of Fame, safety Larry Wilson and cornerback Roger Werhli. Same with CB Aeneas Williams, who finished his career here after developing into a star for the Arizona Cardinals.

But when I think of the St. Louis NFL experience, one position stands out:

We had the pleasure of watching a lot of talented running backs gallop through our town.

The roll call would include …

Marshall Faulk.

Ottis Anderson.

Terry Metcalf.

Steven Jackson.

Jim Otis.

Johnny Roland.

Stump Mitchell.

John David Crow.

Jerome Bettis.

Theotis Brown.

MacArthur Lane.

Willis Crenshaw.

Prentice Gautt.

And I could name a few others … some personal favorites including Willard Harrell.

After 49 seasons, the last running back standing in St. Louis — standing in the end zone — was Todd Gurley.

It was a brief but scintillating existence for Gurley in St. Louis.

The Rookie of the Year.

Long may you run, No. 30.