Recent Forum Topics › Forums › The Rams Huddle › Fisher/Snead press conference (vid & TRANSCRIPT) + PD, Wagoner on Gurley
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April 30, 2015 at 11:07 pm #23494
znModeratorFisher and Snead Talk Todd Gurley
Watch head coach Jeff Fisher and Les Snead talk about their 1st round draft selection, Georgia running back Todd Gurley.
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Rams select “unique talent” in Georgia RB Gurley at No. 10
By Joe Lyons
The Rams came up with a bit of a surprise, selecting Georgia running back Todd Gurley at No. 10 overall.
The 6-foot-1, 226-pounder played in just six games as a junior last fall after suffering an ACL tear in November — after serving a four-game suspension at midseason for taking money for signing memorabilia.
In those six games, he ran for 911 yards on 122 carries (6.4 per carry) and scored nine times. In addition, he caught 12 passes for 57 yards and returned four kicks for 179 yards and a touchdown.
Gurley, 20, said that rehab has gone well but does not to put a timetable on his return. Can he be back in time for opening day?
“Oh yeah, I think that’s a realistic goal,” he said during a teleconference call with St. Louis media. “Everything’s on schedule and I’m looking forward to coming back.
“I was a little surprised, but I’m just happy, happy to be part of the Rams.”
Both Rams head coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead are thrilled with their top pick of 2015.
“We thought he was a definitely a unique talent that only comes around once in a while,” Snead said. “Could’ve gone earlier if it wasn’t for the injury, so it was kind of bonus sitting there at No. 10. Hey, we’ve got a lot of things we need to do, but it was a consensus that that player helps everybody _ our defense, our offense, our offensive line, our receivers and our QBs. That’s the pick in a nutshell.”
Fisher agreed: “His body of work speaks for itself…. It was clearly setback because of the injury, but the athletic ability, the strength, the explosion, the acceleration, the instincts that he has as a runner and he also has great hands out of the backfield. He’s a complete back. We have a good group, we really like our group, but this is an opportunity, as Les said, that we could not pass up.”
Gurley rushed for 989 yards and 10 scores in 10 games as a sophomore in 2013, when he also caught 37 passes for 441 yards and six touchdowns. As a freshman in 2012, he played in 14 games and made 12 starts, rushing for 1,385 yards and 17 touchdowns. That season, he also caught 16 passes for 117 yards and returned seven kickoffs for 243 yards and a score.
Gurley, the first running back to go in the first round since 2012, started in 28 of 30 games he played for the Bulldogs. He had 18 100-yard games and one 200-yard game. His 44 career touchdowns (36 rushing, 6 receiving and 2 kickoffs) rank second in school history to Herschel Walker’s 52.
Like Gurley, Fisher has not timetable for Gurley’s return to the football field.
“We do know that he’s not having any issues right now and the docs typically say he’s ahead of schedule,” the coach said. “This is one of those players at the position that really only come around once in a great while. We’re very excited about it.
“I’ll tell you this, we’re not going to rush it. We may be a little on the conservative side. You know, this is the running back of our future and it makes no sense to subject him to or put him in a bad situation sooner than we have to.”
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Total breakdown: Rams draft RB Todd Gurley in first round
By Nick WagonerEARTH CITY, Mo. — A few quick thoughts on the St. Louis Rams’ first-round draft pick:
The pick: Todd Gurley, running back, Georgia
My take: Some might view this pick as a complete surprise, but that’s only for those who haven’t paid attention to Rams coach Jeff Fisher’s affinity for the running game and running backs. Gurley is the fifth running back the Rams have drafted in four years with Fisher at the helm. He’s also clearly the highest rated of those backs and the one who gives the Rams a chance to finally be the power-running team they’ve long wanted to be. Coming off a knee injury, Gurley doesn’t come without his share of risk but the Rams believe he’s the best back to come out of the draft since Adrian Peterson. If Gurley lives up to that lofty comparison, he’s worth it.
Rams not afraid of risk: Giving this pick a thumbs-up is a tough debate. Gurley is coming off a torn left ACL and is actually still in the process of rehabilitating. But the Rams feel like they can be patient and allow him to get to full speed because they have other options. Namely, Tre Mason, Benny Cunningham and Zac Stacy. In fact, it has been common practice for the Rams to have about a four-game waiting period before plugging a rookie running back into the lineup. They did it with Stacy in 2013 and Mason last year. So Gurley would fit right in.
Who’s blocking? The question now becomes, who will be blocking for Gurley this season? The Rams still have gaping holes at guard, tackle and, to a slightly lesser degree, center. The good news is that Gurley averaged 3 yards after contact per rush and gained more than 1,500 of his 3,285 rush yards after contact in his college career. Also, the Rams still have five more picks to bolster the offensive line and could conceivably re-sign tackle Joe Barksdale and/or add veteran guard Justin Blalock in free agency.
May 1, 2015 at 12:14 am #23507znModeratorWith Todd Gurley, St. Louis Rams go all-in on run game
By Nick Wagoner
EARTH CITY, Mo. — Five minutes after the St. Louis Rams selected Georgia running back Todd Gurley with the 10th overall selection in the NFL draft Thursday night, coach Jeff Fisher’s phone lit up.
Amongst the many texts Fisher received was a simple one that read “Congratulations, great pick.” On the other end of the text was former Tennessee Titans running back Eddie George, the same running back who spent eight years carrying the load for Fisher’s Titans.
While their playing styles may be different, the Rams now turn to Gurley to take a running game that’s been more bark than bite, and lead it to the lofty heights that George once spearheaded.
“He’s special,” Fisher said. “Their running styles are different. [But] when their careers are all said and done, he could be that guy, yes.”
Since Fisher and general manager Les Snead arrived in St. Louis, they’ve consistently pointed out that they’d like their offense to center on a power running game. Despite some half-measures taken through the draft — the Rams took four running backs in the first three years of Fisher and Snead’s tenure — they never fully committed to making it happen.
Which is why the results have been mediocre at best. In three seasons under Fisher, the Rams have averaged 106.3 rushing yards per game and 4.1 yards per carry, ranking 19th and 17th in the league, respectively. Although backs Tre Mason, Daryl Richardson, Zac Stacy and Benny Cunningham have flashed potential, none have been able to consistently perform against the tougher defenses in the NFC West.
In 2014, the Rams averaged 77.8 yards and 3.36 yards per carry in six division games. In their 10 other contests, the Rams rushed for 116.8 yards and 4.56 yards per rush.
Of course, those numbers can’t be exclusively pinned on the running backs. A porous offensive line that still has glaring holes at center, one guard spot and right tackle is equally responsible. Now that the Rams have invested so heavily in running back, they must do the same with the front five. Re-signing tackle Joe Barksdale, signing guard Justin Blalock and/or spending some of their remaining five picks on the line would be a good start.
Some might argue that Fisher is still stuck in the past and clinging to the days of George as a way to win. There’s merit to that argument but there’s also recent evidence that a generational talent at running back can be a difference maker. It’s why Minnesota doesn’t want to part with Adrian Peterson, the player that many at Rams Park point to as the best back to enter the draft before Gurley.
Undoubtedly, there’s a certain amount of risk that comes with picking Gurley, who is still rehabilitating from a torn left anterior cruciate ligament. But if he’s healthy, there’s no denying his talent.
At Georgia, Gurley averaged 3 yards per rush after contact and gained more than 1,500 of his 3,285 rush yard after contact. He also had 114 carries that gained 10 yards or more since the start of the 2012 season.
Gurley, who didn’t visit with the Rams before the draft, doesn’t know much about St. Louis other than his friendship with linebacker Alec Ogletree, who played with him at Georgia. But he does know one more thing.
“I know they like to run the ball,” Gurley said Thursday night.
And with Gurley in place, finally perhaps the Rams can do it as well as Fisher has long hoped
May 1, 2015 at 12:47 am #23513znModeratorGurley is a big-risk, big-upside talent
By Bernie MiklaszGoing into the draft, I expected Rams GM Les Snead and head coach Jeff Fisher to take their vitamins and eat their broccoli by doing the sensible if unexciting thing by drafting an offensive tackle.
Instead, the Rams pulled off a surprise by taking the magnificent Georgia running back Todd Gurley with the 10th overall selection.
Of course there are several reasons to rip or at least seriously question the pick.
1. Gurley is coming off late-November surgery to repair a torn ACL and could miss the early part of the 2015 regular season. He’s a real talent, but there’s a red-flag aspect to this choice. What if Gurley is out longer than anticipated? What if he doesn’t hold up? I guess the snarky thing to say — as thousands already have — is that the Rams have drafted a back that Los Angeles fans will love in 2016. But I’m just repeating the joke. I don’t endorse it.
2. This is the fifth RB chosen by the Fisher-Snead regime, following Isaiah Pead (50th overall in 2012), Daryl Richardson (No. 252 in 2012), Zac Stacy (No 160 in 2013), and Tre Mason (No. 75 in 2014.) Mason is a nice player with upside, but there isn’t a home-run pick in there. So should we trust the regime’s ability to judge running backs?
3. Presumably the Rams will line up additional run blockers to give Gurley a chance to break off runs instead of getting beaten up and suffering additional injuries. But until they do … how much punishment can Gurley absorb behind a suspect O-line? Again, I’d have to think the Rams will reinforce their front line.
4. NFL personnel evaluators have shifted their philosophy on taking RBs early in the first round. In the previous five drafts (2010-2014) only two backs came off the board in the first 10 picks. Buffalo chose C.J. Spiller 9th overall in 2010, and Cleveland went for Trent Richardson at No. 3 in 2012. Spiller has been a good player, with speed that can burn defenses. He’s averaged 4.9 yards per carry and made an impact as a receiver. (With one Pro Bowl.) Spiller was a fine pick, but he hasn’t reached the superstars level. As for Richardson, he’s been a bust so far in his days with Cleveland and Indianapolis.
None of this means it’s stupid to draft a back so early. You can go back to 2007 with Adrian Peterson going 7th overall. And though he didn’t go in the top 10, Marshawn Lynch was the 12th overall choice in ’07. Lynch washed out of Buffalo, but has been a hugely important franchise back with Seattle. But the list of early-first backs includes Cedric Benson (4th in 2005), Cadillac Williams (5th in 2005), and Darren McFadden (4th in 2008.) McFadden is a decent back, still going through eight NFL seasons, but he’s only had one 1,000-yard rushing season. And there have been some effective role players taken early, including Reggie Bush (2nd overall in ’06.) And also a solid back in Ronnie Brown (No. 2 in 2005.)
NFL teams have become increasingly reluctant to pull a RB off the board when picking a back among the first 10 selections. So it’s fair to say that Fisher-Snead are going against the trend here. And the risk factor is increased by Gurley’s knee health.
5. Fisher also drafted some RB busts in Tennessee including LenDale White, Chris Henry and Chris Brown. But Fisher also hit it big on a couple of backs, and we’ll get to that in a moment.
But here’s the thing …
I don’t hate this pick. Not at all. I like it, actually. If you watched Gurley work on autumn Saturdays during his career at Georgia you’ll know what I mean. I’ll say it: I loved watching Gurley run the football. He was tenacious and explosive and everything in between.
Gurley is really, really good. He’s big and strong and fast and has an appetite for contact. He can run through tacklers or elude them. Not a bad receiver, either. Gurley is an exciting player with a chance to become the franchise back that Fisher needs to belatedly assemble a power running game in St. Louis. And a power game that also contains a breakaway element.
A healthy Gurley can be a lot of fun to watch during the coming seasons.
I also believe this: if Fisher is the Rams’ head coach, he’ll continue to go with the offensive style that he prefers, and a top-quality RB is a big part of that equation. We can’t pretend that Fisher is something that he’s not. He isn’t going to change, not after 19+ seasons as a head coach. Too late.
As coach of the Oilers-Titans, Fisher found his go-to guy in Eddie George, the 14th overall choice in 1996. George was everything that Fisher wanted to make his offense go, and George rushed for 10,441 yards and 68 touchdowns in a career that included four Pro Bowl selections and one All-Pro honor.
George was Fisher’s lead back for eight seasons, with special toughness and endurance that was tested to the max by a preposterous 403-carry season in 2000.
Fisher also struck gold in the 2008 draft by picking Chris Johnson 24th overall. The lightning-bolt Johnson had six 1,000-yard seasons including his memorable 2,006-yard haul in 2009.
We don’t know if Gurley can be Fisher’s new George, or Johnson or a hybrid of the two. But after ranking 19th in the NFL in rushing yards over his first three seasons, the coach has been searching for a RB that can carry his offense. And a healthy and durable version of Gurley has the skill set to be the alpha back.
Again, there’s no way to avoid the health-durability question, but Fisher went with his gut and put his faith in Gurley. For better or for worse, Fisher remained true to his roots.
As Jon Gruden said Thursday night on ESPN: “Jeff Fisher, when he’s been at his best, they’ve had a good defense, and they’ve been able to run the football. Think about the identity of a Jeff Fisher football team. Run the football, play good defense. That will help (new QB) Nick Foles, that will help this offensive line if they can have some success running the football. I love this pick. You can feature (Gurley) every Sunday.”
I also like the pick because it’s got some sizzle. It wasn’t the safest thing to do from a practical standpoint. Fisher could have gone with a lower-risk RB in Wisconson’s Melvin Gordon. But obviously the Rams believe that Gurley can be transcendent, so they went all-in on him.
And they also ignored the danger of relying on another surgically repaired knee. Fisher’s rebuild in STL was slowed and made more challenging by QB Sam Bradford’s two knee injuries, and now Fisher used a Top 10 pick on a back that’s coming off ACL surgery.
But in Thursday’s column I wrote that I hoped the Rams would do something to help their offense get into the end zone more frequently. And there are a lot of ways to do that, including a powerhouse RB.
Fisher certainly wasn’t bashful about going for it. All you can do is hope that Gurley will be sound, and stay sound, and be able to withstand a feature-back workload. If Gurley can endure, he’s a true playmaker. And we haven’t seen many difference-makers on the Rams offense.
This was a surprise pick that, upon further review, wasn’t so stunning after all. This was the third SEC running back chosen by Snead-Fisher in their four drafts in St. Louis.
(This just in: Las Vegas has installed the Rams as the favorite to to win the SEC East in 2015. One other lame joke: the Rams evidently traded Brian Schottenheimer to Georgia for Gurley.)
This latest choice will blow up on the Rams if Gurley’s knee blows out again … but at least now there’s a chance to see some entertainment when the Rams have the football.
Big risk … big talent.
Big gamble … big potential payoff.
Boom … or bust.
If you feel like reading more about Gurley and this pick…
Here are a couple of things for you from my favorite football-analysis web site, Pro Football Focus …
• Here was the instant reaction Pro Football Focus:
“A running back is gone in the first 10 picks, thus ensuring PFF founder Neil Hornsby has ample opportunity to get on his soap box and bemoan the lack of value in the pick. Gurley is obviously coming off an ACL injury, but the wonders of modern medicine and his incredible physical gifts were too much for a Rams team to pass up giving who they at the running back spot right now. His 2014 sample size was relatively small but enough to produce these nuggets. Gurley led the nation with 3.98 yards after contact per attempt against Power-5 competition and also had the highest elusive rating in that regard. He’s a unique talent and despite only carrying the ball 123 times he still had the sixth highest rushing grade of all draft eligible backs.”
• And here is Matt Classen’s pre-draft assessment of Gurley:
“Gurley is the top back on many people’s draft boards, and understandably so. He is a powerful and explosive runner who fights to finish runs and can create his own yardage. He forced an astounding 37 missed tackles on 117 rushes against Power 5 teams, and never less than six in any of those games. His 3.9 average yards after contact ranked second in the draft class.
“His quickness and top speed are a rare combination with his size and are what makes him unique from other players in the draft. Gurley is powerful enough to run over and through multiple defenders yet can still break away from early anyone on the defense. He had at least a 40-yard run in each of his first four games last season.
“Gurley still has the highest upside of any of the running backs, but the injuries coupled with his physicality are a concern. The recovery road following ACL injuries has come a long way over the years, but nothing is for sure. Will the knee be an issue going forward? Odds are that it probably won’t be, but it should still be at least a small concern and part of the equation when drafting Gurley.
“Signature Stat: On average, Gurley forced a missed tackle once every 3.3 rush attempts, the best rate in the nation.”
May 1, 2015 at 7:38 am #23539znModerator
ST. LOUIS RAMS ROUND ONE PRESS CONFERENCE – HEAD COACH JEFF FISHER AND GENERAL MANAGER LES SNEAD – APRIL 30, 2015(On first round pick RB Todd Gurley)
Snead: “Coach Fisher would tell you, we’ve been discussing it a while. Obviously we felt he was a unique talent. That’s subjective, but definitely thought he was a unique talent that only comes around once in a while. So, we thought he might have fallen…could have gone earlier if it hadn’t been for the injury, so it was kind of a bonus to maybe be sitting there at 10. We’ve got a lot of things we’ve got to do, but I think it was a consensus that that player helps everybody: our defense, it helps our offense, our offensive line, our wide receivers, our QB. So, that’s the pick in a nutshell.”(On why they think Gurley is a unique talent)
Fisher: “His body of work speaks for itself. What he was able to do at the University of Georgia was very impressive. Clearly, he was set back because of the injury, but the athletic ability, the strength, the explosion, the acceleration, the instincts that he has as a runner, and he’s also got great hands out of the backfield. He’s that complete back. We have a good group. We really like our group in the room, but this is an opportunity that as Les said, that we could not pass up. There were good players. The board was right. We had a sense for where it was going to go. We’ve been talking about Todd for well over a week now. We were there at the re-check. The rehab’s coming along fine. We don’t know when he’s going to be on the field competitively. We do know that he’s not having any issues right now and as the doc’s typically say, he’s ahead of schedule. So, this is kind of one of those players at the position that really only comes around once in a great while. So, we’re very excited about him.”(On when they became comfortable with Gurley’s knee and how comfortable they are being patient with him)
Fisher: “Well we’re comfortable with the process, the evaluation process. We’re comfortable with what happens at the Combine. Now, he did not allow anybody to manipulate him at the Combine just because the doctor didn’t want 32 teams jerking on the knee. So, he went through his rehab, went back to the re-check. We were there. Our doctors were there and there’s really no concern with where he is right now.”(On if Gurley will be ready for the regular season)
Fisher: “There’s always that possibility, but we’re not going to be specific as to when. I will tell you this: we’re not going to rush it. We may be a little on the conservative side. This is the running back of our future, and it makes no sense to subject him to…put him in a bad situation sooner than we have to. Like I said, we’ve got outstanding backs on our roster. He’s going to add to that group. When that happens, we don’t know. But, he’s going to be the running back of the future for a number of years.”(On the depth at the running back position)
Fisher: “We’ve got a good group, yes.”(On if Gurley’s injury history factored into the decision to select him)
Fisher: “Well, obviously it’s been a concern of ours, but every situation is different. We don’t have any reservations whatsoever about him getting back to full-speed and 100 percent. That’s not going to be an issue with him. He’s endured a lot too. His road’s pretty impressive. He’s had some hard times, went and endured the suspension, but everyone you talk to absolutely loves the kid. Just loves the kid.”(On selecting a running back in the first round this year despite one not being picked in the first round the last two years)
Snead: “I think you take Gurley, obviously we thought he was a unique talent and I think the next guy to go was a pretty damn-good player in the Wisconsin kid. He can hit some home runs and I think that’s why San Diego made a move to go get him. It’s really like I’ve said many times before, the position – that’s just letters in the alphabet. But you take players – they’re humans, you take the ability. I think that’s why you’re seeing the running backs go maybe two, maybe three go off the board this year because they’re skilled people.”(On Gurley’s suspension in college)
Snead: “I think, obviously the Georgia people, he’s a hero to their people. I don’t know if I want to use the word hero, but well-respected throughout their fans. I’ve spent a lot of time in Atlanta so my texts are probably blowing up with UGA fans. We’ve got one on the staff who knows (University of Georgia Head Coach) Mark Richt well and he sent him a text right after the pick saying, ‘Hey, great pick. You guys got a stud.’ That’s coming from his head coach and a lot of the fans there. They respect him. He made a mistake. He got punished for it. He’s moving on.”(On if Gurley is similar to former NFL running back Eddie George)
Fisher: “He’s special. Yeah he is. I got a text from Eddie five minutes after the pick was over saying, ‘Congratulations, great pick.’ But they’re different. They’re running styles are different. When his career is all said and done he could be that guy, yes.”(On the coach who got the text from Coach Richt)
Snead: “(Quarterbacks) Coach (Chris) Weinke.”(On who’s going to block for Gurley)
Fisher: “We’ve got a group up front. We’ll be OK.”Snead: “We’ve drafted some people in the past and they did make this thing a three-day event. I didn’t decide that. We’ve got to live through Friday and Saturday. We’ll see if we can help improve that position there, but we’ll still let the board guide us, but we’re well aware.”
(On if there were any surprises)
Fisher: “No, the board was perfect so far.”(On if Gurley was ranked second on the draft board)
Snead: “You can’t always believe everything that’s reported. That one’s in-house.”Fisher: “We intentionally hid him on the board. So, he was way down some place.”
May 1, 2015 at 8:43 am #23556
AgamemnonParticipantSnead: “You can’t always believe everything that’s reported.
lol
AgamemnonMay 1, 2015 at 9:32 am #23562
wvParticipantDidnt the 49ers draft a highly touted RB who
had an ACL injury last year? How
did that work out?w
vMay 1, 2015 at 10:47 am #23570AgamemnonParticipantLatimore. I think he retired. I will look it up.
AgamemnonMay 1, 2015 at 10:51 am #23571AgamemnonParticipanthttp://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/11827168/marcus-lattimore-san-francisco-49ers-retires-nfl
San Francisco 49ers running back Marcus Lattimore has decided to retire.
The former South Carolina standout announced his decision in a statement posted on Twitter.
http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2014/11/5/7163359/marcus-lattimore-retires-knee-49ers-running-back
Marcus Lattimore retires from the NFL
By Katie Sharp
@ktsharp on Nov 5, 2014, 3:31p 4
Jason O. WatsonLattimore has decided to retire from the NFL, unable to come back from a devastating knee injury suffered nearly two years ago while in college.
Tweet (52) Share (552)
PinSan Francisco 49ers running back Marcus Lattimore officially announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday, telling the team that he is unable to come back from a devastating knee injury suffered two years ago.
Lattimore tore a ligament in his left knee as a sophomore at South Carolina in 2011, and then suffered a horrible injury in his opposite knee one year later that included a dislocation and significant damage to multiple ligaments. That injury effective ended his career with the Gamecocks, as Lattimore declared for the NFL Draft at the end of the season and was taken in the fourth round by the 49ers.
He spent the entire 2013 season on the non-football injury list and started this season on that list as well, having never suited up in a game for the 49ers. He did return to the practice field last week with the hope that he could play later this season, but had recurring issues with his surgically repaired knee during practices and felt that it was time to move on to a new chapter in his life after football.
AgamemnonMay 1, 2015 at 11:14 am #23574znModeratorDidnt the 49ers draft a highly touted RB who
had an ACL injury last year? How
did that work out?Lattimore tore a ligament in his left knee as a sophomore at South Carolina in 2011, and then suffered a horrible injury in his opposite knee one year later that included a dislocation and significant damage to multiple ligaments. . . . He . . . had recurring issues with his surgically repaired knee during practices and felt that it was time to move on to a new chapter in his life after football.
It doesn;t look like it was the same kind of thing.
.
May 1, 2015 at 11:27 am #23575AgamemnonParticipantOne knee was an acl and mcl. The other was worse, a complete disaster.
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