Gurley interview & articles that quote it

Todd Gurley credits Sean McVay for making him a more complete RB

Cameron DaSilva

Todd Gurley credits Sean McVay for making him a more complete RB

Todd Gurley was a well-rounded running back coming out of Georgia, but he wasn’t what you would call a receiving back. He finished his career with 65 receptions for 615 yards, compared to his 510 rushing attempts and 3,285 yards on the ground.

As a rookie in 2015, he was hardly involved in the passing game. Gurley was targeted only 26 times in 13 games, catching 21 passes for 188 yards. Needless to say, he wasn’t utilized much as a receiver.

He got better in 2016 with 43 catches on 58 targets, but his pass-catching ability really took center stage in 2017 when Sean McVay arrived. In the last two years, Gurley has averaged 61.5 catches for 684 yards and has scored 10 receiving touchdowns after scoring zero in 2015 and ’16.

Gurley credits McVay for making him a more well-rounded back and using him as a receiver.

“When I first came into the league, I was a running back. I grew up looking at Jamaal Charles, Adrian Peterson. But I wanted to be more of an Adrian Peterson-type of back,” Gurley said on the LightHarted Podcast. “At first, I was like, ‘I’m not catching no balls, I’m not running no routes. I’m not doing this, I’m a running back.’ But seeing other guys’ games, Le’Veon [Bell], David Johnson, Duke Johnson, Devonta Freeman. I’m like, ‘All right, in order to be the best, you have to do what the best are doing.’

“I had to elevate my game and thanks to Coach McVay for putting us in this position. Certain routes, it didn’t matter if it was a receiver, tight end or running back. Whoever could run that route or whatever you feel comfortable with, he’s going to put you in that position.”

Gurley has become arguably the best running back in football, leading the NFL in total touchdowns the last two years and winning Offensive Player of the Year in 2017. His 3,924 yards from scrimmage the last two years are 671 more than the next-closest player, Ezekiel Elliott.

If not for his receiving ability, he likely would not have been an MVP candidate in 2017 or become a two-time All-Pro. And as an added bonus, getting touches as a receiver rather than as a runner can help take some wear and tear off of his body.

“I also learned, hey, I can save my body. Why would I want to go up against 11 guys when I can have a one-on-one with one guy?” Gurley said. “Majority of the time, I’m going to win those one-on-ones. That’s all football is about is just beating the guy across from you more than he did. Once I saw that and started getting involved in the passing game, I was like, ‘Damn, it’s this easy? I could keep doing this.’”

Gurley, like so many others, called McVay “a genius” and marveled at the way he recalls plays. He said McVay brings up plays all the time and at a recent team meeting, he essentially ran through the whole season from Week 1 to the Super Bowl, pointing out big plays and players’ first sacks

“He’s smart. A little too smart. He don’t sleep. He does his thing,” Gurley said. “He’s got the elephant memory. I mean, he remembers everything. He’ll just pull up a clip or say something like, ‘Todd, you remember this?’ And I’m like, ‘Uh uh.’ … [He does it] like all the time.”

Gurley couldn’t be happier to have McVay as his coach and loves the job he’s done since taking over in 2017.

“He’s a player’s coach. he’s a good coach, always coming up with new ideas. So you get excited. Every week, you come in on Wednesday – Tuesday’s our day off and Wednesday we start game planning. I get to smiling because it’s like, ‘Oh yeah, it’s going to be a good week.’ I mean he’s a genius. He really is a genius.”