Todd Gurley

yeah, they talk a lot about the little things that gurley does. how he varies the frequency of steps when a defender comes. they talk about his receiving skills. they talk about his flexibility when running in traffic. good stuff.

and he seems to run with good pad level when he has to.

the one question waldman has is how gurley will do when those running lanes will inevitably be tighter in the pros. he had some pretty wide open creases in college. but he seems pretty sold on him.

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guinnessram

Word around the campfire is that the Jets already had Gurley pegged @ #6. But when the Skins passed on L. Williams, they did a 180 and drafted the most talented player in the draft. Bowles just couldn’t help himself.

As always, I listened to most of the draft on Sirius Radio. When the Jets were near the end of their allotted ten minutes at pick six, Gil Brandt said that they were looking for a way to trade back and still take Gurley. I guess they didn’t like him that much, or the knee was a worry, or they just liked Williams better, or all of the above, or whatever.

I hope for the best but I feel people are getting too far ahead with optimism considering he’s recovering from an ACL. If Mason ends up keeping the job what an expensive and waste of another first round pick.

Zooey wrote:

bnw wrote:

I hope for the best but I feel people are getting too far ahead with optimism considering he’s recovering from an ACL. If Mason ends up keeping the job what an expensive and waste of another first round pick.

Yes, it is said it takes 2 years to recover 100%. Since he was hurt in November, he would have to be well ahead of schedule to be 100% at the beginning of the 2016 season.

He doesn’t, however, have to be 100% to play or be effective. But you are right to remind us of caution. I don’t see how he can start the season, really.

I am guessing he wont be in the lineup till
mid-season or so. But what do i know.

That means he’ll only get a thousand yards next year.

w
v

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/rating-the-nfl-draft-prospects-running-backs-b99486145z1-301335901.html

RUNNING BACKS

1. TODD GURLEY, Georgia (6-0 ½, 225, 4.48, 1): Third-year junior from Tarboro, N.C. “You start comparing him to Bo (Jackson) and Herschel (Walker) and Adrian (Peterson), that’s when you know you’re dealing with a special player,” said one scout. “Physically, this dude can do everything. He’s my favorite player in the draft. He’s a football all-day guy.” Scored 44 TDs, second in Bulldogs’ history to Walker’s 52. “Gurley’s different than Marshawn (Lynch),” a veteran scout said. “More explosive than Eddie George. Fred Taylor wasn’t as explosive, either. Probably better than Steven Jackson. I don’t think he’s better than Bo Jackson.” Rushed 510 times for 3,285 yards (6.4-yard average, 36 TDs) and caught 65 passes. Suffered a torn ACL Nov. 15 and underwent surgery 10 days later. “I’d worry about him lasting,” a fourth scout said. “He’s like Adrian and (Walter) Payton, very violent and aggressive as a runner. I’m not sure he’s as dynamic as those guys. He could be.”

…

one thing about adrian peterson. i don’t know if this was talked about, but he did not have a straight acl tear. he actually tore both his acl AND mcl. so it would appear at first glance that his knee injury was more traumatic than gurley’s which was only an acl tear.

this makes peterson’s recovery all the more miraculous in my opinion. but i also take a little bit of comfort in that i don’t believe that gurley’s climb to recovery is quite so steep.

of course, bradford had a straight acl tear, and he reinjured it on a freak hit to the knee. so no one can predict these things.

frank gore had two acl surgeries in college. he’s gone on to have a productive nfl career with little disruption due to injury. i think he had hip surgery but has otherwise been relatively healthy. of course there’s no telling how much he lost physically due to those two knee surgeries.

also.

i was thinking about gurley’s long speed. i’d venture to guess it’s around 4.5. not elite. but very solid. i estimate this partially based on his 100 meter time as a track and field star. he ran a 10.7 in the 100 meters. by comparison chris johnson ran a 10.38. adrian peterson ran a 10.26!!! i realize it’s hard to extrapolate based on this distance, but my point is that his long speed is probably not elite rather it is most likely very good. out of high school this one website listed gurley’s 40 time at a ridiculous 4.33. even if this is true (which i don’t think it is), it was done at 215 pounds. he’s added some weight since then, and i would expect his speed to go down some.

i don’t this is as important as his initial burst anyway. that’s what i’m really curious to know. it looks good on film, but it’d be nice to have a real number for comparison.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 6 months ago by InvaderRam.

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Suh-weet!

I’d love to hear from any GA fans or anyone else who saw Gurley play extensively. I’ve been looking at the film available on YouTube and find the all-game film (e.g., Georgia vs. South Carolina) much more helpful than the highlight collections. And this is what I see.

Gurley has VERY good balance, very good speed, and OUTSTANDING acceleration. Once he squares his shoulders and hits the hole he’s up to top speed in two strides and he’s GONE. Wow. Seems like a decisive runner, though I’d love to see more runs when there’re only creases available to run into. Amazing how often his speed allows him to split defenders who initially look like they’ve got favorable angles on him. I did see him caught once (he scored anyway) and not run away from a couple others. But he certainly immediately becomes our fastest current RB and will take some to the house once he clears the LOS.

He doesn’t do much open-field juking, which I like. W/one man to beat he produces a strong stiff-arm and it’s sayonara.

After what I had heard I expected raw power to be higher on the list of attributes than what I saw. DGMW, he’s got power: he takes it up the gut strong while having the speed to pop it outside. But he struck me as more ‘determined’ than ‘powerful.’ Which is to say that he makes sloppy tacklers pay. But he’s not shrugging off a wrap-up tackle or dragging anyone 5 yards down the field.

Didn’t see him catching more than a couple, so hard to asses that.

Liked the interviews I saw. Seems like a good, solid kid’ won’t be hard to root for him. Super excited to see him in horns!

yeah. it has been reported. but not confirmed. that he beat conley in a race. long speed. yeah. no way he catches peterson. he is on another planet i would think. there’s no shame in that. what i would like to see on paper is his initial burst. that 10 yard split. on film. it looks great.

another note. he carries more weight than either marshawn lynch or peterson did coming out of college. coming out of college they were both listed at 215 pounds. gurley has been listed at a hefty 226 pounds. he weighed in at 222 pounds at the combine.

and the thing i always harp on is his receiving skills. i don’t know what lynch or peterson’s skills are in that department. but gurley was heavily featured in the receiving game his sophomore year. 37 receptions for 441 yards. in my wildest dreams, i see him as also being a cerebral player like a faulk. where he knew not only his responsibilities but the responsibilities of all his teammates on any given play. where he learns to run routes like a receiver. and he can impact the game besides just running the ball.

the promising thing is in that waldman video the hosts do see hints of that already in his game. the blocking. the receiving. knowing when to play smart and when to take a gamble. let’s hope that holds true in his pro career.

NFL Draft 2015 – RB Todd Gurley – Georgia – Yearbook Scouting Report

http://www.draftinsiders.com/content/nfl-draft-2015-rb-todd-gurley-georgia-yearbook-scouting-report

Todd Gurley #3 – Georgia – 6-1, 225 – Sp. 4.50

Hindu Theory: Adrian Peterson – Rating 90

Huge powerful speedy tailback is one of the most gifted runners to come along over the past decade. His career was cut short in 2014 by a torn ACL, that along with a four game suspension limited him to just six games last fall. Over that time, he still gained a pretty amazing 911 yards at 7.4 a pop and scored 9 TDs. Possesses an NFL body with a well-developed muscular frame. He has the natural ability to drop his pads and square up when attacking the line and seamlessly bounces off would be tacklers. Shows natural balance as a runner with the power and determination to be difficult to slow down, very seldom taken down by the first tackler. Reads his initial blocks very well. Shows a feel for finding daylight. Powers through creases with authority and the speed to stick-and-go with an extreme burst out of his cuts. Shows the ability to juke and shift his weight very well, especially for a 225 lb. runner. Able to string multiple moves together, including wicked jump cuts that can leave tacklers flailing at air. Uses his fine speed and long strides to eat up yards in a hurry. Large, natural glue-like hands as a receiver out of the backfield and is a willing, alert blocker in pass protection. Very uncommon combination of speed and power with huge pro upside when healthy. Extremely strong lower body and maintains balance well after contact. Appears to effortlessly run through attempted arm tackles. His speed makes him a threat to score from anywhere on the field. Extremely tough to tackle from an angle. Presses line very well to set up cut-back opportunities. Able to decisively get downhill, showing fine knee bend and forward lean. Effectively slips through some very small holes and explode out the other side. Shows quick, tight footwork getting to the second level. Can sink his hips and explode through a tackler or side-step and hit the throttle, which causes safeties to hesitate when coming downhill. Able to turn speed into power between tackles or when turning the corner. Seldom looks to go out of bounds and works to finish every run. In 2014, an outstanding 61.9% of his rushing yards came after contact. Strong hands and carries ball securely close to his body. Just fumbled three times in 510 carries. He is highly developed as a receiver to be an immediate three down feature back combining excellent hands and explosive big play ability after the catch. As a blocker, he will face up with linebackers, but needs hand technique development to be a finished complete feature back.

The Numbers: As a senior, he started the first 6 games and rushed for 911 yards on 123 carries for a 7.4 average and 9 TDs. He added 12 receptions for 57 yards before the four game suspension and then the ACL injury terminated his season. For the 2013 season, he rushed for 989 yards on 165 attempts for 6 yard average and 10 TDs. He added 37 receptions for 441 yards and 6 TDs. As a freshman in 2012, he had his best season and rushed for 1385 yards on 222 carries for a 6.2 average and 17 TDs, starting 14 games. He added 16 receptions for 117 yards. Over his career, he rushed for 3285 yards on 510 attempts for a fine 6.4 average and 36 TDs plus totaled 65 receptions for 615 yards and 6 TDs. At the NFL Combine, he came in at 6’1” and 222 lbs. and did 17 reps, but did not run or participate in the leaping and agility drills or positional drills due to rehabbing ACL injury.

The Skinny: Physical downhill thumper with the talent to be an immediate feature back. As a blocker, he shows quick reactions and toughness to face up with defenders and use his strong frame and agility. He can be his own blocker and runs both inside and outside. His receiving skills have developed nicely with reps, though he must continue to improve in that role. He has the natural running skills to be a difference maker and is similar to Adrian Peterson or former feature back Jamal Lewis in size, running style and big play abilities. Excellent early round addition with the skill set to be an impact player and core weapon. Top kickoff returner. Top 25 prospect with talent to be the best back in years once healthy.

Draft Projection: 1st Round

Frank Coyle is a long time scout with nationwide ties with coaches, scouts and player agents.

http://www.sicemdawgs.com/2015/05/video-todd-gurley-interview/

i just want to say again. i think gurley has the ability to be the best back fisher has ever coached.

he’s got the power of eddie george. but combines that with the big play ability of chris johnson. and he has the ability to be a better receiver than both.

steven jackson played for fisher in the twilight of his career. so that works to his disadvantage.

combine that with mason and fisher could have the best running attack he’s ever had at his disposal.