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Injuries weren’t to blame for Todd Gurley‘s lackluster showing in the Los Angeles Rams‘ 13-3 defeat to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LIII.
Gurley carried the ball 10 times for 35 yards and caught one pass for minus-one yard. Speaking to reporters after the game, the All-Pro running back said he felt healthy throughout the Super Bowl, per Yahoo Sports’ Kimberley A. Martin and NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Tom Pelissero @TomPelissero
I asked #Rams RB Todd Gurley if he needs an extended break to get his knee fully right. “I kind of had a break low-key for the last two months. So, it’s cool. We’ll do the physicals and all that stuff tomorrow.” Does he expect to need anything surgical? “No sir.”
An injury would at least explain why Gurley was largely anonymous in the Rams’ final two games of the season. He only had five total touches in the team’s NFC Championship Game win over the New Orleans Saints.
Head coach Sean McVay accepted the blame for Gurley’s low usage against New Orleans.
“I, for sure, should have done a better job of getting Todd more involved,” McVay told reporters. “The opportunities were so limited.”
The fact Gurley once again made little impression on the field was one of the biggest head-scratchers from the Super Bowl.
Bill Barnwell @billbarnwell
Two weeks ago, Todd Gurley said that he didn’t play for stretches against the Saints because he had been “sorry” in the first half. Not sure what the explanation is this time.
Lindsey Thiry @LindseyThiry
I just don’t understand why you make Todd Gurley the highest-paid running back in NFL history to have him stand on the sideline in the Super Bowl.
Kevin Clark @bykevinclark
The one football player in the history of the sport Sean McVay forgot is Todd Gurley.
This time last year, Malcolm Butler was conspicuous by his absence. The veteran cornerback didn’t have a single snap on defense in New England’s 41-33 defeat to the Philadelphia Eagles, with a number of factors contributing to his benching.
There has to be a reason for Gurley’s almost nonexistent role in the Super Bowl because McVay is too good of a coach to leave one of his best players on the sideline for long stretches.
The Rams gained 260 yards as a team, and their inability to run the ball meant the Patriots could throw more pass-rushers at Jared Goff. New England sacked Goff four times, and he completed 50 percent of his passes, tied for his second-lowest percentage of the season.
Gurley picked up a knee injury in Los Angeles’ Week 15 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Perhaps his subsequent physicals will shed some light on whether that issue persisted all the way through to the Super Bowl.
from Top Viral News Blog http://bit.ly/2GmbTxa
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