You want to know how important running back Todd Gurley is to the Los Angeles Rams?
If you saw head coach Jeff Fisher in his meeting with other coaches on“Hard Knocks,” you know. The quarterback is the most important position in team sports, unless you’re the Rams. They have a great defense and the best young running back in the game.
That combination wins games, especially in the playoffs when you have inclement weather. So Fisher went on his rant on the coaching staff because he doesn’t want Gurley to take hits in practice. Gurley getting hurt would be worse for the Rams than any of their quarterbacks.
Fisher said, “Just so everybody understands, defensively, that 30 doesn’t need to f—— be hit in a 9-on-7 . OK? I don’t want 30 tackled. We need 30. … We need to treat him like a frickin’ quarterback.”
The running back position is devalued yet there’s need for one of them to have a red jersey for practice. There isn’t a non-quarterback who means more to his offense than Gurley. That’s partially how good Gurley is and partially the state of the quarterback situation.
The Rams don’t have much of a passing game and probably never will with Casey Keenum at quarterback. Then there’s 2016 No. 1 overall pick Jared Goff, who just isn’t quite ready yet. So pounding the ball with Gurley and playing defense is the plan.
So the last thing the Rams need is to pound on him in practice. Running the ball and playing defense does work with a great defense and a truly special running back. And the Rams have both so Fisher doesn’t want to ruin what little chance he has at a good record in 2017.
He has to go on the hot seat at some point if he doesn’t start winning!