Todd Gurley rushed for 1,106 yards and 10 touchdowns as a rookie, production which put to rest any concerns that the Rams overdrafted him when he was taken 10th overall in April 2015.
But two weeks into the 2016 season and Gurley looks like a completely different back. He's averaging 2.7 yards per carry, two fewer than a year ago, and from his vantage point in the backfield, it feels like a different game.
"It's been crazy," Gurley said Friday, via the Los Angeles Times. "I'm like, 'There's 12 people on the field!' It's definitely a lot of people."
It's telling that the Rams' offensive line ranks 24th in run blocking, according to Football Outsiders' metrics, and 31st in second-level yards, which FO defines as the yards a running back earns between 5-10 yards beyond the line of scrimmage.
Gurley's longest run has gone for just 11 yards, though he's trying to see the silver lining to the lack of production.
"Sometimes that's a good thing because if you get past that first level, then you're gone," he said. "But you have to get past that first level first."
So far, that's been a problem. But it's not a hopeless cause; Pro Football Focus ranks Gurley 23rd among all running backs, and 13th in yards after contact per attempt, which is tied with the Steelers' DeAngelo Williams.
Gurley faces the Buccaneers on Sunday, and while that defense has been suspect against the pass, it has been solid against the run.
"We just have to do our jobs," guard Cody Wichmann said, via the Times. "Once we start clicking, all 11 of us together, that's when Todd's going to break long plays."
Gurley added, "We know what they're going to do. They're definitely going to stack the box ... It all comes down to executing."
