If you were expecting Los Angeles Rams star running back Todd Gurley to receive a heavy workload in the Super Bowl – then sorry, you're out of luck.
Just as it was arranged in the NFC title win over the New Orleans Saints two weeks ago, due to Gurley's knee and conditioning concerns, he and backfield running mate C.J. Anderson will split carries on Sunday against the New England Patriots.
According to Rams running backs coach Skip Peete, Gurley was already privy to this notion two Sundays ago, per NFL Network's Ian Rapaport.
“We said, ‘Going forward, we got to make sure you're fresh, you're healthy,” Peete said on the RapSheet and Friends podcast this week. “The workload that you had prior to you sitting out, probably can't go that route right now. He understood that. He played. It's just his touches weren't what they had normally been.”
Peete also proceeded to commend Gurley on his efficacious pass protection over the past few games, despite his fluctuating ball carrying numbers recently.
“It was unfortunate he didn't have the opportunity to touch the ball as often as he normally does,” Peete said. “But he had an unbelievable game as far as pass protection goes. The glaring thing when you look back on it, something very uncharacteristic of him, was the drops. That really overshadows what his game was like in my opinion — those two mistakes where as a coach I'd say, ‘You gotta make those plays.' I thought when he was in there — and some of the plays he didn't get it were check-with-me's based on what the defense does — he had a nice game. One of his better games as a pass protector, which is just as important as carrying it.”
The 24-year-old running back has posted 1,251 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns on 256 carries in his fourth NFL campaign.
Anderson, 27, will be looking to eke out his second career Super Bowl victory with the Rams, after getting his first ring with the Denver Broncos in 2016. He has rushed for 403 yards and two scores, on 67 carries this season.
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