Los Angeles Rams: Todd Gurley presents plenty of unknowns in 2019

Are the Los Angeles Rams putting too much faith in a healthy Todd Gurley? They may say he’s still the guy, but how they drafted may say otherwise.

Without question, the Los Angeles Rams will enter the 2019 NFL season as the favorite in the NFC West. They return a lot of talent on both sides of the football and have perhaps one of the best coaches in not just the NFC, but in the league. They also have one of the best running backs in Todd Gurley, especially if he’s healthy. And therein lies the rub.

Gurley, entering season five of his NFL career, seemed on pace for a 2018 campaign where MVP consideration was being mentioned. Then a less than impressive game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football happened. Then a bye week. Then a rough December had him sidelined in Week 16 and 17. That sent panic waves through a fan base who knew something had to be up.

The main cog in the Rams offense last year, Gurley is slated to be as such in 2019. However, an arthritic knee may prevent that from happening over the course of a 16-game, 17-week season. Then again, as potent as the Los Angeles offense has shown to be — especially their passing attack — a slowed Gurley may not be that big of an issue.

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Head coach Sean McVay has shown an ability to adapt his offense. They brought in C.J. Anderson when they needed a spark last season and they wound up in the Super Bowl. This year, they may have anticipated such a scenario by drafting running Darrell Henderson out of Memphis. He’ll likely need to find time along with veteran backup Malcolm Brown.

But McVay, as always, seems to have the right answer, per ESPN.com

"“Being able to give somebody a chance to come in and provide a different threat is exactly what we identified” in Henderson, McVay said."

That’s some nice smoke and mirror action. One has to think that looking ahead and knowing the potential limitations Gurley may present late in the season is smart. Moreover, managing his workload over the course of the entire season stands to benefit McVay and the Rams. If a combination of Brown and Henderson does that, then so be it.

As good as Gurley has been, and as much as fans like to downplay how his 2018 went sideways, Los Angeles needs a plan. That may mean more from Jared Goff, more from a very talented receiving corps, more from tight ends. It may also mean that the Gurley of the past is not the Gurley fans may see moving forward. It may mean his role as a primary cog is more defined by load management.

McVay may disagree, per NFL.com:

"“You can expect Todd to be a focal point of our offense going forward,” McVay told Eisen. “He’s in a good place, he’s feeling good and will continue to be a central piece of our offense and I don’t see that changing.”"

Since the arrival of McVay in Goff’s second season, the game plan has been clear. An offense that ran through Gurley was a good, if not great offense. While the perception via McVay is still central to Gurley, health may dictate another direction. Maybe sooner, maybe later.

2019 is again shaping up for a season where the Rams will be a favorite to not just win a division, but make another run towards a Super Bowl. Gurley will be a part of such a run. How big a part he plays will be decided by more than what McVay may say, or fans may hope.