The Running Back's Struggle

ESPN Daily

ESPN

Sports

4.6 • 3.9K Ratings

🗓️ 23 March 2020

⏱️ 23 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

We just saw 2017 Offensive Player of the Year Todd Gurley released by the LA Rams, and former Chargers star running back Melvin Gordon found a new home in Denver. Behind that shakeup is growing evidence that the role of running backs in the NFL is changing. A renewed focus on pass-heavy offenses, among other factors, is shifting the weight given to the position. FiveThirtyEight's Josh Hermsmeyer outlines the current landscape for running backs, from all angles. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	We talk about the Rams, who yesterday released running back Todd Gurley, bringing an end to a dramatic fall in L.A. for the 2017 NFL offensive player of the year.
0:10.6	The Rams had made Gurley the highest paid running back in NFL history with a four-year extension prior to the 2018 season.
0:18.2	And now this morning, the news that he will join the Atlanta Falcons on a one-year
0:22.9	contract.
0:26.2	The release of running back Todd Gurley marked an astonishing reversal of fortune. How did a player
0:32.6	who seemed so instrumental to the Rams' recent Super Bowl run, end up getting cut.
0:38.7	One answer? A trend that's been sweeping the league for years. Today, why a marquee position
0:45.2	in the NFL has been so devalued and what it means for the future of running backs everywhere.
0:52.6	I'm Minakimes. It's Monday, March 23rd.
0:56.0	This is ESPN Daily, presented by ADT.
1:05.8	Josh, last time we had you on ESPN Daily, it was to talk about fullbacks.
1:09.9	Today, we're talking about running
1:11.7	backs. We're making our way through the backfield, Mina. Just like Aaron Donald, Josh Hermesmeier
1:17.2	writes about football for 538. Josh, late last week, the Rams announced in a shocking move that they
1:24.4	were releasing running back Todd Gurley. This was a remarkable turn of
1:28.3	events given that Gurley won offensive player of the year in 2017.
1:33.9	Gurley Sprintzy 40. Gurley first down. Gurley 2010 and touchdown. He was discussed by some
1:41.9	people as an MVP candidate in 2018 on route to the Super Bowl.
1:46.9	He led the league in rushing touchdowns that year.
1:49.8	The 10, the 5, untouched to the end zone.
1:53.3	Touchdown, Todd, Gurley.
1:54.9	And on top of that, he's only 25 years old.
	...

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