Todd Gurley isn’t Steven Jackson

Overtime Heroics Editorial

1284 days ago

When Todd Gurley was released from the Los Angeles Rams, everyone figured that he should head back to Georgia. The next day it was announced that the Atlanta Falcons signed Todd Gurley to a 1-year $5 million deal. This signing brought back memories of when the Falcons signed Steven Jackson in 2013.

Image vs Play Style

Todd Gurley muscles his way through two defenders as he is often compared to Rams great Steven Jackson. — Dec 9, 2018; Chicago, IL, USA; Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley (30) is tackled by Chicago Bears inside linebacker Danny Trevathan (59) and Chicago Bears defensive back Sherrick McManis (27) at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Quinn Harris-USA TODAY Sports

The only thing they have in common is that they both sport dreadlocks and are ex-Rams. Jackson was more of a bell cow power runner who excelled in the heavy run era of yesteryear. Gurley is a more agile runner who can convert speed to power.

At the age of 25, Todd Gurley is still in his prime. This is the most significant difference between him and Jackson because Steven Jackson was 30 when he signed in 2013 and considered washed up at the time. Despite this, this signing brings up many questions that won’t be answered until the season begins.

To Knee or Not to Knee?

Todd Gurley’s knee is described as being in bad shape. Luckily, the Falcons have running backs on the roster that could shoulder the load in a committee approach. Outside of being a PR move, this signing could pay off in the long run. If Gurley can return to his 2017-2018 form, the Falcons make out like bandits this offseason.

Another question that some fans have for the organization is why they would release an injury-prone running back for another one? The answer to this question is because of the upside. At his healthy best, Gurley is one of the top running backs in the league. It remains to be seen, but if all of the cards fall in the right way, this could be one of the most explosive falcons offenses since 2016.

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