Todd Gurley didn't miss a single block in pass protection last season
Cameron DaSilva
[
theramswire.usatoday.com]
Todd Gurley proved to the world last season that he’s a complete running back, leading the NFL in yards from scrimmage and total touchdowns. He was the Offensive Player of the Year and arguably should have won league MVP, dominating as a runner and receiver.
One area of his game that doesn’t garner much attention, however, is his pass blocking. To be a complete back, you have to prove to be a capable receiver and a blocker in addition to being a consistent runner. Gurley did exactly that with 64 receptions for 788 yards and as many missed blocks as both you and I.
That’s right, he missed zero blocks in pass protection, which was tied for first in the NFL. Only Ezekiel Elliott and Matt Forte were perfect in pass protection on at least 60 blocking attempts.
Pass protection often gets overlooked by fans for running backs, mainly because it’s not an easy stat to compare players with. However, missed blocks almost always lead to sacks, which are often drive-killers for the offense.
The fact that Gurley can hold up in pass protection and as a receiver proves he can consistently be a three-down back, eliminating the need for a third-down specialist.
