Scout's Take: Los Angeles Rams
Underrated: Todd Gurley
Yes, everyone knows how good Gurley is, but I can’t tell how much publicity he’s getting coast to coast—it should be as much as possible. He was one of the best players coming out of the draft in 2015. Most teams do running back by committee these days, and in my view that’s not by choice, it’s because they don’t have a guy who can do it all. Well, Todd Gurley is a bell cow. He has a rare skill set. When this guy sticks his foot in the ground to accelerate, it really flashes back to Bo Jackson, Eric Dickerson and some of the bigger backs who had that rare combo of great size, strength, explosiveness, and dynamic speed. And even after a great rookie year, he’s far from being a polished project. You love that kind of guy because you don’t know where his ceiling might be. He was a dominant player and he’s only scratching the surface.
Overrated: Tavon Austin
This guy is dynamite in a bottle when you get the ball in his hands. The problem is: How do you get him the ball? Is he a receiver? A running back? He lacks the instincts and details of route running, and it doesn’t seem like that is going to change. He’s pretty much a gadget player. Given what they envisioned when they took him at No. 8 in the draft, he hasn’t lived up to expectations.
Extra Point
The Rams are a year away, kind of like what we are seeing in Oakland this year. Their philosophy is similar in terms of not taking many risks. Keep your eyes peeled for Tyler Higbee, their rookie tight end from Western Kentucky. He was the best tight end I saw all season and has similarities to Travis Kelce. If he stays healthy the guy is going to be dynamite.
