Todd Gurley has Hall of Fame potential, and if his early season rookie success is any indication, Adrian Peterson may not hold to many rushing records for that long.
As head coach, Jeff Fisher watched the former Georgia All-American carve up the Browns to the tune of 128 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries. He couldn’t help but reminisce about some of the great backs he’s coach.
Gurley’s three-game total of 433 rushing yards, fourth-most of any back in his first three starts since the 1970 merger, has Fisher wondering if he has ever coached a running back who was so good so soon.
“No, and I’ve been around some really good ones,” Fisher said. “Chris Johnson was outstanding early. Eddie George was outstanding early. I don’t recall them having the numbers that they had after three full games like Todd has.”
Gurley has done some amazing things that Eddie George and Eric Dickerson did not.
In his first three full games as the starter, Gurley has 433 rushing yards, two touchdowns and averaged 6.4 yards per carry.
While certainly impressive in his own right, Johnson had 327 rushing yards, one touchdown and averaged 5.5 yards per carry in his first three full games in 2008.
George had 267 rushing yards, one touchdown and averaged 4.9 yards per carry in his first three starts in 1996.
Dickerson had 254 rushing yards, four touchdowns and averaged 3.7 yards per carry in his first three games in 1983.
Gurley is just getting started, and even scarier, just really getting healthy.
By Glenn Erby
