Behind Todd Gurley, Rams rely on crew of undrafted running backs

Todd Gurley’s voice was cracking.

Fourteen months ago, he stood in Chicago’s Auditorium Theatre as the Rams’ pick at No. 10 overall — the highest-drafted running back in three years. He had recovered from a to ACL, from an NCAA suspension, and emotions gripped him. In that moment, he had climbed a mountain.

That Gurley was a first-round pick at all speaks to his obvious talent, hype he backed up by totaling the third-most rushing yards in the NFL last season. A week ago, he posted a picture of himself in front of the Hollywood sign, along with the caption, “Love Life.” As the Rams re-root in Los Angeles, he has become their most marketable face, one who only needs to utter eight words in a Carl’s Jr. commercial.

“We all give him a hard time,” said Chase Reynolds.

Reynolds has carved a tougher path to the NFL — that of the undrafted free agent. Curiously, it’s a jouey that almost the entire non-Gurley depth chart has taken.

The only other drafted running back on the roster is Tre Mason, who has been absent from all of offseason workouts following his March arrest on drug and traffic charges. Head coach Jeff Fisher said during OTAs this month that the Rams have to “prepare ourselves that Tre’s not going to be here.”

Take out the former third-round pick, and here’s who the Rams are working with: Benny Cunningham, a capable kick retuer whom they signed out of Middle Tennessee State in 2013; Reynolds, a Montana product who initially signed with the Seahawks in 2011 before joining the Rams that summer; Malcolm Brown and Aaron Green, who went undrafted out of Texas and TCU, respectively, last year and this year.

A draft-day pedigree is hardly a prerequisite for successful running backs. Mike Shanahan has a long history of plugging players into his zone-read blocking scheme, most recently coaxing 1,613 yards and 13 touchdowns out of Alfred Morris in 2012. In Houston, Arian Foster totaled 6,309 rushing yards and 53 touchdowns over six seasons, making four Pro Bowls along the way. And in Seattle, Thomas Rawls is set to succeed Marshawn Lynch after chipping in 830 yards as a rookie.

And while the Rams have a bonafide star in Gurley, they still need their reserves to contribute. Cunningham, who was careful to note that he prepares himself like a starter, attributes his success in part to finding his niche. After a to patella tendon sank his draft stock, he found a spot with the Rams, one of just two teams to attend his pro day. He has yet to clear 300 rushing yards in a season, but has tued his last 60 kickoff retus into 1,677 yards.

“It’s kind of finding your role on the team,” Cunningham said. “Whether it be a third-down back, whether it be special teams — finding your role and being the best you can. I kind of understand what I’m expected to do here.”

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Running backs coach Skip Peete added: “You target guys that you feel like have the qualities and abilities that fit the system.”

Reynolds has made himself valuable too, re-signing with the Rams this past offseason despite zero career carries. He has stuck around in the pros by virtue of his work in kick and punt retu coverage. Even as younger players push him for his spot, he doesn’t shy away from lending them a hand.

“We’ve all been in that spot,” Reynolds said. “We’ve all been that guy who comes in. It’s a hard world to come into and be a part of. We all do a good job of getting around, lifting a guy up and helping him out. ‘Hey, ask me questions, I’ll let you know anytime.’ I mean, you’re almost grooming him to take your job.”

When it comes to identifying and signing undrafted running backs, Rams general manager Les Snead noted two key points. If the player doesn’t have speed — one of the most common reasons for lowered draft stock — you look for vision. And if he’s fast? You have to figure out whether he has a flaw “that may be too fatal.” Hit the right balance often enough, and it sometimes becomes easier to convince new free agents to sign on.

That the Rams are relying on so many once-unheralded names could, on one hand, be seen as an uncomfortable position. But could it also indicate a successful scouting strategy?

“Maybe,” Snead said. “Time will tell, right?”