Reporting from SEATTLE — Todd Gurley wants the running left to him.
If only the Rams could help get him moving.
On a night when rookie quarterback Jared Goff was knocked out of the game because of a hit absorbed while scrambling, Gurley continued his season-long struggle in a 24-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field on Thursday.
Gurley gained only 38 yards in 14 carries — and 22 yards came on one carry.
“I felt like we had a good game plan,” Gurley said when asked about the offensive plan under interim coach John Fassel. “It just goes back to executing.”
On the Rams’ second series, Gurley lined up behind Jamon Brown, an offensive lineman who said he was inserted at fullback to “spice it up.”
Advertisement
“See if we can get the running game going,” Brown said, “so we created this super-personnel.”
Gurley gained two yards on the play, but was otherwise stifled again: He was tackled for losses five times.
Last Sunday, in an embarrassing loss to the Atlanta Falcons, Gurley rushed for 61 yards and a touchdown in 16 carries. He said after the game that the Rams looked like a “middle-school offense” and that some players were “just going through the motions.”
Advertisement
After the loss to the Seahawks, he said he would have to watch the film to evaluate if his teammates gave effort.
1/15
Rams quarterback Jared Goff is sacked by Seahawks defensive end Frank Clark during the first quarter of a game at CenturyLink Field on Dec. 15.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
2/15
Rams linebacker Bryce Hager is unable to come up with an interception against Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham in the third quarter at CenturyLink Field in Seattle on Dec. 15.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
3/15
Rams interim coach John Fassel leads his team during warm-ups before a game against the Seahawks on Dec. 15.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
4/15
Rams defensive end Eugene Sims walks off the field after a 24-3 loss to the Seahawks on Dec. 15.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
5/15
Rams quarterback Jared Goff is engulfed by the Seahawk defense during the third quarter of a game on Dec. 15.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
6/15
NFL analyst Michael Irvin on the sideline of the Rams-Seahawks game at CenturyLink Field in Seattle. FOR THE RECORD, 7:25 a.m., Dec. 18: Earlier, Irvin was misidentified as Eric Dickerson.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
7/15
Rams receiver Kenny Britt prevents an interception by the Seahawks’ Richard Sherman in the third quarter at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
8/15
A Seahawks fan takes a grinch’s view of the Rams on Thursday at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
9/15
Rams quarterback Jared Goff fumbles as he’s dropped by Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril in the third quarter at CenturyLink Field in Seattle.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
10/15
Rams quarterback Jared Goff loses the ball as he’s hit by Seahawks defensive end Cliff Avril in the third quarter at CenturyLink Field in Seattle on Thursday. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
11/15
Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett catches a touchdown pass in front of Rams defenders Cody Davis and Trumaine Johnson in the fourth quarter at CenturyLink Field in Seattle on Thursday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
12/15
Rams quarterback Jared Goff is sacked by Seahawks defensive end Frank Clark during the first quarter of a game on Dec. 15.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
13/15
Rams receiver Kenny Britt is stopped by the Seahawks’ K.J. Wright, left, and Bobby Wagner (54) after a short gain in the first quarter of a game on Dec. 15.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
14/15
Seahawks tight end Luke Willson (82) celebrates a touchdown in front of Rams cornerback Trumaine Johnson during the second quarter of a game on Thursday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
15/15
Receiver Michael Thomas drops a pass from punter Johhny Hekker as a fourth-down fake by the Rams fails in the second quarter of a game against the Seattle Seahawks on Dec. 15.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
“I don’t know,” he said.
Gurley’s 22-yard carry came in the second quarter after a 24-yard reception by Kenny Britt.
Advertisement
Those long gains were among the Rams’ few dynamic plays on offense. They finished with 183 yards.
Gurley said it was difficult to prepare for the Seahawks after Coach Jeff Fisher was fired Monday.
“At the end of the day, it’s not an excuse,” he said.
The Rams finish the season with games against the San Francisco 49ers and the Arizona Cardinals, both NFC West opponents.
Gurley said players must stay motivated because “you’re playing for your job.”
“Because that next head coach, whoever comes in, is going to see, definitely going to see your effort on film,” Gurley said. “And if he don’t like it, then you might not be here.”
Lindsey Thiry is a former general assignment multimedia sports reporter for the Los Angeles Times. She began working for The Times as a contributor to the digital sports report, with a focus on USC football, and left in 2018. Thiry has appeared on nationally televised sports broadcasts on Fox Sports 1. She grew up in Seattle and graduated from the University of Washington.
