Los Angeles Rams

Rams' Foles on rookie sensation Gurley: 'Just an animal, really'

Published Oct. 25, 2015 10:26 p.m. ET

foxsports

St. Louis Rams coach Jeff Fisher sounded a cautionary warning earlier this week about the vast potential of rookie running back Todd Gurley.

“Just wait until he’s 100 percent,” Fisher said.

The wait may not be long. Gurley drew rave reviews from both his coach and teammates after continuing his the spectacular start to his first season by rushing for 128 yards and his first two touchdowns to help the Rams run the visiting Cleveland Browns into submission 24-6 on Sunday.

“Chris Johnson was outstanding early. Eddie George was outstanding early," said Fisher in referencing two standout running backs from his days with the Tennessee Titans. "I don’t recall them having the numbers that they had after three full games like Todd has.”

Those numbers - at least 128 yards rushing in each of Gurley's first three starts - have not been seen by a rookie since Greg "Cadillac" Williams of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2005. And Gurley's putting up those totals less than a year removed from major knee surgery,

Rams quarterback Nick Foles already watched Gurley gash opponents for 146 and 159 rushing yards in his first two starts, but he was almost reverential in his praise of the rookie sensation following his latest performance.

“Just an animal, really,” Foles said. "Like I’ve said before, just watching him run, he’s special. There’s not many people that can run like that, that have ever played this game. He’s a young guy that keeps working hard. The sky’s the limit to what he can do throughout his career.”

Gurley, who played without a brace for the first time Sunday, ripped off a 50-yard run in each of his first two starts and nearly had another with a 48-yarder Sunday. His first NFL touchdown was a walk-in from 1 yard out, but his 16-yard TD in the fourth quarter showed off all his talents - a quick cut combined with burst and power.

“I think you start to see him getting more and more confident, taking the brace off and running through arm tackles like it's nothing," St. Louis middle linebacker James Laurinaitis said. "You start to see that he knows that he can do the same things he did in college at this level.”

Hits the edge, stops on a dime, turns upfield. Then starts breaking tackles. Watching this kid is going to be fun. https://t.co/gDKAGOMi1o
— NFL (@NFL) October 25, 2015