Todd Gurley lined up in the backfield, he looked across the line of scrimmage and saw the crowd.
A big one.
San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks defenders stacked to stop the second year running back. permitted 11 defensive players were just on the other side of the ball, but it seemed like more.
"It was crazy," Gurley said Friday. "I'm like, 'There's 12 people on the field!" It's definitely a lot of people. "
Tampa Bay Buccaneers are expected to employ a similar strategy Sunday at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida.
The Rams are 1-1 and tied for first place in the NFC West, but in the spring Gurley after a long run, which was the core of his performance last season, when he was voted the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Gurley has rushed for 98 yards in two games. His longest run went for 11 yards, and he averaged only 2.7 yards transferability.
Not by chance, the Rams are the only NFL team that has scored a touchdown.
Gurley lamented strategy opponent to stop him, but said he was awake.
"Sometimes it is a good thing, because if you get past the first level, then you're gone," he said. "But you have to get through the first level first."
Last season, Gurley rushed for just 48 yards on 21 carries for 31 to 23 victory over the Pirates. But it was a memorable performance that included a milestone.
Gurley scored on a three-yard touchdown run that put him exactly 1000 yards.
He finished the season with 1,106 yards and joined Eric Dickerson and Jerome Bettis Rams as the only rookies to rush for 1000 yards.
"That was a pretty good night for us," he said of the victory over Tampa Bay, "and the offense was really rolling."
The Rams had a good night against the Buccaneers, but finished the season ranked last in the NFL in offense.
This is where the Rams are back this season after a 28-0 defeat 49ers a 9-3 victory over the Seahawks.
So how Gurley on track remains a priority.
"It takes 11 guys to protect the quarterback takes 11 people to run the football," said offensive coordinator Rob Boras. "It's like anything, when things are not going well in business or in football, it is not always the same."
Veteran guard Rodger Saffold said it should come as no surprise that defensive coordinators season's worth of film to study devised ways of trying to stop Gurley.
The situation is reminiscent of what former Rams running back Steven Jackson met Saffold said. Jackson was a 1,000-yard rusher every season from 2005 to 2012.
"He knew a little bit," With so many people inside, I bounce "and he would break the deal and get 12 or 15 yards," said Saffold, who played with Jackson for three seasons. "[Gurley] has the same ability, but we have to make sure ... when he makes the first man miss, we have two or three other people come after him."
Gurley played in the first two games last season, got a few carries in his debut and then produced the first of four consecutive 100-yard games.
"This is game three," said Saffold Sunday's matchup. "It's just going to continue to be better. We just have to take care of him."
Other offensive linemen stated that it is only a matter of time before Gurley breaks free.
"We just have to do my job," said the guard Cody Wichmann, added: "Once we start clicking, all 11 of us together, that's when Todd's going to break a long game."
The Rams are "really close" to making it happen, left tackle Greg Robinson said.
"It's just little things," he said. "If we get to the defender, Todd get one-on-one with these safeguards, it will be interesting."
Gurley certainly welcome the opportunity.
But first he needs to get through the crowd at the line of scrimmage.
"We know what to do," he said of opponents. "They're definitely on the box myself ... It all comes down to execution."
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