Keys To Victory: Chicago Bears Face Major Test
By Usayd Koshul
2. Shutdown Todd Gurley
In a league where there are multiple running backs who have shown that they can take over games, no running back sticks out more than Todd Gurley. Gurley averages five yards per carry and has scored 19 total touchdowns this season.
Once Gurley gets a handoff on an outside run and is running down the sideline, he has the potential to make defenders miss. Often times, he’ll even turn what is supposed to be a short gain into a long run. He also has the potential to do damage out of the backfield as a pass catcher, having caught 46 receptions this season.
To shutdown Gurley, the Bears will need Roquan Smith to be at the top of his game. Coming out of Georgia, one of Smith’s strengths was his sideline-to-sideline speed. However, it’s not only Smith who can be a difference maker when it comes to slowing Todd Gurley down. Eddie Goldman, Akiem Hicks, and Danny Trevathan will all need to close up the A, B, and C gaps in order to slow Gurley down.