Todd Gurley and Vic Beasley: Former first round picks going in opposite directions

ATLANTA — A year ago, former Georgia Bulldog Todd Gurley was the NFL's Offensive Rookie of the Year and Falcons fans crushed the organization for passing him up and drafting Vic Beasley who finished his rookie campaign with 4 sacks.

This year, those critics are awfully silent. Gurley is 17th in the league in rushing at just 56 yards per game, while Beasley is 2nd in the NFL in sacks with 10 and a half.

Despite the drop off in his 2nd season, Falcons safety Keanu Neal says Gurley still has all the tools necessary to be an elite running back.

"He's the same player," Neal said Wednesday. "He's still that freak that he was in college. I think for us, playing against him, we just have to contain him and play our ball.

Gurley does not have a single 100-yard rushing game this season and has rushed for 88-yards his last 2-games combined. Over the Rams last seven games, Gurley has found the end zone just once.

"Sometimes the stats can be misleading," says Falcons head coach Dan Quinn. "Todd, for all of us that live around here, we know the style and attitude and physicality the he runs with. We know we have our work cut out for him in terms with the style we have to tackle with."

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