With the Oakland Raiders slated to take part in joint practices with the Los Angeles Rams, Josh Jacobs is looking forward to showing what he can do against a talented defense.
Although Jacobs is hoping to make a good impression, it appears that may not be his only objective. The scheduled practices with the Rams will give him an opportunity to get better acquainted with arguably the best running back in the league in Todd Gurley.
The rookie has not been shy about seeking out advice from some of the veterans on his team. He has indicated that he will be taking a similar approach once the Rams come to town.
According to Kyle Martin of the team’s official website, Jacobs admits he plans on having a few conversations with Gurley regarding what it takes to be successful:
“I don’t have a relationship with him, but I definitely spoke to him and told him when he gets here I want to pick his brain a little bit,” Jacobs said. “He’s a great running back in my eyes and he’s top five [in the league], and I just want to see how he thinks, and see what he does to take care of his body, or how he reads certain things and makes cuts.”
Jacobs added that he is most interested in learning how Gurley takes care of his body:
“First and foremost just [want to ask] how he takes care of his body,” he said. “Going through certain injuries that he did and he always bounces back. It’s about longevity, especially at the running back position. That was the first thing I was going to ask him, and then how he tempos his runs, and where do his eyes go in his protections and how does he go about it. I just kind of like to pick people’s brains a little bit.”
Jacobs’ interest is certainly understandable considering some of the expectations he is carrying with him as the 24th overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. There are few players better to learn from than a former Offensive Player of the Year and the league’s highest-paid running back.
Gurley knows full well the expectations that come with being a former first-round pick and what it takes to bounce back from a severe injury. It is safe to say that he is still writing the book on how to do it as we speak after dealing with an unknown knee issue this offseason.
Regardless, any advice he sends Jacobs’ way should pay huge dividends for him and the Raiders down the line.
