Next step for Todd Gurley and Rams offense: starting faster

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The sample size is small but as closers go, St. Louis Rams running back Todd Gurley is quickly evolving into football's answer to Mariano Rivera.

Although Gurley has only been a part of the Rams' offense for three games, he already leads the NFL in fourth-quarter rushing yards. In that final 15 minutes, Gurley has 23 carries for 213 yards, a robust average of 9.26 yards per attempt. For context, Cincinnati's Giovani Bernard is second at 181 yards in the fourth quarter, but it's taken him 38 attempts, and that's still 32 yards behind Gurley.

Suffice to say, Gurley gets stronger and defenses wear down as games go on.

"I think that is a factor," Gurley said. "We kind of get to…