1,000 Yard Rushing Duos: Can Todd Gurley and Tre Mason Do It?

While the question may have been posed in regards to the rehab - or expectations for return - of rookie running back Todd Gurley, St. Louis Rams’ head coach Jeff Fisher used a few words that raised a few eyebrows:  "This is the running back for our future."

With many fans poised for the Rams to draft the best [available] offensive lineman or wide receiver, the Rams surprised the masses when they took Gurley 10th overall in the 2015 NFL draft.  They even surprised a few players...

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Doubting me..? ☕️</p>&mdash; Tre Mason (@TreMason) <a href="https://twitter.com/TreMason/status/594135903712444417">May 1, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

...and while Zac Stacy will now be in line to tote the rock for the New York Jets in 2015-16, Mason doesn’t intend on taking a back seat to anybody.

Mason himself was a bit of surprise pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, when the Rams selected him in the 3rd round.  With Zac Stacy having nearly rushed for 1,000 yards in 12 games in the prior year, a running back in 3rd round didn’t seem all that dire.  But Mason stole the starting job, Stacy - essentially - went missing, and the rookie from Auburn lead the team in rushing -- 765 yards in 12 games.  At that clip, he would’ve rushed for 1,020 yards had he played in all 16.

Tre Mason, if he didn’t already have it, now has motivation to work harder in the offseason.  The timeline on Gurley’s return to full health is still uncertain, but it’s obvious that he’ll be heavily involved in the offense once given the green light.

As for Gurley, some viewed him as the most talented player - barring a healthy return of course - in the entirety of the draft.  Here’s what NFL Media Analyst Brian Baldinger had to say...

The talent and the ability that he has is unquestioned. This guy knows how to go North-South, he's got all of the agility. We've got to see about the knee, I know. But I just have this feeling this guy is going to be special. A lot in the way I thought about Adrian Peterson coming out of Oklahoma in 2007 and how he was going to be special, I feel the same way about this kid.

The question, then, is can the Rams have a duo of 1,000 yard rushers in 2015?

It’s only been done six times in the history of the NFL...