Good news for SJax fans

[Randall]

Rams' Jackson wants 'touches'

By Bill Coats

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

Thursday, Mar. 30 2006

 

Steven Jackson's first season as the Rams' primary running back wasn't at all

what he expected. And he said part of the reason was that he spent much of the

year in former coach Mike Martz's doghouse.

 

"For whatever reason it was, I don't know. But at times, it did feel

that way," Jackson said Wednesday at Rams Park. "I wasn't getting the amount of

touches that I wanted to get and I wasn't being used in the way I wanted to be

used. ...

 

"You don't want to be in the doghouse with your head coach. No matter what you

say about him or how you feel about him, that's the guy calling the plays,

especially here. He was calling the plays. So, you don't want to be in the

doghouse with a guy like Coach Martz."

 

Reached by telephone Wednesday in San Diego, Martz said Jackson "never was in

my doghouse. There's an intensity and a focus we wanted out of him because he's

a special athlete. We were always trying to apply that pressure and keep him

motoring."

 

Despite nagging injuries to his sternum and hip, Jackson rushed 254 times for

1,046 yards and caught 43 passes for 320 yards. That works out to an average of

19.8 "touches" - carries and catches - per game. Injuries kept him out of the

season finale at Dallas.

 

With Martz and later Steve Fairchild calling the plays, the Rams passed 62.9

percent of the time last season, when they finished 6-10. Martz was sidelined

for the final 10 games because of a heart-valve infection. Joe Vitt took over

as interim head coach, and Fairchild, the offensive coordinator, assumed the

play-calling duties.

 

Martz was fired in early January. About a month later, New Detroit Lions head

coach Rod Marinelli hired him as his offensive coordinator.

 

Martz's successor with the Rams, Scott Linehan, was the offensive coordinator

and play caller last season in Miami. The Dolphins, who went 9-7, were more

balanced - 56.7 percent passes and 43.3 percent runs. The Dolphins' leading

backs, Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, combined for 424 touches and 1,975

yards.

 

Jackson, the Rams' first-round draft choice in 2004, said that with Linehan

calling the plays for the Rams, "I'm expecting a lot more touches than the last

couple of years. I'm expecting more balance and a different approach of

attacking. But still an explosive offense. ...

 

"It seems like everyone is making me the focal point, which two years ago when

I was drafted, that's what the plan was. We knew that eventually the team was

going to be more geared and built around me, and now it seems like it's

starting to come to the forefront."

 

Jackson said he thought that would happen last season, when he moved ahead of

veteran Marshall Faulk on the depth chart. But Jackson said he wasn't given

that chance.

 

Martz said part of the reason Jackson wasn't used more was due to health

issues. In addition to the hip and sternum injuries last season, knee problems

hobbled him for part of his rookie year.

 

"If you're going to be the centerpiece back, you've got to be able to stay in

the game," Martz said. "But I'm sure the number of touches he has will

escalate. He's a terrific back, and I think he has great things ahead of him."

 

Jackson got as many as 20 carries just three times: 20 for 97 yards vs. New

Orleans, 25 for 110 vs. Houston and 25 for 179 vs. Jacksonville. The Rams were

2-1 in those games. He had 12 carries or fewer four times; the Rams went 1-3 in

those contests.

 

A few days after carrying 11 times (for 24 yards) in a 24-9 loss to Washington,

a frustrated Jackson - through reporters - implored Fairchild to "give me the

ball." He taped a headline with those words in it over his locker stall at Rams

Park.

 

Jackson said he'd discussed his displeasure with Martz, to little avail. "At

times we did sit down and discuss what the problem is and were able to move

on," he said. "But in the heat of the battle in games, it just seemed like I

wasn't getting my touches."

 

But, Jackson emphasized, that's part of the past, as, he hopes, are his

injuries. "The hip is fine, the sternum is fine. All those little minor things

that I had at the end of the season have healed up pretty well ... no

surgeries," he said, laughing.

 

And he said he's confident that Linehan will help him scratch the itch that he

has for more work.

 

"I'm approaching it like, 'This is me getting a new beginning.' I feel like

I've got a chance to start my career over," Jackson said. "If he's going to use

me in the way that he used Ronnie and Ricky, I feel like this can be my

breakout year."

[CarryTheRock]

That is good news! I took him in a Dynasty league in the 3rd round earlier this month

[keggerz]

That is good news!  I took him in a Dynasty league in the 3rd round earlier this month

 

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you cant be serious he is a 1st rounder in dynasty leagues

a 2nd round pick in a dynasty league at worst

 

i would love to see that draft(not ragging on you just really would like to see it)

[Randall]

you cant be serious he is a 1st rounder in dynasty leagues

a 2nd round pick in a dynasty league at worst

 

i would love to see that draft(not ragging on you just really would like to see it)

 

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I would too. I took Rudi and him back to back in my keeper 1.12-2.01.

[thecerwin]

Steven Jackson is awesome.

[hosler427]

Yeah...Jackson is definitely a 1st rounder or early second rounder in all leagues in my opinion. In a 16 team keeper last year I took him at 1.15...You got a steal getting him in the 3rd. Just wondering how he got by you in the second

[DKF]

....wondering how he got by you in the second

 

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[Randall]

Yeah...Jackson is definitely a 1st rounder or early second rounder in all leagues in my opinion. In a 16 team keeper last year I took him at 1.15...You got a steal getting him in the 3rd. Just wondering how he got by you in the second

 

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Please post the 1st 3 rounds of that draft.

[hosler427]

Please post the 1st 3 rounds of that draft.

 

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It it a 30 man roster IDP league. Looking back there were some bad picks. I got held up in the keeper aspect of it and took Jackson when I should have taken Barber and went for Jackson on the way back around.

 

1.01 1 Orlando Predators Tomlinson, Ladainian SDC RB

1.02 2 Miami Barracudas Alexander, Shaun SEA RB

1.03 3 San Antonio Vaqueros Jones, Julius DAL RB Thu

1.04 4 Oakland InVaders McGahee, Willis BUF RB

1.05 5 New Jersey Boyz Holmes, Priest KCC RB

1.06 6 San Diego Chargers James, Edgerrin ARI RB

1.07 7 Austin Wranglers Lewis, Jamal BAL RB

1.08 8 Buffalo Tailgaters Manning, Peyton IND QB

1.09 9 Las Vegas Gamblers Davis, Domanick HOU RB

1.10 10 Philadelphia Stallions Jones, Kevin DET RB

1.11 11 Canton Bulldogs Portis, Clinton WAS RB Thu

1.12 12 Philadelphia Goons McAllister, Deuce NOS RB

1.13 13 Alliance Aviators Culpepper, Daunte MIA QB

1.14 14 Seattle Sharks Dillon, Corey NEP RB

1.15 15 Indianapolis Inferno Jackson, Steven STL RB

1.16 16 Cincinnati Explorers Johnson, Rudi CIN RB

 

2.01 17 Cincinnati Explorers Westbrook, Brian PHI RB

2.02 18 Indianapolis Inferno Moss, Randy OAK WR

2.03 19 Seattle Sharks Barber, Tiki NYG RB

2.04 20 Alliance Aviators Green, Ahman GBP RB

2.05 21 Philadelphia Goons McNabb, Donovan PHI QB

2.06 22 Canton Bulldogs Henry, Travis TEN RB

2.07 23 Philadelphia Stallions Arrington, J.J. ARI RB

2.08 24 Las Vegas Gamblers Jordan, Lamont OAK RB

2.09 25 Buffalo Tailgaters Williams, Carnell TBB RB

2.10 26 Oakland InVaders Bell, Tatum DEN RB

2.11 27 San Diego Chargers Holt, Torry STL WR

2.12 28 New Jersey Boyz Benson, Cedric CHI RB

2.13 29 Austin Wranglers Vick, Michael ATL QB

2.14 30 San Antonio Vaqueros Johnson, Chad CIN WR

2.15 31 Miami Barracudas Brown, Ronnie MIA RB

2.16 32 Orlando Predators Walker, Javon GBP WR

 

3.01 33 Orlando Predators Gates, Antonio SDC TE

3.02 34 Miami Barracudas Brady, Tom NEP QB

3.03 35 San Antonio Vaqueros Gonzalez, Tony KCC TE

3.04 36 Austin Wranglers Johnson, Andre HOU WR

3.05 37 New Jersey Boyz Foster, De'shaun CAR RB

3.06 38 San Diego Chargers Reed, Edward BAL S

3.07 39 Oakland InVaders Harrison, Marvin IND WR

3.08 40 Buffalo Tailgaters Williams, Roy DET WR

3.09 41 Las Vegas Gamblers Collins, Kerry FA QB Sa

3.10 42 Philadelphia Stallions Palmer, Carson CIN QB

3.11 43 Canton Bulldogs Burleson, Nate MIN WR

3.12 44 Philadelphia Goons Owens, Terrell DAL WR

3.13 45 Alliance Aviators Wayne, Reggie IND WR

3.14 46 Seattle Sharks Horn, Joe NOS WR

3.15 47 Indianapolis Inferno Manning, Eli NYG QB

3.16 48 Cincinnati Explorers Heap, Todd BAL TE

[Avernus]

I wanted to trade for him, but after the period where he had a cracked sternum....I was scared....but he had his best game with that cracked sternum, which is crazy..

[keggerz]

It it a 30 man roster IDP league. Looking back there were some bad picks. I got held up in the keeper aspect of it and took Jackson when I should have taken Barber and went for Jackson on the way back around.

 

 

 

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i think randall was talking about the draft that sjax went in round 3 i know thats the one i want to see

 

sjax in round 3

[Randall]

i think randall was talking about the draft that sjax went in round 3 i know thats the one i want to see

 

sjax in round 3 

 

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Yes! And I'd like to see who Carrytherock picked in round 2 when he passed on SJax.

[hosler427]

i think randall was talking about the draft that sjax went in round 3 i know thats the one i want to see

 

sjax in round 3 

 

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DOH!!! I had a momentary lapse of reason...which has lasted for about 5 years now lol. I thought it was the person that got SJax in round three that was asking. I guess I should start paying attention to those little screen names

Edited March 31, 2006 by hosler427

[Randall]

DOH!!! I had a momentary lapse of reason...which has lasted for about 5 years now lol. I thought it was the person that got SJax in round three that was asking. I guess I should start paying attention to those little screen names

 

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No my fault for replying to your post instead of carrytherock's. Could just be a weird league he was in.

[hosler427]

No my fault for replying to your post instead of carrytherock's. Could just be a weird league he was in.

 

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Yeah...if it is some strange scoring who knows. Receptions league??? Still Jax should be in the first two rounds

[ebartender]

It it a 30 man roster IDP league. Looking back there were some bad picks. I got held up in the keeper aspect of it and took Jackson when I should have taken Barber and went for Jackson on the way back around.

 

1.01 1 Orlando Predators Tomlinson, Ladainian SDC RB

1.02 2 Miami Barracudas Alexander, Shaun SEA RB

1.03 3 San Antonio Vaqueros Jones, Julius DAL RB Thu

1.04 4 Oakland InVaders McGahee, Willis BUF RB

1.05 5 New Jersey Boyz Holmes, Priest KCC RB

1.06 6 San Diego Chargers James, Edgerrin ARI RB

1.07 7 Austin Wranglers Lewis, Jamal BAL RB

1.08 8 Buffalo Tailgaters Manning, Peyton IND QB

1.09 9 Las Vegas Gamblers Davis, Domanick HOU RB

1.10 10 Philadelphia Stallions Jones, Kevin DET RB

1.11 11 Canton Bulldogs Portis, Clinton WAS RB Thu

1.12 12 Philadelphia Goons McAllister, Deuce NOS RB

1.13 13 Alliance Aviators Culpepper, Daunte MIA QB

1.14 14 Seattle Sharks Dillon, Corey NEP RB

1.15 15 Indianapolis Inferno Jackson, Steven STL RB

1.16 16 Cincinnati Explorers Johnson, Rudi CIN RB

 

2.01 17 Cincinnati Explorers Westbrook, Brian PHI RB

2.02 18 Indianapolis Inferno Moss, Randy OAK WR

2.03 19 Seattle Sharks Barber, Tiki NYG RB

2.04 20 Alliance Aviators Green, Ahman GBP RB

2.05 21 Philadelphia Goons McNabb, Donovan PHI QB

2.06 22 Canton Bulldogs Henry, Travis TEN RB

2.07 23 Philadelphia Stallions Arrington, J.J. ARI RB

2.08 24 Las Vegas Gamblers Jordan, Lamont OAK RB

2.09 25 Buffalo Tailgaters Williams, Carnell TBB RB

2.10 26 Oakland InVaders Bell, Tatum DEN RB

2.11 27 San Diego Chargers Holt, Torry STL WR 

2.12 28 New Jersey Boyz Benson, Cedric CHI RB

2.13 29 Austin Wranglers Vick, Michael ATL QB

2.14 30 San Antonio Vaqueros Johnson, Chad CIN WR

2.15 31 Miami Barracudas Brown, Ronnie MIA RB

2.16 32 Orlando Predators Walker, Javon GBP WR

 

3.01 33 Orlando Predators Gates, Antonio SDC TE

3.02 34 Miami Barracudas Brady, Tom NEP QB

3.03 35 San Antonio Vaqueros Gonzalez, Tony KCC TE

3.04 36 Austin Wranglers Johnson, Andre HOU WR

3.05 37 New Jersey Boyz Foster, De'shaun CAR RB

3.06 38 San Diego Chargers Reed, Edward BAL S

3.07 39 Oakland InVaders Harrison, Marvin IND WR

3.08 40 Buffalo Tailgaters Williams, Roy DET WR

3.09 41 Las Vegas Gamblers Collins, Kerry FA QB Sa

3.10 42 Philadelphia Stallions Palmer, Carson CIN QB

3.11 43 Canton Bulldogs Burleson, Nate MIN WR

3.12 44 Philadelphia Goons Owens, Terrell DAL WR

3.13 45 Alliance Aviators Wayne, Reggie IND WR

3.14 46 Seattle Sharks Horn, Joe NOS WR 

3.15 47 Indianapolis Inferno Manning, Eli NYG QB

3.16 48 Cincinnati Explorers Heap, Todd BAL TE

 

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Where was Larry Johnson picked?

[TripleW64]

Where was Larry Johnson picked? 

 

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My thoughts exactly. I guess a bum like that you can pick up on the WW.

[TheGrunt]

Where was Larry Johnson picked? 

 

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Naw... Jones, Julius is OBVIOUSLY going to score way more points than LJ will ever get close to. Seriously though.... when does Larry Johnson get picked? ...and why did Julius Jones get picked before many of the way more talanted players? Like, Steven J for example!!!

[hosler427]

Where was Larry Johnson picked? 

 

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This draft was done last summer. Priest was the starter and LJ was drafted in round 4.

[Randall]

This draft was done last summer. Priest was the starter and LJ was drafted in round 4.

 

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I was able to see that. Last year Julius, , Kevin, Priest and Deuce went a lot higher than they would now. LJ, Tiki and Cadillac are first rounders now.