SJax sets sights on total 2500 yards

[Randall]

Steven Jackson sets sights on 2,500 total yards

By Bill Coats

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

Friday, Jun. 08 2007

 

First, he took Marshall Faulk's job. Now, Rams running back Steven Jackson is

going after Faulk's records.

 

"My goal is 2,500 total yards from scrimmage," Jackson said Thursday. "And how

I get it doesn't matter. But I want to get to that number."

 

If he does, Jackson would replace Faulk as the NFL's single-season

record-holder. Faulk piled up 2,429 yards in 1999 — 1,381 rushing, 1,048

receiving — a season that culminated with a Rams Super Bowl championship.

 

Only Faulk, Tiki Barber (2,390 in 2005), LaDainian Tomlinson (2,370 in 2003),

and Barry Sanders (2,358 in 1997) have topped the 2,334 yards that Jackson

amassed last year.

 

"Some people may feel that I'm reaching," Jackson said of shooting for 2,500.

"But I believe goals are to be set, and then you just go after them."

 

Jackson fell slightly short of his goal of 1,600 rushing yards in 2006, but he

supplemented his 1,528 yards by catching 90 passes for 806 yards. The breakout

season earned Jackson a Pro Bowl selection in just his third year after the

Rams drafted him in the first round

 

(No. 24 overall) out of Oregon State.

 

"Once Marshall was unable to play last year, I thought Steven took full

advantage of the added opportunity and showed everybody why he was a No. 1

draft pick," coach Scott Linehan said. "He proved a lot to a lot more people

than just his coaches and teammates. He's one of those guys that teams have to

try to find a way to stop."

 

Although his numbers had been declining, Faulk remained the Rams' primary back

when Jackson arrived. Their relationship was cordial, if not overly friendly.

Jackson bided his time edgily.

 

"For quite a long time, I kept pleading my case, saying that I believe in my

own capabilities," he said. "I thought since Day 1 I could be a top back in

this league. I felt last year was the first time I had that chance to ... state

my case."

 

Jackson, who will turn 24 next month, rushed for 673 yards and had 19

receptions for 189 yards as a rookie. Faulk, who had cemented his Hall of Fame

credentials, ran for 774 yards and added 30 catches for 310 yards. But signs of

wear were obvious as his 12th NFL season wound down.

 

In February 2005, coach Mike Martz announced that Jackson and Faulk would swap

assignments. That season, Jackson gained 1,046 yards on the ground and 320

through the air, but the Rams slumped to 5-11. Martz was fired after the season

and Linehan brought an offensive system that stressed more balance between the

run and the pass.

 

With Faulk sidelined all year with a knee injury, Jackson flourished, firmly

establishing himself as one of the NFL's elite backs. He led the league in

total offense and catches by a running back; he finished fifth in rushing.

 

The 6-foot-2, 231-pound Jackson was particularly proud of his 436 carries and

catches combined. Only Kansas City's Larry Johnson had more, with 457. The

Rams, however, would like to lessen Jackson's workload a bit, which is partly

why they drafted Rutgers running back Brian Leonard in the second round this

year.

 

"We've just got to be able to manage how much (Jackson) plays," Linehan said.

"I don't know if it's exactly like a pitch count in baseball, but there's got

to be times when we give him a break. ... It's hard to take one of your best

players out of a game ever. But you have to in football."

 

Jackson understands, to a degree.

 

"My philosophy is, to be considered great in the National Football League you

have to be the marquee guy, you have to shoulder the burden of the running

game," he said. "This is a business, and as an organization, we do have to have

guys to be ready to come in and play and protect ourselves as an offensive unit

and as a team. ...

 

"But me, I cherish the moments when I can put myself in tough situations and

come out on top."

 

Those opportunities figure to continue for Jackson, especially with Faulk out

of the picture for good after announcing his retirement earlier this year.

 

"It definitely makes life easier," Jackson said. "You can never downplay what

he accomplished with this franchise. But now, the question of, 'Are you good

enough?' ... I think I've answered that."

 

bcoats@post-dispatch.com | 314-340-8189

[Grits and Shins]

 

Seems like every time I hear a RB do something like this fate finds a way to bring him back to reality in a very hard way.

[Crazysight]

 

Seems like every time I hear a RB do something like this fate finds a way to bring him back to reality in a very hard way.

 

 

Very true. SJ is very good, but he's no Marshall Faulk.

[Bronco Billy]

Funny that football players can be as naive about numbers as some FF owners.

 

Jackson had 2334 total yards with an enormous workload last season. That's a ton as it is. Now he wants to increase his production by another 7% or more? He'd have to figure to increase his workload by about 10% to do that (as workload increases, per carry/per catch stats tend to decrease somewhat), meaning he'd be looking at 480 touches.

 

That's pretty outlandish.

 

It's nice to see a player reaching for high goals, but it would be nice to see them be a bit rational about it...

Edited June 8, 2007 by Bronco Billy

[Crazysight]

I just don't think he's as versatile as Faulk was. Faulk used to give defensive coordinators fits with the number of ways that he could hurt you, which is why he was able to amass so much yardage. SJ is more of the protypical pounder, and it's hard for me to see him doing any better than what he did last year.

Edited June 8, 2007 by Crazysight

[Crazysight]

Steven Jackson had 346 carries last season plus 90 receptions for a combined total of 436 touches. By comparison, Faulk in his 1999 record-breaking season in which he had 2429 total yards from scrimmage had only 340 touches combined.

Edited June 8, 2007 by Crazysight

[Hat Trick]

Steven Jackson had 346 carries last season plus 90 receptions for a combined total of 436 touches. By comparison, Faulk in his 1999 record-breaking season in which he had 2429 total yards from scrimmage had only 340 touches combined.

 

 

Wow, that says a lot right there.

[Bronco Billy]

Wow, that says a lot right there.

 

 

Yeah, that Faulk got a relatively huge percentage of his yards from receiving...

[MustOfBeenDrunk]

i expect him to reach his goal by the 3rd game

[Mojo20]

i expect him to reach his goal by the 3rd game

 

 

of the 2008 season.

[piratesownninjas]

Jackson couldnt hold Faulks Jock.

Every year there are one or two backs that spout off with there absurd goals...

[Randall]

Funny that football players can be as naive about numbers as some FF owners.

 

Jackson had 2334 total yards with an enormous workload last season. That's a ton as it is. Now he wants to increase his production by another 7% or more? He'd have to figure to increase his workload by about 10% to do that (as workload increases, per carry/per catch stats tend to decrease somewhat), meaning he'd be looking at 480 touches.

 

That's pretty outlandish.

 

It's nice to see a player reaching for high goals, but it would be nice to see them be a bit rational about it...

 

 

Or he wants to increase his production with fewer carries. It was his first year as a primary back and may think he can improve. I don't want to see more carries.

[Bronco Billy]

Or he wants to increase his production with fewer carries. It was his first year as a primary back and may think he can improve. I don't want to see more carries.

 

 

Jackson should have seen a decrease in his work load the second he saw Leonard's name come up on the draft board. STL didn't draft Leonard solely to help plow a path for Jackson. Leonard has some serious skills himself and went to about as bad a spot for him to showcase that as he could have (SD, KC, & SEA probably being about as bad or worse).