Lack of Experience on Defensive Line May Be a Gamble

By Bill Coats

ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

06/11/2007

Only five of 13 defensive linemen on the Rams' current roster boast more than one year of NFL experience. The eight others include five rookies — draft picks Adam Carriker, Clifton Ryan and Keith Jackson, plus free agents Alton Pettway and Ryan Willis.

Second-year coach Scott Linehan might not seem like a gambler, but he's ready to roll the dice in this vital area. "We've kind of taken a leap of faith with some of these younger players," he acknowledged.

The No. 1 challenge for the Rams defensively is improving against the run. They were 31st in the 32-team league in that category last year and ranked no higher than 15th in any of the past five seasons. During that span, their overall record was 42-41.

In contrast, the Rams were the best in the league vs. the run in 1999, when they won the Super Bowl. They were No. 3 two years later, when they lost in the title game. Their combined record those two seasons was 32-6.

The team's commitment to new faces on the defensive line was underscored Friday when Jimmy Kennedy was traded to the Denver Broncos. Kennedy was the Rams' first-round draft choice (No. 12 overall) in 2003; he brought only a sixth-round pick in '08.

Kennedy never fulfilled the promise of a first-rounder. But he did start all 16 games last season at nose tackle, a position that Linehan said only a few weeks ago he expected Kennedy to fill again in 2007.

Yet once the coaches got an extended look at the newcomers, they decided that Kennedy was expendable.

Carriker's rapid development was key in prompting that conclusion. The 6-foot-6, 296-pounder played defensive end at Nebraska, but the Rams pegged him as a tackle from the beginning.

"He's really got a natural feel for playing inside," Linehan said. "Sometimes we'll have him at the three (-technique), sometimes at the nose, or we could go right and left if we think it'll utilize his skills more. But right now, he's handling both tackle positions with relative ease."

As the Rams head into their full-squad minicamp this week, Carriker is the first-team nose tackle. Ryan and Jackson back him up, and Tim Sandidge, who is playing in NFL Europe, also could figure in.

La'Roi Glover and Claude Wroten are expected to share the duties at the other tackle spot. The Rams want to limit Glover's reps in his 12th NFL season, and Wroten's progress after a spotty rookie year apparently will make that possible.

"He had an excellent offseason, as far as his training and preparation," Linehan said. "He understands a lot more what we're trying to get done."

Leonard Little returns at left end after piling up 13 sacks last year — the second-highest total in his nine seasons. James Hall, acquired from Detroit for a fifth-round draft pick, is the projected starter on the right side, although his work has been limited as he recovers from shoulder surgery.

Linehan had been seeking a strong pass rusher to complement Little, and he believes that he has his man. Hall recorded five sacks last year in only seven games before he was injured, boosting his seven-year total to 33. He collected a personal-best 11½ in 2004.

"Leonard had a very impressive year, considering he was getting double- and triple-teamed most of the time," Linehan said. "To be able to put somebody on the other side that has the capability to give you similar things as Leonard does takes a lot of pressure off of him."

Victor Adeyanju, who was putting together a strong rookie season before breaking an arm, and Eric Moore provide depth. Trevor Johnson and undrafted rookies Alton Pettway and Ryan Willis also will be vying for roster spots.

Linehan would like to find another veteran end. And, in the wake of the Kennedy trade, the Rams are expected to seek a tackle, via free agency or trade.

"I would say that that door is wide open; if there's somebody we'd be interested in, we'd do it," Linehan said. "One thing I've learned is that the roster gets put together over the entire year. You have free agency, the draft ... a lot of things happen."

Rams Working on Contract Extension For Bulger

By Bill Coats
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
05/26/2007

During the 2006 season, the Rams plunked down about $45 million in contract extension funds to keep defensive end Leonard Little and linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa off the market as unrestricted free agents.

This year's top priority is quarterback Marc Bulger. He's entering the final season of a four-year, $19.1 million deal he signed in May 2004. He's also coming off his best season in four full years as the Rams' starter.

Bulger, 30, said he tries "to stay out of that stuff" when it comes to contract talks. But, he added, "I'd love to finish my career here. ...

"I know we're really, really close to getting something done, and I want to be a part of it."

Jay Zygmunt, the Rams' president of football operations, said he was still working on an extension for Bulger. As for forecasting a timetable for an agreement, Zygmunt said, "As far as we're concerned, the sooner the better."

Bulger echoed that sentiment. "I know when I got my first deal, it was definitely comfortable to know that, 'OK, I'm going to be here at least for so long,'" he said. "I think they want to keep the core group together, and they've done a good job of that. Hopefully, I'm in those plans."

Coach Scott Linehan made it clear that Bulger was when he called re-signing him a "no-brainer."

Holt works out

Wide receiver Torry Holt, recovering from offseason knee surgery, jogged through a few routes and even joined his teammates for sprints — albeit at about half-speed — after Thursday's workout at Rams Park. Holt said his knee was "feeling pretty good ... it's coming along."

Still, Linehan said he wants Holt to be cautious about pushing himself.

"He made a big commitment; he missed the Pro Bowl because he wanted to accelerate his rehab," Linehan noted. "He's at a point in his career where we've got to manage it and make sure he's able to finish a long, grueling season."

Steven Jackson

Madden, Marshall, and his list of goals for the upcoming season.
by Jon Robinson



May 11, 2007 - They call him "Action" Jackson, but the thing is, some of Steven Jackson's best plays take place when the only things moving are his fingers and his trash talking mouth.

"I'm a big Madden guy," Jackson tells me before the NFL luncheon at New York's famed Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Plaza. "I only play with the Rams. I played with all the other teams growing up, but this is my team now, this is my time."

Growing up, Jackson was always a big sports gamer, even if he didn't have a favorite team to play as on the virtual field. "I was always more of a player guy than a team guy. Whoever had the best running back at the time, that's who I played with. I don't pass the ball a lot, I'm selfish," Jackson says with his infectious laugh. "That's why I play as the Rams. Give it to me 25 times. A lot of counters, a lot of off tackle runs…that's how you get me out into the open field for big plays. Madden is so realistic, if you watch our team in real life, watch how they get me the ball, you'll know how to use me in the game."

Jackson led the NFL in total yards from scrimmage last season (2,334), and while he was happy with most of his Madden ratings last year, he's hoping his breakout campaign makes an even bigger impact on the Xbox 360 for 08.

Especially when it comes to his Toughness rating.

"87…that ain't tough," Jackson laughs. "In Seattle I drug four people into the end zone letting them know I was back."

First time I saw Jackson play at Oregon State, only thing I could think of was one word, superstar. Seriously, the kid had all the tools to become a major player in the NFL and through hard work and dedication (both in the weight and film rooms), Jackson has turned into one of the most dangerous backfield weapons in the game.

And don't look for him to slow down as the man has some serious ambition.

In fact, every season, Jackson makes a list of goals. "The reception record Marshall (Faulk) has (first running back to lead his team in receptions five separate seasons), the total yards from scrimmage Marshall has, the rushing record in the NFL that Dickerson has (most yards gained in a season), I have some big shoes to fill in St. Louis."

And according to the man Jackson cites as his mentor, Marshall Faulk, the St. Louis back not only carries all the physical abilities to succeed, he carries the respect of his peers.

"I watched him work and I watched him grow," says Faulk. "A lot of guys come in…Steven had been my second first round back. I had two first rounders and two second rounders who came behind me to eventually replace me, but he was the only guy who actually embraced the fact that I knew what I knew and he was going to learn as much as he could from me instead of 'I'm going to take your spot and I don't want to know what you know.'

"I felt like teaching him as much (as I could) so if something happened to me and he was on the field the other ten guys in the huddle were getting a guy who could do the job also."

Jackson appreciates all that Faulk has taught him, even if he wants to break all of his records.

"I think our film sessions we used to have together, Marshall would go in at lunch time and get a film session in before practice. He would break down the defense of our opponents, he would know the personnel, he would know everyone's names," says Jackson. "I would come in and ask questions and try to pick at his brain. I knew that eventually it would get to the point where I would get the comparisons to Marshall. St. Louis puts a lot of pressure on you, so when he passed that torch, I was not going to fumble it."

Jackson was in New York to attend the draft and when asked about his own draft experience, all he could do was smile and shake his head.

Call him the Brady Quinn of running backs.

"The ESPN cameras came to my house and we did live footage. Mel Kiper was on there, Michael Irvin was on the draft and they had me predicted Top 10 and the first running back taken off the board, so every time a team would pick someone they'd be like 'The next available player is Steven Jackson'. So, 24 times after hearing that you're like 'What the hell, somebody just say my name!' It's draining. The draft is very draining I went to Oregon State University, people don't even know where that's at."

One thing's for sure, if Jackson breaks all of the records he wrote down for himself this season, everyplace he's ever run the ball will be on the map.

And in Madden 09, you might just know who to expect on the cover.

"You can learn a lot about the game of football through Madden," Jackson tells me. "The game is so realistic now, they emulate all of your moves down almost to a T. It definitely gives kids something to work for. They can learn the plays, how blocking works, what works in different situations through the game. As someone who grew up playing the game, it's actually a very humbling experience just to be in it, but being on the cover? Maybe I'll have to add it to my list of goals."