Jackson guarded about his return
By Bill Coats
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Thursday, Oct. 25 2007
For the first time in a month, running back
Steven Jackson's teammates got a
look Wednesday at his blue No. 39 jersey — without a red "no contact" singlet
covering it. It was a welcome sight to the Rams.
"Without him, it's been a difference," tight end Randy McMichael said. "Brian
(Leonard) did a great job filling in for him, but there's nothing like having
No. 39 back with you."
Barring a setback, Jackson will return to the lineup Sunday against the
visiting Cleveland Browns. He missed four games with a torn groin muscle.
"We'll be guarded somewhat as we go," coach Scott Linehan said, "but if we get
through this week of practice, there's no reason he shouldn't be starting this
week."
Leonard, a second-round draft pick in April, ran for 222 yards on 58 carries, a
respectable 3.8-yard average, and caught nine passes for 57 yards. But
replacing last year's NFL leader in yards from scrimmage would be a tall task
for anybody, let alone a rookie.
"It's fun to go out there and practice full-go and not be limited like the last
couple of weeks," Jackson said. "Everything's going well."
He added a word of caution, though. "A groin is something that, it feels good
and the next day it may have a little tweak here or there," he explained.
"We're waiting on Thursday and see how it reacts."
Jackson also stressed that he wouldn't know whether he's completely healed
until he's in a game.
"You can't simulate game speed," he said. "I have to get to the point where I'm
getting tackled and I'm comfortable breaking arm tackles, things like that."
With center Brett Romberg (ankle) out and guard Claude Terrell released, the
Rams will start their sixth different combination on the offensive line.
"I can't dwell on that," Jackson said. "Once the ball is in my hands, I can't
tell the defense to slow down, these guys don't know what they're doing. I'm
just going to go out there with confidence. I'm going to ... let them know that
I'm expecting them to get the job done."
The goals, Jackson said, are to "try to change the momentum of what's going on"
with the Rams' punchless offense and, most important, to get a win before the
bye week.
"We're 0-7, and we realize that," he said. "But it's life, and life comes with
problems. You have to find the solution. That's what I'm here for. ...
Hopefully, now we can get this thing turned around."
bcoats@post-dispatch.com | 314-340-8189
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