By Bill Coats
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Friday, Oct. 27 2006
Coming off the Rams' bye week, running back
Steven Jackson is feeling frisky.
"My legs are there, and I'm not aching anywhere," he said. "But we have a long
stretch ahead of us — 10 games in a row."
Starting with a stiff test Sunday in San Diego. The Chargers have the NFL's
stingiest overall defense, yielding just 241.2 yards per game. They're fifth
vs. the run, at 82.0 yards per game.
"Big challenge," Jackson said. "They run a 3-4 scheme — something that we
haven't seen much of all year — and they run it well. It'll allow us to measure
where we are as an offense overall."
Two of the league's top backs, statistically at least, will be on display at
Qualcomm Stadium. Jackson is No. 3 in yards from scrimmage (745 yards); San
Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson is No. 8 (719). Jackson is sixth in rushing (521);
Tomlinson is 14th (473).
Tomlinson has the edge in receiving, with 246 yards to Jackson's 224. Still,
Jackson is more than satisfied with his increased production as a pass-catcher.
He's on pace to pile up almost 600 receiving yards, which would nearly double
his total of last season (320), his first as a full-time starter.
"It shows the diversity of my game and how Coach (Scott Linehan) allows me to
be (effective) in the passing game," Jackson said. "Either way, yardage is
being made around here, and it feels good to be able to contribute."
The Rams, though, have gotten little from their reserve backs. They've added
only 68 yards to Jackson's total, and the Rams rank just 22nd in the league in
rushing, with an average of 98.2 yards per game.
So, Linehan might have to lean on his passing game, which is fifth in the
league. And that means Jackson also will be challenged as a blocker. "It's very
important for us to give Marc a good pocket," he said. "We've got to help on
guys sometimes, and as running backs, when the blitz does come, we have to be
pretty stout."
Tougher foes
At 2-1, the Rams are one of only seven NFC teams with a winning road record.
But their wins came at Arizona and Green Bay, which have a combined 3-10 mark.
The Chargers (4-2), who are 2-0 at home, represent the Rams' toughest road test
so far, Linehan conceded.
"I would say on paper it is, just based on the team we're playing, and where
they're at, and their record," he said. "But I think every game on the road in
this league is extremely tough regardless."
Sunday's game kicks off a four-game stretch in which the Rams will face teams
with an aggregate record of 15-10. Linehan's concern, though, is lasered on San
Diego, calling it "the most important game of the year."
"We're playing one of the best teams in the league with probably some of the
best personnel in the league; you can't find really a true weakness," he said.
"We're going to have to play our best game."
Ram-blings
Linebacker
Pisa Tinoisamoa (hand) and fullback Paul Smith (eye) remained
"probable" on the Rams' injury report. Both practiced Thursday. . . .
Westminster's J.D. Perona is the Rams' high school coach of the week after a
24-17 upset of MICDS, which was ranked No. 1 in the Post-Dispatch small-schools
poll. The Rams Foundation and NFL Charities will make a $1,000 donation to the
school's football program.
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