Jahvid Best's role on the Rams

[BarronWade]

Jahvid Best's name has come up many times in mock drafts for our 2nd round pick. So if indeed we go Bradford then Best and Steven Jackson is healthy week 1 what is Best's role going to be.

Lets say we run the ball 30 times how many times does best run it?

Is Best reliable enough for us to take Jackson out on 3rd down and put in best? (remember last year a couple times it was 3rd and 1 and we ran it with Gado? and i dont even wana get into that)

Is Best in there to take over when jackson is tired or is he there to preserve Jackson for the 4th?


Here is my thinking:

Jackson is the starter (duh)

1st quarter (RB on field)
Best 60% Jackson 40%

We basically let Jackson start but let Best be on the field more than Jackson in the 1st.

2nd Quarter
Best 50% Jackson 50%

We dont use split backs with these 2 we just put them out equally. What im thinking is at halftime Best has more carries than Jackson.

3rd Quarter
Best 25% Jackson 75%

Steven Jackson basically gets on the field more and makes plays.

4th Quarter
Best 45% Jackson 95%

What? That does not add up to 100%. THe reason is because we should use split backs with the opposing defense having to guess which playmaker will make the play


So what do you think Jahvid Best's role would be on the Rams? And how many carries per game do you think he will have?

[rams_man13]

Change of pace, KR, PR and sometimes in a formation where he'd be a offensive weapon WITH S-Jax on the field.

[thickandthin]

no percentages. when Jackson gets tired or injured he goes in. he will only be a back up. and if we did use percentages Jackson would get most of the carries in the beginning.

[Varg6]

Thickandthin, I disagree with you respectfully. Most would argue that Jackson is most effective in the 3rd and 4th quarter because he's such a powerful and fast RB and when the defenses are tired to begin with, we can just run the ball all day. I think it'd be good to have a strong complementary back for SJax. Not only will it decrease the chances of him getting injured but it'll keep both backs ready to go. I like the idea a lot.

[sosa39rams]

Yeah, if we get Best, I cant see him grabbing that much of the spotlight. But thats why I am against drafting a backup RB in the 2nd.

[thickandthin]

Thickandthin, I disagree with you respectfully. Most would argue that Jackson is most effective in the 3rd and 4th quarter because he's such a powerful and fast RB and when the defenses are tired to begin with, we can just run the ball all day. I think it'd be good to have a strong complementary back for SJax. Not only will it decrease the chances of him getting injured but it'll keep both backs ready to go. I like the idea a lot.

Ok I see what you mean, makes a bit of sense.

Yeah, if we get Best, I cant see him grabbing that much of the spotlight. But thats why I am against drafting a backup RB in the 2nd.

Yes I agree, but if we get a backup RB we should get him earliest in the 3rd, I'd like us to go Gresham in the second.

[RockinRam]

I just can't warrant us using our second round pick on a back-up RB. Even though it may be beneficial, it's just a luxury we can't afford. In the third round, definitely. But in the second round, we could grab a starter instead of a backup running back.


If we did get Best, I would like seeing him used more in the first half, to tire out defenses with his speed, and let Jackson finish them off in the second half.

You could also vice versa that and let Jackson pound away in the first half, and let Best burn the already weary defense in the second.

[BarronWade]

Last year we had Samkon Gado and he wasnt able to fill in for Jackson at times.

It's obvious we need another playmaker. Also Jackson was carrying the ball way too much and we are going to need someone that can keep him healthy. He started wearing down as we went into week 13.

Also no one is grabbing the spot light from Jackson someone is helping him maintain a spotlight throughout the season.

[Goldenfleece]

His role with the Rams? Opponent. It's iffy whether he'll even last to the second round. If he does, there are a lot of reasons we would want to go a different direction. If we take Suh in round one, maybe we want Colt McCoy in round two. If we take Bradford, maybe we look for Jermaine Gresham to drop. Or take a receiver. Or a defensive lineman.

I agree that we need to land a playmaker in the second round--at a position where we don't already have one.

[Varg6]

His role with the Rams? Opponent. It's iffy whether he'll even last to the second round. If he does, there are a lot of reasons we would want to go a different direction. If we take Suh in round one, maybe we want Colt McCoy in round two. If we take Bradford, maybe we look for Jermaine Gresham to drop. Or take a receiver. Or a defensive lineman.

I agree that we need to land a playmaker in the second round--at a position where we don't already have one.

It'll be interesting what happens with the Bears, actually. Apparently they have some interest in Barron and perhaps we could simply swap players. Barron for Olsen. I'd be cool with that. I know this is all ESPN speculation but it sounds like a realistic scenario and suddenly TE isn't such a big hole in our offense.

[Ramblin` Ram]

if we managed to swap Barron for Olsen that would be great..id still say that there are other more pressing needs than complimentary RB..but it would move it one spot up the priority list atleast.

id prefer us to go for someone like Hardesty in the middle rounds than taking Best over someone like say..Wooten,Griffen,Robinson,Damion Williams,Brian Price,Odrick,Rodger Saffold etc...
i do like Best a lot..and understand everything that a complimentary RB would bring..but there are more pressing needs with high picks.

[Azul e Oro]

As a Cal fan, I love Best, but he weighs about a pound & a half & has had at least two surgeries & a couple of concussions-the last one being very scary indeed-in a relatively short career as a starter.No way do I see him as a guy who would be able to run between the tackles very much in the NFL & stay healthy. He'd be great as a complementary back to SJ-both on the field together to stretch the defense wider- but we need to look elsewhere if Ogby or Darby can't be SJ's stand-in. Gerhart?