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Rams notebook: Steven Jackson simmers as Rams stumble
BY JIM THOMAS
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
10/26/2009
To put it in perspective, Hollis Thomas has scored more points than Steven Jackson, almost midway through the 2009 season. Yes, Hollis Thomas, the defensive tackle and one-time Ram, picked up two points Sunday with a safety for his new team, Carolina.
Jackson, meanwhile, has gone seven games this season without a touchdown. Seven games without a single rolling of the dice, Jackson's signature TD celebration.
And if you think he's OK with that, think again. When asked about the frustration of rushing for a season-high 134 yards but not reaching the end zone, Jackson went into a slow boil after Sunday's 42-6 loss to Indianapolis.
"Excuse me. Excuse me," Jackson said. "We're 0-7 right now. And I'm just focused on getting this team turned around."
When it was suggested that the Rams go as he goes, Jackson simmered some more.
"Excuse me again," he said, cutting off the questioner. "We're 0-7. We're 0-7 right now. There's 53 men on this team."
Jackson has three 100-yard rushing games. With 635 yards so far, he's on pace for a 1,451-yard season. But those are hollow numbers when your team hasn't won a game since October 2008.
How does Jackson keep his sanity?
"Take a deep breath," he said. "You've got to start with yourself first. If you don't believe — it's hard to sell something you don't believe in. So I have to just go out there and run hard. And continue to show guys that I'm fighting for each and every yard in each and every game."
Unlike in the Jacksonville game, the Rams stayed with the run against Indianapolis. Jackson's 23 carries matched his second-highest total of the year.
INJURIES MOUNTING
The Rams lost long snapper Chris Massey for the season with what's believed to be a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Massey, who has been automatic on punt, extra point, and field goal snaps since entering the league in 2002, suffered the injury with 5 1/2 minutes to play in the second quarter on punt coverage. Tight end Billy Bajema filled in for Massey the rest of the game.
Right guard Richie Incognito suffered what coach Steve Spagnuolo called a mid-foot sprain on the final play of the third quarter. Spagnuolo said Incognito would undergo additional testing today; Incognito left the game wearing a boot on his left foot.
Midway through the fourth quarter, rookie cornerback Bradley Fletcher left the game with what Spagnuolo called a hyper-extended knee. Fletcher, a third-round draft pick from Iowa, made his third NFL start Sunday. He is scheduled for an MRI today.
Quarterback Marc Bulger had his left (non-throwing) hand X-rayed after the game, but said it was for precautionary reasons only.
RAM-BLINGS
The Rams tried to combat the Colts' no-huddle passing game by using a six-defensive-back alignment with three safeties and three corners. ... DE James Hall and CB Justin King were pregame scratches because of groin injuries. Because of Hall's injury, DE Victor Adeyanju played in his first game of the season. ... WR Brandon Gibson, acquired Tuesday in the Will Witherspoon trade, was among the team's pregame inactives.
BY JIM THOMAS
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
10/26/2009
To put it in perspective, Hollis Thomas has scored more points than Steven Jackson, almost midway through the 2009 season. Yes, Hollis Thomas, the defensive tackle and one-time Ram, picked up two points Sunday with a safety for his new team, Carolina.
Jackson, meanwhile, has gone seven games this season without a touchdown. Seven games without a single rolling of the dice, Jackson's signature TD celebration.
And if you think he's OK with that, think again. When asked about the frustration of rushing for a season-high 134 yards but not reaching the end zone, Jackson went into a slow boil after Sunday's 42-6 loss to Indianapolis.
"Excuse me. Excuse me," Jackson said. "We're 0-7 right now. And I'm just focused on getting this team turned around."
When it was suggested that the Rams go as he goes, Jackson simmered some more.
"Excuse me again," he said, cutting off the questioner. "We're 0-7. We're 0-7 right now. There's 53 men on this team."
Jackson has three 100-yard rushing games. With 635 yards so far, he's on pace for a 1,451-yard season. But those are hollow numbers when your team hasn't won a game since October 2008.
How does Jackson keep his sanity?
"Take a deep breath," he said. "You've got to start with yourself first. If you don't believe — it's hard to sell something you don't believe in. So I have to just go out there and run hard. And continue to show guys that I'm fighting for each and every yard in each and every game."
Unlike in the Jacksonville game, the Rams stayed with the run against Indianapolis. Jackson's 23 carries matched his second-highest total of the year.
INJURIES MOUNTING
The Rams lost long snapper Chris Massey for the season with what's believed to be a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. Massey, who has been automatic on punt, extra point, and field goal snaps since entering the league in 2002, suffered the injury with 5 1/2 minutes to play in the second quarter on punt coverage. Tight end Billy Bajema filled in for Massey the rest of the game.
Right guard Richie Incognito suffered what coach Steve Spagnuolo called a mid-foot sprain on the final play of the third quarter. Spagnuolo said Incognito would undergo additional testing today; Incognito left the game wearing a boot on his left foot.
Midway through the fourth quarter, rookie cornerback Bradley Fletcher left the game with what Spagnuolo called a hyper-extended knee. Fletcher, a third-round draft pick from Iowa, made his third NFL start Sunday. He is scheduled for an MRI today.
Quarterback Marc Bulger had his left (non-throwing) hand X-rayed after the game, but said it was for precautionary reasons only.
RAM-BLINGS
The Rams tried to combat the Colts' no-huddle passing game by using a six-defensive-back alignment with three safeties and three corners. ... DE James Hall and CB Justin King were pregame scratches because of groin injuries. Because of Hall's injury, DE Victor Adeyanju played in his first game of the season. ... WR Brandon Gibson, acquired Tuesday in the Will Witherspoon trade, was among the team's pregame inactives.
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