Tweet
By Jim Thomas
Of the Post-Dispatch
12/19/2004
TEMPE, Ariz. - One of the more bizarre occurrences of an increasingly bizarre Rams season was the sight of Steven Jackson - the first running back selected in the 2004 draft - standing on the Rams' sidelines.
All day long.
Even though his bruised right knee was deemed healthy, Jackson did not play in Sunday's 31-7 loss to Arizona.
"He was healthy," Martz said. "They blitzed us just about every snap the first half, and you need to have a guy in there that kind of knows what's going on. We felt like with the blitz pickups, that we could use Marshall in some of the pass routes."
So Jackson was not ready to be used in such a role?
"No, that's not what I'm saying," Martz said. "There's nothing wrong with Marshall, I guess, is probably what I'm trying to tell you."
Martz, who obviously was disappointed in the Rams' run blocking, then added: "Is Steven going to make the difference in that game by being in there? No. Whether Marshall loses four yards or Steven loses four yards, which one you want? It just doesn't matter at that point. Your best player's Marshall right now. How'd you like his third-and-one run?"
In one of the few highlights for the Rams on Sunday, Faulk made a spinning move to fight for extra yardage and a first down on a third-and-one carry in the third quarter. But that was about it for the running game.
The Rams gained a season-low 22 rushing yards on 10 carries - all by Faulk. The lack of output was particularly puzzling, because the Cardinals have one of the league's worst run defenses. Over the past six games, the Big Red have allowed 167 rushing yards per contest and 5.1 yards a carry.
Martz says he generally leaves it up to running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery on how much Faulk plays and how much Jackson plays.
"Marshall didn't want to come out," Martz said. "He was playing fine. ... That's not an issue to me."
Jackson basically declined comment after the game.
"I didn't play," he said. "I've got nothing to say."
When asked if he was surprised that he played the entire game, Faulk said, "I didn't pay any attention to it. Things were just kind of going on out there. I didn't have time to kind of explain to (Jackson) what was going on. So I didn't want to just throw him out there and not alert him to the different things that were happening out there."
In the early going, the Cardinals gave the Rams a lot of different looks with their defensive front seven - looks that the Rams had not anticipated. Faulk said he was trying to figure out himself what the Big Red were doing, in consultation with Montgomery.
"They mixed it up pretty good," Faulk said.
Polley is ejected
A disappointing season for linebacker Tommy Polley didn't get any better Sunday. Polley was ejected early in the fourth quarter after shoving Arizona defensive tackle Russell Davis in the face. Davis was standing on the sideline with his helmet off at the time.
"I don't know what happened," Martz said. "There's no excuse to be ejected. ... I need to talk to Tommy about that. I'm not happy about that at all."
Cason sits
Despite returning a kickoff for 30 yards last week in Carolina, a season best for the Rams, Aveion Cason was among the Rams' seven pregame inactives against Arizona. But with Faulk and Jackson dressed, Martz felt he still needed Arlen Harris ready and didn't feel like he could dress four halfbacks.
Without safety Aeneas Williams in the lineup, DeJuan Groce took over nickel back duties in the secondary.
Butler cramps up
There were no injuries of note after the game. Cornerback Jerametrius Butler left early in the third quarter because of dehydration, but returned at the start of the fourth quarter.
Of the Post-Dispatch
12/19/2004
TEMPE, Ariz. - One of the more bizarre occurrences of an increasingly bizarre Rams season was the sight of Steven Jackson - the first running back selected in the 2004 draft - standing on the Rams' sidelines.
All day long.
Even though his bruised right knee was deemed healthy, Jackson did not play in Sunday's 31-7 loss to Arizona.
"He was healthy," Martz said. "They blitzed us just about every snap the first half, and you need to have a guy in there that kind of knows what's going on. We felt like with the blitz pickups, that we could use Marshall in some of the pass routes."
So Jackson was not ready to be used in such a role?
"No, that's not what I'm saying," Martz said. "There's nothing wrong with Marshall, I guess, is probably what I'm trying to tell you."
Martz, who obviously was disappointed in the Rams' run blocking, then added: "Is Steven going to make the difference in that game by being in there? No. Whether Marshall loses four yards or Steven loses four yards, which one you want? It just doesn't matter at that point. Your best player's Marshall right now. How'd you like his third-and-one run?"
In one of the few highlights for the Rams on Sunday, Faulk made a spinning move to fight for extra yardage and a first down on a third-and-one carry in the third quarter. But that was about it for the running game.
The Rams gained a season-low 22 rushing yards on 10 carries - all by Faulk. The lack of output was particularly puzzling, because the Cardinals have one of the league's worst run defenses. Over the past six games, the Big Red have allowed 167 rushing yards per contest and 5.1 yards a carry.
Martz says he generally leaves it up to running backs coach Wilbert Montgomery on how much Faulk plays and how much Jackson plays.
"Marshall didn't want to come out," Martz said. "He was playing fine. ... That's not an issue to me."
Jackson basically declined comment after the game.
"I didn't play," he said. "I've got nothing to say."
When asked if he was surprised that he played the entire game, Faulk said, "I didn't pay any attention to it. Things were just kind of going on out there. I didn't have time to kind of explain to (Jackson) what was going on. So I didn't want to just throw him out there and not alert him to the different things that were happening out there."
In the early going, the Cardinals gave the Rams a lot of different looks with their defensive front seven - looks that the Rams had not anticipated. Faulk said he was trying to figure out himself what the Big Red were doing, in consultation with Montgomery.
"They mixed it up pretty good," Faulk said.
Polley is ejected
A disappointing season for linebacker Tommy Polley didn't get any better Sunday. Polley was ejected early in the fourth quarter after shoving Arizona defensive tackle Russell Davis in the face. Davis was standing on the sideline with his helmet off at the time.
"I don't know what happened," Martz said. "There's no excuse to be ejected. ... I need to talk to Tommy about that. I'm not happy about that at all."
Cason sits
Despite returning a kickoff for 30 yards last week in Carolina, a season best for the Rams, Aveion Cason was among the Rams' seven pregame inactives against Arizona. But with Faulk and Jackson dressed, Martz felt he still needed Arlen Harris ready and didn't feel like he could dress four halfbacks.
Without safety Aeneas Williams in the lineup, DeJuan Groce took over nickel back duties in the secondary.
Butler cramps up
There were no injuries of note after the game. Cornerback Jerametrius Butler left early in the third quarter because of dehydration, but returned at the start of the fourth quarter.
Comment