By Bill Coats
Of the Post-Dispatch
Friday, Aug. 27 2004
Rams strong safety Adam Archuleta watched forlornly from the middle of the
field on Jan. 10 as the No. 89 on the back of Carolina wideout Steve Smith
streaked toward the end zone.
Just like that, the season was over, snuffed by the Panthers' 29-23
double-overtime victory at Edward Jones Dome in the second round of the
playoffs. It wasn't supposed to happen that way.
The Rams were the NFC West champions, and their 12-4 record included an 8-0
sweep at the Dome that extended their home winning streak to 14 games. They
were favored over the Panthers, yet their hopes of reaching a third Super Bowl
in five years were quashed by the 69-yard pass play - quarterback Jake Delhomme
to Smith - that split the Rams defense and fractured their psyche.
That vision lingered, Archuleta acknowledged. But not for long.
"You can't dwell on stuff," he said. "Every time something bad happens in your
life, you've got to look at it, examine it, figure out why it happened, how you
can change it, and then you've got to move on with your life. Because no
progress is made by looking at the past."
Such has been the mantra for Archuleta since he joined the Arizona State squad
as a walk-on, developed into a two-time All-Pacific 10 Conference linebacker,
and became the Rams' first-round draft choice (No. 20 overall) in 2001: No
looking back, no second-guessing, no regrets.
"There are very few things in life that get me down," said Archuleta. "I've
been blessed to be able to have that attitude throughout life. ... You've just
got to live, wake up every day and do what you feel like, and let the chips
fall where they may."
As low key as Archuleta seems - and truly is, according to close pal Rich
Coady, a fellow Rams safety - away from the game, his on-field demeanor
provides a direct contrast. He flies to the ball with vengeance and hits with
ferocity.
"It's an explosion," said free safety Aeneas Williams, a future Hall of Famer
who is heading into his 14th NFL season. "He gets to the ball fast, he plays in
space well, and he's a very good blitzer. He's a tackling machine as well."
Archuleta maintains his physical skills through an unusual workout regimen -
developed by fellow Chandler, Ariz., resident Jay Schroeder - that he's been
following for nearly a decade. The routine, designed to control muscle response
and increase explosiveness, has helped the 215-pound Archuleta add about 40
pounds of muscle to his 6-foot frame, increase his bench press to more than 500
pounds, and...
-08-29-2004, 10:56 AM
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