Who Replaces Steven Jackson? St. Louis Rams Have Decisions To Make at RB
When the Rams made their final cuts of the preseason, they knew they were going to be thin at running back with no proven runner behind Steven Jackson.
Kenneth Darby and Keith Toston were kept to back up the Pro Bowler.
It was said that Rams GM Billy Devaney was shopping in the trade market to see what was available but found nothing he wanted.
Well, that was close to four weeks ago, and the Rams are still stuck with the same group of backs.
In the Week 3 win over Washington, Jackson left the game late in the second quarter with a groin injury. He may play this weekend, or he may not. They really have no idea how long Jackson will be out.
The Rams' record sits at 1-2. If they can sneak a win this weekend and San Diego can beat Arizona, St. Louis will find itself in a three-way tie for first place in a very winnable division.
In the event that Jackson misses a few weeks, the Rams need to find somebody capable of contributing at least 60 yards on the ground each game.
If Devaney was shopping around before Jackson was injured, then there is no doubt he is looking again.
I've put together a list of a few players the Rams should consider.
After you've seen all the names, please tell me what YOU think the Rams should do at running back.
New York Giants RB Brandon Jacobs
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Age: 28
2010 numbers
20 carries / 69 yards / 0 TD
Three catches / 22 yards / 0 TD
Boy, how things can quickly change.
When the Giants won the Super Bowl back in 2008, Jacobs was the team's top RB.
The defensive coordinator of the Giants in 2008? Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo.
After the season, the Giants locked the 1,000-yard rusher into a four-year, $25 million contract.
Clearly suffering from Shaun Alexander syndrome*, Jacobs' production fell significantly in 2009.
The Giants decided before the 2010 season that he would no longer be their No. 1 running back and named Ahmad Bradshaw the starter.
In Week 2 against Indianapolis, Jacobs "accidentally" threw his helmet 10 rows into the crowd at Lucas Oil Stadium.
In Week 3, Jacobs took a bad personal foul penalty for fighting.
It's been rumored that Jacobs has asked to be traded.
No doubt he is a head case, but he can still run the ball, and his ties to Coach Spagnuolo cannot be denied.
*Shaun Alexander syndrome is when you work your butt off to get a big contract, and then you decide you aren't going to care anymore because you've got your money.
Houston Texans RB Steve Slaton
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Age: 24
2010 Stats
12 carries / 57 yards / 0 TD
One catch / Three yards / 0 TD
ZERO FUMBLES
If Slaton is available, GET HIM!
The only thing he has done wrong in his short career is fumble the ball too much.
Rookie season (2008)
268 carries / 1,282 yards / Nine TDs / 4.8 yards per carry
50 catches / 377 yards / One TD
Three fumbles, two lost
Slaton fell out of favor early in the 2009 season when he fumbled four times in the Texans' first four games.
He was moved to the bench in favor of Ryan Moats, but he was still able to contribute through the pass game, catching 44 balls for 417 yards and four TDs.
But...
He fumbled seven times, losing five of them.
Now that Arian Foster is in the picture, the Texans may be willing to give up Slaton for a draft pick.
Reasons why I think Steve Slaton is the best fit for the Rams
He caught 65 passes in three seasons at West Virginia.
He caught 94 the past two seasons with the Texans.
He can line up in the backfield, or they can split him out wide. Slaton is a dangerous runner whose only knock is that he can't hold on to the football.
Fumblitis (fumble-itis) can be cured; ask Tiki Barber or Adrian Peterson.
St. Louis Rams RB Kenneth Darby
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Age: 27
2010 Stats
17 carries / 51 yards / One TD
One catch / Eight yards
Rams backup running back Ken Darby is best known for being knocked on his butt by NFL umpire Garth DeFelice (see photo).
Darby's numbers have been far from stellar in his 30-game career with the Rams. He's carried the ball 78 times for 352 yards with one TD, along with 40 catches for 303 yards and one TD.
In relief duty against the Redskins, Darby ran the ball 14 times for 49 yards, averaging 3.8 yards per carry.
If the Rams weren't satisfied with Darby being the backup entering the regular season, I'm not sure why they'd stick with him now.
The team is much better than anticipated. Darby, however, is not.
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Buffalo Bills RB Marshawn Lynch
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Age: 24
2010 Stats
33 carries / 156 yards / 0 TD
One catch / Seven yards
I think we can all agree that the Buffalo Bills are a confused organization. Yesterday they released former starting QB Trent Edwards under strange circumstances after refusing to listen to trade offers prior to the season.
Edwards entered 2010 as the starter, and just last week the Bills were trying to trade the underperforming QB.
The Bills front office doesn't seem to have a clue.
Buffalo has three RBs who could start for any team in the NFL: Lynch, rookie stud C.J. Spiller, and Fred Jackson.
Lynch was the 12th pick in the 2007 NFL draft. He started his first two seasons with the Bills but was suspended for the first three games of the 2009 season for off the field problems.
In Lynch's three-game absence, Jackson took over and excelled in the role. Jackson finished the season with over 1,000 yards on the ground.
When the Bills selected Spiller with the ninth pick in the 2010 draft, it became clear that the front office wasn't satisfied entering the season with Lynch and Jackson as the team's primary ball carriers.
It's been rumored that Lynch is on the trade block, with Green Bay being the suitor due to the injury to Ryan Grant.
Now that Steven Jackson's near future is unclear, look for the Rams to get in the mix for Lynch.
Cleveland Browns RB Jerome Harrison
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Age: 27
2010 Stats
25 carries / 85 yards / 0 TD
Four catches / 42 yards / 0 TD
In Week 15 of last season, Harrison ran for 286 yards and scored three TDs on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs.
He finished the season with 194 carries for 862 yards and five TDs and 34 catches for 220 yards and two TDs.
It looks like Harrison has fallen out of favor with head coach Eric Mangini, as Peyton Hillis has been given the starting spot.
Hillis ran all over the Baltimore Ravens' defense in Week 3, which could make Harrison expendable for the right price.
NO TEAM RB Larry Johnson
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Age: 30
2010 Stats
Five carries / Two yards
I bet you didn't know that Johnson is one of three players in NFL history to have rushed for over 1,700 yards in consecutive seasons (2005-2006). The other names on the list?
Terrell Davis (1997-1998) and Eric Dickerson (1983-1984).
Johnson was the heir apparent to Priest Holmes in Kansas City but quickly fell off the face of the earth after controversial remarks to the KC media.
Last season, LJ filled in for Cedric Benson in Cincinnati when he was hobbled by a hip injury. His lackluster performance led to his release by the Bengals after the season.
Johnson started the season in Washington and saw very little action but was released after Week 2.
Seattle Seahawks RB Julius Jones
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Age: 29
2010 Stats
12 carries / 30 yards / 0 TD
When Jones signed with the Seahawks prior to the 2008 season, it was thought that he would be the starter. Head coach Mike Holmgren decided to use a RB by committee.
The run game that Jones displayed before he signed his big contact hasn't been seen since. He also suffers from Shaun Alexander syndrome*.
Jump ahead to 2010—he is the third string RB.
The Rams were said to be interested in Jones prior to the season, but it's unsure what their level of interest is at this point.
You Are the Rams Coach—What Do They Do at Running Back?
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Here is your chance to be Coach Spagnuolo from your couch.
What do you think the Rams need to do at running back? If Jackson doesn't miss time, do you think the run game is fine?
Speak up—I'd love to find out what the fans think on this one. Please leave your comments below.
Thanks for playing.
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