2011 NFL Predictions: St. Louis Rams Running Back Steven Jackson Will Be MVP

For the majority of his career, Steven Jackson has been a superstar on a losing franchise.  He has never received the proper credit he deserves as the Rams have been perennial basement dwellers in the NFC West. 

Jackson's numbers have been staggering for a guy who has played on an awful team almost every year of his career, but the 2011-12 season will be a different story.  With the Rams improving dramatically, Jackson is setup to have a career year, garnering the respect that he so rightly deserves.

Rams fans are well aware of the type of running back they have on their favorite football team.  Jackson is perhaps one of the most versatile backs in all of football.  He has proven to have the ability to not only run over and around defenders, but catch the ball out of the backfield as well. 

The 2006 season was Jackson's best season for yardage, rushing for 1,528 yards and catching 90 balls for 806 yards.  The Rams were 8-8 that season.  Marc Bulger was also a Pro-Bowler that year, taking the pressure and attention off Jackson.

In the beginning of his career, Jackson was buried deep within the darkness of Mike Martz's madness.  The evil genius who Rams fans once called their coach, fell in love with throwing the ball 50 times a game (that's not entirely exaggerated either), and we all witnessed Marc Bulger's uncanny ability to throw interceptions.

While all this was going on, Jackson was not even close to receiving the carries he should have.  One can only wonder had Martz used his head, how many more yards in total Jackson might have had.  In turn, one can only wonder how much better the Rams could have been. 

Martz's departure as coach in 2006 led to Jackson's best year of his career.

Since the Bulger era has ended, the Rams have tried to rebuild what was once the most feared passing game in the league.  All that time, Steven Jackson has quietly compiled numbers that will one day qualify him for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. 

Year in and year out, no matter what coach has been at the helm, Jackson has proven the only thing that can stop him is a lack of carries and injuries.

Jackson is way too good to be hidden behind a passing game and Coach Spagnuolo has already proven he will utilize one of the best backs in the game. 

In his two years as coach, Spags has handed the ball to Jackson 324 and 330 times each year.  As a result, Jackson has had two of his best seasons in running yards of his career.

The resurgence of the Rams' passing attack is now led by the best young quarterback in the league, Sam Bradford.  Bradford has already shown himself to be a stud quarterback in only one season in the NFL.  With Bradford improving rapidly, Jackson will once again be sprung.

The danger Bradford's ability presents to any defense in the league should take pressure and attention off Jackson, possibly more so than any time in Jackson's career.  The last time Jackson lined up behind a Pro Bowl quarterback, he had a year for the ages.

Not to mention, six games against the weakest division in football should help. 

With a greater focus on the passing game by defenses around the league, Jackson will be utilized much more, especially with the play action.  Not to mention, with a better passing game, Jackson will get more passes out of the backfield as well.  He could possibly have a career year receiving as well.

After a 4-0 preseason, the Rams will have a boost of confidence to carry them into the season.  As long as Bradford does what he can do while Jackson can avoid injuries, and coach Spagnuolo gives Jackson his due carries and receptions, there is no reason why Steven Jackson shouldn't win the NFL MVP.