Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: Tiger Woods Makes His 2012 PGA Tour Debut

The greatness that is Steven Jackson

As Rams fans, we all know that Steven Jackson is one of the best running backs in the NFL. When the national media will start to take notice of the fact that SJ is tied with Adrian Peterson for the third-most rushing yards in the league this season with 784, I don't know. Cameron Hallway of CBS Sports is off to a good start with a great piece on SJ up, and it's certainly worth a read. 

What I found most interesting in the piece are some statistics that point to just how good SJ is: 

Jackson, 26, has started 57 games in his career (he has missed nine games to injury and was a backup to Marshall Faulk most of his rookie season). In the history of the NFL, among players who have started 57 or fewer games before turning 27, Jackson is No. 1 in career rushing yards, with 6,075 -- and he has eight more games before turning 27 in July.

Take out the games-started criteria, and Jackson is 18th all-time in rushing yards through his age-26 season, again with eight games to go.

If he were to match his first half of 784 yards in the second half, he would climb to 10th on that list, bumping Faulk. The top 10 is a who's who of NFL backs: Emmitt Smith, Barry Sanders, Walter Payton, Edgerrin James, Clinton Portis, Jim Brown, Jerome Bettis, LaDainian Tomlinson, Eric Dickerson and Faulk.

If that doesn't impress you, I don't know what will. The rise of Steven Jackson as a top-tier running back has certainly been fun to watch. To me, he has become the most complete running back in the league, with the ability to do virtually whatever he wants on the field.

SJ's performance so far this season should tell you all need to know about the kind of running back he is. Every defense he faces knows what is coming, and they still can't stop him. Against Detroit in the fourth quarter, for example, he single-handedly won the football game: 

With the outcome in the balance in the fourth quarter at Detroit, Jackson had nine carries for 82 yards, including a 25-yard TD burst that was the winning score. Big chunks: 7 yards, 11, 10, 5, 17, 25 ... only two of the nine carries gained less than 5 yards.

What's been most satisfying about his success this season is the fact that he has finally emerged as a true team leader, something he did not show in previous seasons:

As the Rams have loaded up around Jackson, he has reciprocated by becoming accountable as a leader, a trait the team didn't know he had before this season. Jackson has been quick to praise teammates, unwilling to gauge his success in light of the team's struggles, is a full-fledged believer in first-year coach Steve Spagnuolo's system and has become one of the harder-working players on the team.

That last sentence is what makes me smile the most. In the past, we had never heard stories about Steven being one of the hardest-working guys on the team. This offseason, however, that changed. Steven worked harder than ever, and the work is paying off -- he's on pace to rush for a career-high 1,568 yards this season.

Now that the Rams have a competent offensive line, SJ's numbers could get even better in the next two-to-three years. With SJ, the possibilities seem endless.

Comment 2 comments  |  1 recs  | 

Do you like this story?

Comments

Display:

This is exactly why I think we need a 2 back system

SJ is a game changer. But how long will the Rams be bad? How long will he last when he is the only option getting 30+ looks against 8 men in the box?

He can definitely do it, but how LONG can he do it? He’s been injured before. It’s only a matter of time until the 500+ pounds that need to tackle him hurt him in some way.

I believe in 2010

by Eric Nagel on Nov 11, 2009 11:03 PM CST reply actions  

wow

i’m impressed i knew he was good but not that good at age 26 he has acomplished all that already kind of reminds me of barry sanders career great his whole career with very little surrounding support what a shame

by mississippisaintsfan on Nov 12, 2009 6:58 AM CST reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to the SB Nation blog about St. Louis Rams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Jackson_medium_small
TST Community Mock 2012: Trades
Stewie_small
Why We Must Draft Blakmon
Images-1_small
2012 NFL Draft: Stickum
Small
Why Super Bowl 46 is bittersweet for Rams fans
Small
If I Were GM

Recent FanPosts

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

Cover the web with Turf


Managers

71523_170793669601439_100000124211145_596632_5713708_n_small Ryan Van Bibber

Baby_drinking_becks_small 3k

Editors

Jackson_medium_small Eric Nagel

Peter_small VTramsFan

Bugs_bunny_pose_small Douglas M

Authors

Wildcat_small Tackle Box

Dsc03827_small CoachConnors

Mardygilyardsig_small Tevin T. Broner

Bradford_draft_small buckeyefan55

Tst_small T.Ram

Images_small Brick Top

Small EddieP

Profile_pic1_small Mike Dietrich