Thursday, Aug. 06, 2009

Collective gasp from the crowd as Steven Jackson endures near-miss

Feature back barely avoided hit to his knees

ST. LOUIS -- There was a collective gasp from onlookers Wednesday at the St. Louis Rams' training camp as linebacker Chris Chamberlain came flying toward running back Steven Jackson's knees during a live tackling drill.

Chamberlain stopped just short of taking out Jackson.

"I was holding my breath, too,'' Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo said. "This group is a very competitive group. That's what we're kind of learning. They want to compete, they want to get better, and they want to be in those situations where it's tough on them. And if they continue to think like that, I got to believe that's going to help us.''

Spagnuolo does worry about injuries, especially to Jackson, the team's most irreplaceable player. He scolded Chamberlain for going low on the tackle.

"(We're) always keeping our fingers crossed,'' Spagnuolo said.

Jackson said he wasn't upset with Chamberlain.

"Coach kind of tells the defensive guys to try to stay off the runners' knees, and it happens in football,'' Jackson said. "He got a little low. But it was understood. It was an accident. It wasn't done intentionally."

Jackson said he has been surprised by the amount of live tackling -- two 30-play sessions during the morning practice each day so far -- in training camp.

"It is definitely quite a shock,'' Jackson said. "It is something that is not really routinely done. I understand the benefits of it, and I am just trying to go with the flow. I understand that no one is bigger than the team, and if this is what coach wants to do, I am willing to at least give everything a try."

Jackson said he wasn't worried about some young defender trying to earn a roster spot being too aggressive on a tackle.

"Thank God I am not in there with the younger guys,'' Jackson joked. "I'm in there with Leonard Little, someone who doesn't want to get hit, either. Guys have been pretty good about that.''

Spagnuolo said Jackson doesn't really need the contact to get ready for the regular season.

"He's been in the league long enough,'' Spagnuolo said. "He knows what it's like to get hit. I think the timing of the whole offense is important.''

Jackson said he felt no worse for the wear and tear.

"Body feels great,'' he said.

Jackson admitted that this year's training camp is the most intense training camp during his six years with the Rams.

"And even though we keep saying how intense it is and how we're going live, it still allows us some down time in the afternoon with our practice coming right at 3 o'clock,'' Jackson said. "We still have all night to recover for the next morning's practice so even though we're going at each other really hard, we still have time to rest up. I think the schedule is really working out well."

It's about this time each season that Jackson announces his goals for the season.

This year, his main objective has nothing to do with rushing yards or touchdowns.

"Well the biggest goal now is just trying to be a leader, especially help out with the young guys, the receiving corps,'' Jackson said. "We don't have the leadership we normally have in that area, so I am just trying to be an all-around captain for the offense and set my example on the practice field. Show guys how to practice, show guys how to work."

Jackson said he's still getting comfortable with the Rams' new offense, and his assignments in that offense.

"It's really a lot of hard work on me at nighttime, to make sure I know the different formations, because I can be the 'X' receiver at any time, as well as a running back,'' Jackson said.

Jackson said he enjoys lining up at wide receiver against cornerbacks.

"It has its advantages,'' Jackson said. "It also has its disadvantages because I am new out there, I'm not an All-Pro already at the receiver spot. It can create mismatches for us. It also keeps me on my toes.''