Friday, Sep. 18, 2009

Rams hope to crank up ground game

They ran the ball only 16 times in Week 1 loss

ST. LOUIS -- All offseason the St. Louis Rams talked about being a power running team, yet Steve Jackson had only 16 carries for 67 yards in their season-opening loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

The Seahawks continually put ''eight men in the box,'' which is football parlance for moving a safety closer to the line of scrimmage to help the defensive linemen and linebackers defend against the run.

"There was eight down there quite a bit, and with a running back like we have, that's something we are going to see,'' Rams offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said. "I would anticipate that Washington would do the same.''

Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo said he would like to have established the run against the Seahawks.

"Well, the game might have dictated that a little bit,'' Spagnuolo said. "I think every team, every offense, would like to establish it. Sometimes you can, sometimes you can't and you have to go elsewhere. But, it still comes back to trying to be balanced.''

Jackson expects opposing defenses to stack the box with eight men all season.

"That's going to be my mindset for all 16 games that we have,'' Jackson said. "I anticipate defenses going with eight men in the box for the rest of the year because we are just so young at the receiver position.''

By going with eight men in the box, it means a lot of one-on-one coverage for the Rams' wide receivers.

The Rams need to take advantage of those opportunities.

"We have to find a way as receivers and tight ends to make plays, and if they do have an eight-man font, we have find a way to block seven guys and let Steven make one guy miss,'' Rams tight end Randy McMichael said. "It's all about staying on your man a little longer and helping Jack(son) find room to run.''

Jackson said he was confident that the Rams' young wide receivers corps would show improvement as the season progresses.

"Everyone comes a long differently,'' Jackson said. "Donnie (Avery) had success last year in his rookie year, but in this league, guys don't go off one year. A lot of defensive coordinators want you to prove yourself over time.

"I'm just going to do my best to make sure they respect the running game and hopefully get some one-on-ones on the outside. Those guys are talented enough to take advantage of one-on-ones."

The Redskins ranked fourth in overall defense and eighth in rushing defense last season. They gave up 103 rushing yards in their season-opening loss to the New York Giants.

"They have one of the best backs in the business,'' Redskins defensive coordinator Greg Blache said of Jackson. "The guy at Minnesota (Adrian Peterson) is off the chart. I put Jackson right underneath him. He is big, strong and fast and he can go the distance every time he touches the football.

"If the hole is not there inside, he will bounce it outside. He can catch passes out of the backfield. I think this guy is a home-run hitting type of back.''

Middle linebacker London Fletcher, who is now in his 12th NFL season, keys the Redskins' run defense.

The decision to let Fletcher leave as a free agent following the 2001 season still stands as one of the Rams' greatest personnel blunders.

"London Fletcher is still making plays,'' Jackson said. "He's a guy that rallies to the ball. From what I see on game film, he kind of mirrors the running back. It should be a good matchup with myself and him.''

Fletcher had 18 tackles, including 11 solos, in the Redskins' loss to the Giants.

"I really respect what he brings to the table,'' Jackson said. "He's a tackling machine. He's someone who has to be accounted for. And, he also gets that team lined up in the right positions.

"I'm pretty sure he'll be fired up to play the Rams again.''