Wednesday, Nov. 04, 2009

Maturing Jackson shows signs of being a leader on offense

Credits offensive line for success

ST. LOUIS -- Whether it was breaking tackles or dragging defenders down the field, running back Steven Jackson was going to do whatever it took to get the St. Louis Rams their first win in more than a year.

Jackson rushed for a season-high 149 yards, including go-ahead touchdown with 1:38 to go, in the Rams' 17-10 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

The win snapped the Rams' 17-game losing streak.

"Seventeen games is a long time, and that game was too close to let it get away,'' Jackson said. "I was willing to give my all. If I would have fell down in that end zone, it would have been worth it. I was willing to give everything I had to make sure we won the game.''

Jackson was seen in the huddle talking to the other offensive players before the game-winning drive.

"It kind of goes back two weeks ago to Jacksonville, where we had a chance to close the game out, but for whatever reason, we didn't close it out,'' Jackson said. "I just challenged each guy in the huddle. I said, 'Don't be afraid to win this game. Let's go and take it over.'''

The Rams moved the ball 62 yards on just four plays to score the go-ahead touchdown.

Jackson ran 25 yards to cap the drive.

"I think that last drive said a lot about my offensive line, and not about me,'' Jackson said. "Those guys stepped up to the challenge. They blocked their guy, they made it real easy for me to run through some holes. I think it was probably one of our finest drives on the season.''

Jackson said he enjoyed watching how the offensive line and fullback Mike Karney worked together on the game film.

"The offensive line continued to move the line of scrimmage four or five yards down the field,'' Jackson said. "(It was) a luxury, to be quite honest, that we've never had. It was exciting to watch the game film and see those guys really move the line.''

Jackson's first touchdown of the season provided the Rams with their first win of the season.

"That was kind of nice,'' Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo said. "Anytime he's got the ball in his hands and he busts through like that, I think the team gets really jacked up when they see that happening.''

Jackson is tied with Minnesota's Adrian Peterson for second in the NFL in rushing with 784 yards.

Tennessee's Chris Johnson leads the NFL in rushing with 824 yards.

Jackson also is second in the NFL in yards from scrimmage with 970, three behind Peterson.

Many of Jackson's yards have come after contact.

As the defensive coach for the New York Giants and the Philadelphia Eagles, Spagnuolo has seen how intimidating the 6-foot-2, 236-pound Jackson can be.

"I know people don't like to tackle him,'' Spagnuolo said. "I remember defending and playing against him and there were murmurs always on the film that guys really didn't want to go in there and tackle him, the guys we were coaching in the meetings. He is a premier back."

Jackson, 26, has made an effort to become more of a leader. Now in his sixth season in the NFL, he's no longer the brash young back brought in to replace an aging Marshall Faulk.

"It's something that I really want to focus on and show, that I am a leader,'' Jackson said. "I just think everything married itself. It just happened. It happened at a perfect time right now. I'm welcoming the challenge of helping to turn this organization around.''

Jackson isn't afraid to speak his mind, and his comments have often rubbed fans the wrong way.

Jackson is learning to let his actions speak for him, and he feels like he's starting to win over some of those fans who didn't like him.

"I think they've had a chance to get to know me and I've had a chance to get know them,'' Jackson said. "Some of the things I might say don't take them back as much as they would in the past. I'm growing up, I know that. A lot has to fall back on me. They can't judge me if I don't say anything. I'm just going to continue to let my pads do the talking and continue to play hard. If they don't like me at this point, they just don't like me. I'm playing hard.''

Jackson admitted that he had to bite his tongue at times as the Rams' struggled to an 0-7 start this season.

"Yes I have, and that's me knowing what kind of makes me and what kind of makes me tick is really not helpful for a young team,'' Jackson said. "Although my determination and my competitive spirit sometimes can be overwhelming, and it kind take guys back and kind of go through that misunderstanding stage that I feel I am kind of coming out of. I don't want to go back there anymore.''

Proving old habits are hard to break, Jackson did say something to offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur in the third quarter against the Lions.

"It was an old classic, I guess, younger Steven,'' Jackson said. "Not speaking third person, I just told him don't forget that I was in the backfield."