NFC West: Steven Jackson an all time Ram great

The NFL is a numbers game. Wins and losses, sacks, rushing yards, passing yards, field goals and the list could gone on and on. Certain lists get more attention than others and one of those is career rushing yards. The NFC West is home to the St. Louis Rams a team that has not seen the postseason since Kurt Warner days, but a team with a rich history for running backs.

Currently the back that leads the rushing attack for the Rams is Steven Jackson. After all he has done for the Rams over his career, it was surprising to see his name in the middle of trade rumors a couple of weeks ago. Talk on the street was Jackson would be traded for a mid to late round draft pick or even a third round pick.

No trades panned out as this past week Jeff Fisher the Rams’ Head Coach announced to the local media that Jackson was and still is the team’s starting running back. He told reporters that the rumors about trading Jackson are just that, rumors. Fisher said the team was not out their calling other teams and offering Jackson to them.

Do not be fooled, Fishers’ remarks did not mean Jackson is cemented in as the team’s back. It only means that the management from the Rams did not get the offers they wanted when they floated Jackson’s name around.

Jackson, at 29 worries less about what numbers he puts up and more about being able to lead his team to first the playoffs and then a Super Bowl. However, time is not on the side of the Rams in their race to reach the playoffs. Currently the Rams are in the cellar in the NFC West with a record of 3-5 and they have to climb a huge mountain today against the San Francisco 49ers.

Even if there is no way the Rams can reach the playoffs, Jackson will be able to eclipse some remarkable records while the Rams try. On Sunday, Jackson needs just 121 yards from scrimmage to pass former Ram Torry Holt for second place overall in franchise history. At this point in time, Isaac Bruce holds the Rams record for yards from scrimmage at 14,259.

If Jackson hopes to pass Bruce, he would probably need two or maybe three season more in a Rams uniform. During his career, the Rams have not won more than eight games in any one season. However, Jackson has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in seven consecutive seasons and 7 of his 8 seasons on the team. He is only 500 yards short of 10,000 rushing yards and has scored 53 TDs for a mediocre football team during his career. His career season was in 2006 when he rushed for 1,528 yards and had 806 yards receiving. That season he scored 13 rushing touchdowns and 3 receiving touchdowns. That was one of the finest overall seasons for any running back in the NFL. That season he led the NFL running backs in total yards from scrimmage with 2,334.

Chances are Jackson will not be a Ram next season and that he will end his consecutive streak of 1,000 rushing seasons this year. However, at 29 he still has two or three solid years in front of him where he can help a good team get better or could round out a top flight team’s needs.