For all you Steven Jackson and Rams Fans

[gambit187]

Maybe his attitude was a reason that he wasn't high on the Cowboys' radar screen. I personally didn't like the way he came off in some predraft interviews. He seemed a little too cocky for a guy who was slated to be picked late in the 1st round.....here is part 1 of his upcoming attitude problems in the NFL.....
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By Bill Coats
Of the Post-Dispatch
07/21/2004

Rams coach Mike Martz says No. 1 draft pick Steven Jackson (above) is "so far behind."

For those who think that first-round draft pick Steven Jackson is going to waltz into a position as the Rams' No. 1A running back, nipping at Marshall Faulk's heels, coach Mike Martz has a message for you:

Think again.

"To think that any back is going to come in and alternate with a guy who's been an MVP and is headed for the Hall of Fame, . . . without ever doing anything, is just insane," Martz said Wednesday, six days before players report to Western Illinois University in Macomb, Ill., for training camp. "He missed all of spring, and then he was supposed to be here this (past) weekend and didn't show up. So, we're just going to move on."

Jackson, a 6-foot-3, 233-pound Oregon State product, is unsigned and clearly not on Martz's good side at the moment. Jackson attended the team's rookie camp, but under NFL rules had to skip the three-day full-squad session in May because Oregon State's senior class had yet to graduate. Martz didn't elaborate on why Jackson was expected at Rams Park last weekend. Attempts on Wednesday to reach Jackson's agent, St. Louis-based Rocky Arceneaux, were unsuccessful.

Jackson's status is significant because Faulk, 31, has endured a succession of knee problems. Faulk, the league's MVP and offensive player of the year in 2000, hasn't made it through a full season unscathed since 1999, the year the Rams won the Super Bowl. During that span, he has been sidelined for 11 regular-season contests, although a broken hand, not a knee problem, cost him five games last season. In 2003, Faulk appeared in 11 games and rushed for 818 yards, the second-lowest total of his 10-year career.

There even has been speculation that if his knee doesn't respond fully after another offseason operation, a frustrated Faulk might consider retirement. While Martz acknowledged that he was "a little bit" concerned about Faulk's health, he was quick to put his apprehension in perspective.

"I'm less concerned probably this year than I was the last two years," said Martz, who will be entering his fifth season as head coach. "I know that he's come in the last two years probably about 70 percent. Last year, his knee was awful, and we tried to kind of get by. ...

"He's much further along physically than he has been the last few seasons, and yet he's not 100 percent by any stretch. He's probably 85 to 90 percent. Over the next month or so, we're going to try to get him as close to (100 percent) as possible."

Asked whether Faulk might never again be at full capacity, Martz said: "I suppose that's possible. But Marshall at 95 percent is probably better than anybody else in the league."

Jackson, who turns 21 today, was widely deemed better than anybody else among the running backs available in the draft. He led the Pacific 10 Conference in rushing yards (1,545), all-purpose yards (2,015) and points (132) last year as a junior. In three seasons, he piled up 3,625 rushing yards and 680 receiving yards on 66 catches.

On draft day, Jackson described his game as "gumbo."

"It means that I can catch, block and run, the three things you need to be able to do in the National Football League," he said. "I bring a lot of stuff to the table."

The Rams traded up two spots to snatch him with the 24th overall selection. "We all have goose bumps, to add this type of talent to our offense," Martz said then.

How long it takes Jackson to absorb the Rams' multifaceted offense is the question now, and Martz isn't optimistic that it will be any time soon.

Jackson is listed behind Faulk, Lamar Gordon and even Arlen Harris, who is being moved to fullback, on the depth chart. "He's going to come in as the fourth back," Martz said. "And if he's better than our third back, then he'll move up. If he's better than No. 2, he'll move up there. ...

"He's so far behind right now, whatever he can do is a bonus," Martz said. "If he can catch up, God bless him. ... All that glitz and glamour of being the No. 1 guy, he's going to have to shake that off and go to work. Whatever he does on this football team, he's doing to earn every inch of it. Nothing's going to be given to him."

[REDEEMEDSKIN]

"I suppose that's possible. But Marshall at 95 percent is probably better than anybody else in the league."

I think our new #26 would beg to differ. Can't wait to see what he can do.

As for Stephen Jackson... I'd hate to be in his shoes right about now. Martz is not a happy camper.

[gambit187]

"I suppose that's possible. But Marshall at 95 percent is probably better than anybody else in the league."

I think our new #26 would beg to differ. Can't wait to see what he can do.

As for Stephen Jackson... I'd hate to be in his shoes right about now. Martz is not a happy camper.

Yeah but who the hell is Martz anyway to me Martz=Norv Turner. Good OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR thats it.

[BringThePain!]

"I suppose that's possible. But Marshall at 95 percent is probably better than anybody else in the league."

I think our new #26 would beg to differ. Can't wait to see what he can do.

As for Stephen Jackson... I'd hate to be in his shoes right about now. Martz is not a happy camper.

Yeah but who the hell is Martz anyway to me Martz=Norv Turner. Good OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR thats it.

Martz is definetly a better head coach than Norv Turner... he's brought them to a super-bowl and playoff's a couple times..

[REDEEMEDSKIN]

Yeah but who the hell is Martz anyway to me Martz=Norv Turner. Good OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR thats it.

Either way, ultimately it's Martz's behind on the line. He HAS taken them pretty far, but the Rams have certainly fallen from grace. He no longer seems like "the Wizard" he once was.

I think Martz is backed up against a wall, and (maybe) fighting to keep his job after this year. Stephen Jackson is not helping the situation. So far, he is a waste of a pick, since he's not willing to be a team player.He deserves to be on Martz's bad side; he hasn't done any good yet.

[JansenFan]

Yeah but who the hell is Martz anyway to me Martz=Norv Turner. Good OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR thats it.

Either way, ultimately it's Martz's behind on the line. He HAS taken them pretty far, but the Rams have certainly fallen from grace. He no longer seems like "the Wizard" he once was.

I think Martz is backed up against a wall, and (maybe) fighting to keep his job after this year. Stephen Jackson is not helping the situation. So far, he is a waste of a pick, since he's not willing to be a team player.He deserves to be on Martz's bad side; he hasn't done any good yet.

The difference between Mike Martz and a good coach like Joe Gibbs, is that Coach Gibbs changes around 30% of his offense every year. It keeps the opposition guessing and enables him to adapt to his personnel. Mike Martz, basically took the offense we were running and tweaked it. They won the superbowl and they haven't changed it since, giving the league's defenses time to catch on.

[1niksder]

Maybe his attitude was a reason that he wasn't high on the Cowboys' radar screen. I personally didn't like the way he came off in some predraft interviews. He seemed a little too cocky for a guy who was slated to be picked late in the 1st round.....here is part 1 of his upcoming attitude problems in the NFL.....

from what I'm reading the only thing he did wrong was not show up last weekend or did I miss something?

Jackson attended the team's rookie camp, but under NFL rules had to skip the three-day full-squad session in May because Oregon State's senior class had yet to graduate. Martz didn't elaborate on why Jackson was expected at Rams Park last weekend. Attempts on Wednesday to reach Jackson's agent, St. Louis-based Rocky Arceneaux, were unsuccessful.

In his interveiw he said "he can catch, block and run, the three things you need to be able to do ".
What any Running back would say on draft day. I don't know about any other statements he's made

I don't think Marshall will last the whole year so MM better hope he can Catch Block and Run