Steven Jackson will let others do the predicting this season

Ram running back, who fell short of goals in injury-plagued 2007, hopes to lead team past Seattle and to NFC West title

By Kerry Eggers

The Portland Tribune, Jul 13, 2008, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (6 Reader comments)

Steven Jackson, from Oregon State, is entering a pivotal contract year as the St. Louis Rams' key running back.

NICK LAHAM / GETTY IMAGES

SCAPPOOSE — Pundits predict a huge season in St. Louis for Steven Jackson this fall.

If it happens, the Rams’ running back out of Oregon State could command a new contract commensurate with that of the best at his position in the NFL.

But Jackson won’t be playing Muhammad Ali, as he did a year ago, when he told reporters his goal was to gain 2,500 yards from scrimmage. Jackson missed four games due to a groin injury and fell far short of his goal with a St. Louis team that finished an embarrassing 3-13.

“Last year, I went out and made a huge prediction,” says Jackson, who was in Scappoose on Monday to help coach at ex-OSU teammate and close pal Derek Anderson’s youth camp. “I didn’t figure in injuries and other things that can happen. My main goal next season is to stay healthy for 16 games, and we’ll see what happens.”

Jackson says he is “100 percent healthy” and ready for the start of St. Louis’ training camp on July 25. He will be in the final year of the five-year contract he signed after an All-America career at Oregon State.

“A contract year is big for anyone, but especially for the last year of a rookie deal,” says Jackson, who turns 25 on July 22. “I’m looking to have a great year and lengthen my career with St. Louis. Hopefully, I’ll retire as a Ram.”

After two seasons sharing duty with future Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk in the St. Louis backfield, Jackson had a breakout year in 2006, finishing fifth in the NFL with 1,528 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns. A Pro Bowl selection, he led running backs with 90 receptions — the sixth-best total in NFL history — and led the league with 2,334 yards from scrimmage, fifth-best all-time.

Injuries and, frankly, a lousy supporting cast limited Jackson to 1,002 yards on the ground and 38 receptions. Nearly the entire Ram offensive line missed games due to injury at some point during the season.

“Football is a game where you’re going to get bumps and bruises,” Jackson says. “It just so happened the whole team decided to take our injuries at once.

“Our first year under Coach (Scott) Linehan we were 8-8 and just missed the playoffs. To go 3-13 last year was rough. When you start out 0-8 like we did, it gets the morale of the team down. It’s hard to get out of the hole. We want to get a fast start to this season and hopefully win the NFC West. Seattle has been dominating the division. We plan to go out and contend for that spot this season.”

Jackson talks as if he intends to be a contender for comeback player of the year honors. If so, he might reap the highest salary of any NFL running back — and he says he hopes it is with St. Louis.

“The groundwork I’ve put together over four years, I think I deserve it,” he says. “But it all comes down to performance, and then negotiations. I think it will happen. The Rams have been good to me. I don’t see any reason why I wouldn’t be there (next year).”

In a recent interview with yahoo.com’s Michael Silver, Jackson ripped St. Louis season ticket-holders who sold tickets to opposing fans for home games against Green Bay and Pittsburgh last December.

“Half the people in the stadium were rooting against us,” Jackson told Silver. “It was like playing road games. We ran out of the tunnel and got booed. It was ridiculous. I was livid.”

Jackson says now he doesn’t want to carry on a feud with his team’s supporters.

“My (public-relations representative) doesn’t want me to talk about it anymore,” he says, with a grin. “I wasn’t trying to come down on the fans. I just want to get their support.

“I know they’ll support a winner. They back the Cardinals. They want the same kind of results from us, and that’s what they deserve. But you know, we’re professional athletes; we have feelings, too. We need their support.”

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