Sports Radio Interviews

St. Louis’ Battering Ram Is Bulked Up and Ready for 2010

Steven Jackson has been criticized a lot during his time in the NFL and it really has not been warranted. When he was drafted by the Rams, he had the task of taking over for a future Hall-Of-Famer in Marshall Faulk. He quelled that criticism in his sophomore season with his first ever 1,000 yard season and hasn’t looked back since. Despite playing on a terrible team with an offensive line that has let him down at times and despite having to deal with injuries at times during his career, S-Jax has still found a way to compile five straight 1,000 yard seasons on the ground, has never had a season where he averaged less than four yards per carry, and is coming off a tremendous individual year despite the team winning just one game. Jackson is a true workhorse and can do everything that a running back is asked to do. I know that Adrian Peterson and Chris Johnson seem to dominate the conversation when talking about the best running backs in the NFL, but after those two guys, I don’t think there is anyone better.

Steven Jackson might be coming off offseason surgery on his back, his offensive line is shaky at best, and the quarterback position could be led by a rookie, but despite all that, the one thing that remains consistent in St. Louis is Steven Jackson’s production. If Jackson stays healthy, he will be one of the best running backs in the NFL again in 2010.

Steven Jackson joined ESPN 101 in St. Louis with the Fast Lane to talk about how he feels coming off surgery this offseason, why he put on weight in the offseason, whether or not he is out to prove doubters wrong, how he feels about the offensive line, what he thinks of Sam Bradford so far, what advice he has given Bradford at this point, and how nice it is to have someone else in St. Louis to take pressure off him.

On adding muscle in the offseason:

“Seven pounds of muscle. Of course the big story for me in my personal life was the offseason injury. There was some concern with the back and I wanted to make sure I could still play the game as vicious and violent as I like to but I’m able to do so without injuring myself again. Who knows? That’s in the Lord’s hands. I put on seven pounds of muscle by changing my diet. I still like carbs but I packed on a lot of protein, lifted twice a day during the offseason, morning and evenings, and it really helped me lean out. Even though I’m 242 (pounds) I’m still just five percent body fat.”

On whether he is putting the NFL on notice with how much he has bulked up:

“I’m not putting them on notice. I’m putting my coaching staff on notice that whatever they ask me to do, I’m prepared to do so.”

On why he thought he was having the best offseason of his career:

“We have a very athletic group and now we just have to get to the point where we are trusting of one another, the continuity of being able to communicate without talking, and those things. Those things are going to happen over the duration of the weeks to come and hopefully we will be set in stone by the time the Arizona game rolls around. We’re one heck of a young, talented group that just needs games under their belt to be comfortable. You gotta understand when Roger (Safford) gets out there and lines up against let’s say Jared Allen last week, you have to really take into consideration that he’s a young man that probably looked up to Jared Allen so he had to get over that ‘wow I’m blocking Jared Allen.’ As soon as we get through that process and get that over with, we’re going to be fine.”

On the difference between Bradford in the huddle and AJ Feeley:

“It’s not a change I would really say. When AJ is in the huddle and Sam is in the huddle, his demeanor, his calmness, the way he controls the game, there’s really no change between a ten year veteran and a first year guy. I think he’s handling everything well with the hype and being the first pick overall. You can’t help but recognize the signing bonus that he signed and for him to still come in and want to prove that he should have the job and not feel entitled to it says a lot about him. Everyone that asks me I always say he’s going to be a star. I just hope he’s able to shine brightly and do it soon.”

Listen to Steven Jackson on ESPN 101 in St. Louis here

Tags: Best Running Backs in the NFL, ESPN 101 St Louis, NFC West, NFL, St. Louis Rams, Steven Jackson