National Football League

Jackson will be Bradford's security blanket

Published Aug. 24, 2010 10:53 p.m. ET

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Naturally, the No. 1 pick hogs all the attention. At the St. Louis Rams' training camp, all eyes have been on Sam Bradford.

So far, the former Heisman Trophy winner with the rebuilt shoulder has justified the team's decision to draft him first in 2010. The coaching staff, and teammates have been impressed with Bradford's earnest, eager approach.

''He has a burning desire to be really great and that's what you want to see in a young player,'' safety Oshiomoghe Atogwe said. ''Not just be good, not just be a starter, but to be great. And he has that.''

The supporting cast is far from great, though.

The offense averaged an NFL-low 10.9 points last year, and the only significant upgrade is Rodger Saffold, a second-round pick who will start at left tackle.

''It's a big year for all of us,'' tight end Daniel Fells said. ''We've got the bad taste of last year still in our mouths, so we've got a lot to prove. Not just to everyone else, but to ourselves.''

While Bradford learns on the job, the Rams' hopes of making incremental improvement in the second season of coach Steve Spagnuolo's rebuilding effort are heaped high atop Steven Jackson's surgically-repaired back.

The hard-charging Pro Bowl running back, a guy who can create his own holes, was the lone threat on a 1-15 team, even though defenses keyed on him and he was soldiering through the final six weeks with a herniated disk that kept him out of practice.

Jackson dressed but didn't play in the preseason opener. He got four carries for 20 yards in Week 2. Don't expect to see much more than that before the opener Sept. 12 against the Cardinals in St. Louis.

A healthy Jackson could be the difference in toss-up games. He had a season-high 149 yards and averaged nearly seven yards per carry in the team's lone victory last November at Detroit.

''That last five, six weeks of the season was pretty painful,'' Jackson said. ''But pulling through, I think I proved a lot to myself, to be able to fight through that pain and still be somewhat productive.

''I think I proved a lot to myself, and I'm really excited about the season and ready to get after it now.''

Midway through the preseason, the Rams were searching for a suitable backup. But that's just one of many items on the wish list for a franchise that's been floundering with a 6-42 record the last three seasons.

Though Spagnuolo has a defensive background, the Rams have concentrated most on improving the offense. The infrastructure is in place with Saffold joining tackle Jason Smith, the second overall pick last year, and center Jason Brown, a free agent pickup in 2009.

The hope is that Bradford, named as the starter for Thursday night's game at New England after A.J. Feeley injured his thumb, won't get too beat up.

Bradford was sacked four times in the preseason opener, but he wasn't sacked in the second game at Cleveland. An offense that emphasizes quick, short passes will try to keep him healthy.

An open question is whether they'll have enough quality wide receivers to stretch the field so Jackson will have room to maneuver and Bradford will get to showcase the arm that won him the 2008 Heisman Trophy. St. Louis had a hodgepodge collection of pass catchers last year, and was short enough in mid-August this year to sign former Missouri star Danario Alexander.

The defense figures to be improved, especially if cornerback Ron Bartell can stay healthy. Middle linebacker James Laurinaitis led the team in tackles as a rookie, and heads an all-Ohio State linebacking crew along with Na'il Diggs and Larry Grant.

End Chris Long, the second overall pick in 2008, is showing signs he could become a pass rush threat with all five sacks in the last nine games.

''We'll see how it all plays out, but I think we have a better sense of what Spags expects out of this defense,'' Laurinitis said.

Spagnuolo has a better idea what the job's like, too. He's loosened up, learned to better ration his time, and has last year's blueprint as a guide.

''Eventually, the head coach finds out about everything,'' Spagnuolo said. ''I might not find out about it when it happens or when it just happened, but when all is said and done, the head coach finds out about everything.''

He's also discovered you can't win without talent. Last year the Rams began the rebuilding effort by shedding several veterans, and the coach and most of the roster learned on the job.

''I kind of knew that going in, but know it even more now,'' Spagnuolo said. ''I still believe if you get a bunch of guys to buy in as one, and everybody heads in the same direction and nobody cares who gets the credit, you have a chance to be a pretty good football team.''

Jackson was a member of the Rams' last playoff team as a rookie in 2004. Since then, there's been only individual success.

He's optimistic they've finally turned the corner.

''We have a lot of young guys, a lot of talent that's eager to learn,'' Jackson said. ''Everyone seems to be pretty open to being coached, and guys are going out there being physical.

''That's all you can ask for, and as the time goes on, the team will build that chemistry and build that continuity you need.''

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