Since 2005 Steven Jackson has been the heart and soul of the St. Louis Rams. The Rams drafted him out of Oregon State in 2004 to take over for the great Marshall Faulk.
While maybe not be as versatile as Faulk, he's been one of the league's best, and perhaps most overlooked stars.
Jackson's rookie year in 2004 was the only postseason action he's seen and as he nears the dreaded 30-year-old mark, the time for Jackson and the Rams to make a run is now.
It's been well documented that NFL running backs experience a steady and pronounced decline in production when they hit the age of 30. It's an age when the constant pounding finally comes home to roost.
Especially when the back carries the work-load Jackson has and runs the way he does.
Jackson will be 28 when, and if, the 2011 season starts. The clock is ticking.
Since becoming the featured back Jackson has averaged nearly 300 carries a season. That's 300 times he has taken on opposing linebackers without fear and with a heightened aggression.
Jackson is a beast on the field, but that way of playing may also sped up the inevitable hand of father time. How many more seasons will his body withstand the load he's been carrying?
How many more times can he take on two or three defenders with each run?
Unfortunately he has suffered from bad timing. He joined a Rams team that had some aging and declining stars and as he hit his prime, the team was in disarray.
The Rams made a huge leap forward in 2010, just missing out on the playoffs and giving Jackson one more shot at the postseason.
For him to enjoy it again, the Rams will need to act soon. The window for this great player is starting to close.
Don't be fooled however, he still can bring it. In 2010 he still managed to rush for 1241 yards despite playing through some nagging injuries.
That total is down from the year before and his 3.8 yards per carry are also below his career average of 4.2 yards per carry. Is this the start of a decline?
The Rams are up and coming. They go into 2011 with a solid defense, a young and up and coming gunslinger in Sam Bradford and have now added the offensive wisdom of Josh McDaniels.
The Rams also have a great running back. That asset is something McDaniels, who loves the spread offense, should remember as he takes over the reigns on offense. What better way to break in a young quarterback and what will be some new wide receivers.
Steven Jackson's suffering of playing for a team at the bottom of the league may be coming to an end soon. Hopefully for Jackson it comes before he hits 30 and starts that slow decent into retirement.
Teri Polo Summer Altice Rose McGowan Bar Refaeli Jessica White
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