For Steven Jackson, the tone has softened but the message hasn't really changed. The two-time Pro Bowler still doesn't see an overwhelming need for veteran backup help in the Rams' backfield.
"Having a veteran at this point of the game now, I don't know if it's as big a concern as everyone is making it to be," Jackson said Wednesday. "I feel great physically. The younger guys are coming along just fine. And if we continue to stay healthy, I don't think it'll be a concern."
Jackson will get his work in on the practice field, staying assignment sharp and working with the younger running backs. At the moment, second-year man Chris Ogbonnaya is the heavy favorite to win the No. 2 job behind Jackson.
This is refreshing news for those of you drafting around 1.7 or 1.8 this year, or those on the fence about protecting him. The team seems pretty confident he's going to last the entire season, since Chris Ogbonnaya isn't exactly a household name as a backup. Jackson can pretty much do it all, but the Rams will have to stay competitive in order to get RB1 points out of him.
