Finding the Fits: Zac Stacy to take over for SJax for Rams?

[den-the-coach]

Finding the Fits: Zac Stacy to take over for Steven Jackson in STL?
By Rob Rang
<a class="postlink" href="http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/blog/rob-rang/22565522/finding-the-fits-zac-stacy-to-take-over-for-steven-jackson-in-stl" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/blog ... son-in-stl</a>

This article is one of a series called Finding the Fits in which NFLDraftScout.com will review some of the more intriguing picks made during the 2013 NFL Draft. The goal of the series is to identify one relatively unheralded player per team who appears to be a good schematic fit and, therefore, more likely to be a surprise contributor early in his pro career.

St. Louis' best fit: RB Zac Stacy, Vanderbilt, Fifth Round, No. 160 overall

Throughout much of his nine seasons in St. Louis, no player better exemplified toughness and dependability than Rams' running back Steven Jackson.

The challenge now for general manager Les Snead and head coach Jeff Fisher will be to replace him, as Jackson voided the final year of his contract with the Rams and signed with the Atlanta Falcons in the off-season.

Snead and Fisher know all too well that the Rams aren't just replacing a back who eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing mark for the eighth consecutive season. Jackson was a reliable receiver out of the backfield, a terrific pass blocker and a leader.

No single man is going to replace Jackson in 2013. Surprisingly enough, the Rams appear fine with that, hoping to feature second-year speedsters Daryl Richardson and Isaiah Pead on the outside with rookie Zac Stacy, the club's final pick of the 2013 draft, as an interior runner.

At 5-09, 216-pounds, Stacy has a short, squatty build with natural leverage advantage. He runs decisively, with good forward lean and determination. He was clocked at a respectable 4.53-seconds in the 40-yard dash but is quicker than he is fast, demonstrating the ability to make defenders miss to complement his deceptive power. He possesses soft hands out of the backfield and is more polished as a pass blocker than most rookies. Perhaps best of all, he's proven his toughness and talent against elite talent, rushing for back-to-back 1,000 seasons against SEC competition. The Rams thought enough of Stacy to trade their final two picks of the 2013 draft to move up and select him in the fifth.

Stacy does not possess the straight-line speed that pushed the Rams to invest a second round pick in Pead a year ago. He does not possess Richardson's explosiveness either - and passing the second-to-last pick of the 2012 draft on the depth chart may prove the taller order.

Richardson emerged as Jackson's primary backup as a rookie, rushing for 475 yards and catching 24 passes for another 163 yards. Pead, on the other hand, had just 13 touches in his first NFL season. The club expects much more from him in his second season.

Richardson and Pead each offer more big play potential than Stacy but neither has shown his grit as an interior runner, which could put the former Commodore on center stage near the goal-line.

"You need multiple backs in this league,'' offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer told the media following the team's June 12 OTA session. "We're going to try to play to their strengths. With (Jackson) last year, it was a little different. It was harder to do the committee because every time you took him out, you knew you were missing his leadership and his toughness. This year I think we've got nice pieces to try and blend in and differently attack people.''

Old-School Fisher Changing Bait in St. Louis (other thoughts on the Rams' 2013 draft class)

The aggressive trade up for the Rams' most dynamic rookie - wideout Tavon Austin - may signal just how drastically times are changing in today's NFL.

Throughout virtually all of his tenure as head coach of the Houston Oilers, Tennessee Titans and first season with the Rams, Jeff Fisher relied upon the tried and true formula of a powerful rushing attack. The Rams will undoubtedly continue to run the football aggressively in 2013 but the selection of Austin gives St. Louis a game-changing presence who is at his best collecting short passes (and hand-offs) - a significant departure from the type of offense Fisher has gravitated towards in the past.

Austin is a particularly good fit for St. Louis, which, of course, must face the big, physical cornerbacks in Seattle, San Francisco and Arizona. Generally-speaking, nothing gives a big, physical cornerback like Richard Sherman (Seattle) or Patrick Peterson (Arizona) more problems than a short, ultra-quick pass-catcher like Austin (5-09, 174) and third round pick Stedman Bailey (5-10, 193)...

Just as Austin and Bailey are intriguing fits for St. Louis, specifically, don't be surprised if T.J. McDonald emerges as a significant contributor as a rookie. While a bit stiffer in coverage than most scouts want, McDonald's size (6-3, 219) and range (4.54) make him an effective centerfielder who will complement the Rams' stellar cornerbacks, Cortland Finnegan and Janoris Jenkins beautifully. On a club requiring their free safety to drop down and cover slot receivers often, McDonalds' lack of ideal fluidity might be an issue but paired with these cover-corners, the son of former Phoenix Cardinal and San Francisco 49ers' standout Tim McDonald, may just prove to be a similarly effective ball-hawk and intimidator over the middle...

 

[den-the-coach]

Re: Finding the Fits: Zac Stacy to take over for SJax for Ra

 

[kurtfaulk]

Re: Finding the Fits: Zac Stacy to take over for SJax for Ra

.

stacy is mini sjax and he will take over for sjax. but it is a role that had sjax packing his bags for atlanta so stacy won't be the focal point of the running attack. more of a role player.

.

 

[-X-]

Re: Finding the Fits: Zac Stacy to take over for SJax for Ra

Speculation at this point.

Like, 100% no-cut pure Columbian speculation.

 

[-X-]

Re: Finding the Fits: Zac Stacy to take over for SJax for Ra

 

[Mojo Ram]

Re: Finding the Fits: Zac Stacy to take over for SJax for Ra

The committee approach is best,and it comes at a good time too,because as of today defenses don't really know what the Rams are going to do on offense this season as a whole.

I expect this O to look quite different than what we saw last season,even if it is technically the same offense.

 

[den-the-coach]

Re: Finding the Fits: Zac Stacy to take over for SJax for Ra

Speculation at this point.

Like, 100% no-cut pure Columbian speculation.

 

[bwdenverram]

Re: Finding the Fits: Zac Stacy to take over for SJax for Ra

I'm not sure how we're comparing a 7th round pick to a 1st round pick. One who rushed for 1,000 yards in 8 straight seasons and the other who hasn't played a down in the NFL. Stacy may end up being a good player, he may not. But let's see the guy play a down first.

JMO, but I've seen both play in college and I'll put my money on Pead.

 

[A55VA6]

Re: Finding the Fits: Zac Stacy to take over for SJax for Ra

I'm not sure how we're comparing a 7th round pick to a 1st round pick. One who rushed for 1,000 yards in 8 straight seasons and the other who hasn't played a down in the NFL. Stacy may end up being a good player, he may not. But let's see the guy play a down first.

JMO, but I've seen both play in college and I'll put my money on Pead.

Stacy was a 5th rounder, but I understand what you're saying.

When a team losing a guy like SJ, its common to talk who's replacing him.

 

[-X-]

Re: Finding the Fits: Zac Stacy to take over for SJax for Ra

Not to get anyone crazy, but...

Is 77 yards per game and 7 TDs per season (rush and receptions combined) really that hard to replace? He did a lot of good things here, and he had the heart of a Lion, but I don't see how we're going to be that much worse off. Obviously somebody's going to have to learn to pick up blitzes and pass-block, but that wasn't Jackson's strength coming into the league either. In fact, he sucked at that initially.

I understand he faced 22 men in the box all the time, and the whole stadium was keyed on him, but wouldn't you think that would result in quite a few more breakaways? That's actually how you want a defense grouped when you're a RB. Everyone right at the LOS. That way if you get that one cut, or beat that one man, the rest of the field is wide open.

Anway. I'm not trying to denigrate Jackson or make it look like his achievements weren't great. I'm just saying that at closer inspection, it doesn't seem to be that daunting a task to get parallel production from another back.

 

[A55VA6]

Re: Finding the Fits: Zac Stacy to take over for SJax for Ra

Not to get anyone crazy, but...

Is 77 yards per game and 7 TDs per season (rush and receptions combined) really that hard to replace? He did a lot of good things here, and he had the heart of a Lion, but I don't see how we're going to be that much worse off. Obviously somebody's going to have to learn to pick up blitzes and pass-block, but that wasn't Jackson's strength coming into the league either. In fact, he sucked at that initially.

I understand he faced 22 men in the box all the time, and the whole stadium was keyed on him, but wouldn't you think that would result in quite a few more breakaways? That's actually how you want a defense grouped when you're a RB. Everyone right at the LOS. That way if you get that one cut, or beat that one man, the rest of the field is wide open.

Anway. I'm not trying to denigrate Jackson or make it look like his achievements weren't great. I'm just saying that at closer inspection, it doesn't seem to be that daunting a task to get parallel production from another back.

I've said it from day 1.. I think we might be better without Steven. Everybody knew that all we had was Steven Jackson. So they went to stop him. But now it's all different and new. Stacy, Pead, Richardson.. I can see them all having a great year. Throw Tavon some carries here and there as well. I think this team will be a better running team without Steven because of our passing threat and the fact that teams don't feel pressured to stop our run attack because we don't have an elite back.

 

[Afro Ram]

Re: Finding the Fits: Zac Stacy to take over for SJax for Ra

I find that "is Stacy the next Steven Jackson" image borderline offenssive
Have all the hope you want for zac but Jackson is a proven veteran running back who played on some of the worst NFL teams over the past decade. There is no comparison and there never will be.

 

[CGI_Ram]

Re: Finding the Fits: Zac Stacy to take over for SJax for Ra

If our oline stays healthy; I think all 3 of these running backs have success.

The guy that gets the most carries will; a) protect the ball and b) pick up the blitz

I have confidence in all 3 right now.

PS... I love Stacy's running style! He is a bowling ball.

EDIT: This has been posted before, but check it out if you missed it;

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNNyrgjZYLo[/youtube]

 

[albefree69]

Re: Finding the Fits: Zac Stacy to take over for SJax for Ra

Afro Ram up in arms over phrasing:
I find that "is Stacy the next Steven Jackson" image borderline offenssive
Have all the hope you want for zac but Jackson is a proven veteran running back who played on some of the worst NFL teams over the past decade. There is no comparison and there never will be.

"Will Stacy fill Steven Jackson's role for the Rams?" would have been much better but it's what they're really saying. No one is comparing a rookie to SJ. It's just lazy phrasing.

Relax Afro Ram, it's gonna be a long hot summer. :ww:

 

[RhodyRams]

Re: Finding the Fits: Zac Stacy to take over for SJax for Ra

let's continue this conversation this time next year, and see how things go first !!

 

[den-the-coach]

Re: Finding the Fits: Zac Stacy to take over for SJax for Ra

If our oline stays healthy; I think all 3 of these running backs have success.

The guy that gets the most carries will; a) protect the ball and b) pick up the blitz

I have confidence in all 3 right now.

PS... I love Stacy's running style! He is a bowling ball.

EDIT: This has been posted before, but check it out if you missed it;

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNNyrgjZYLo[/youtube]

Gentlemen these highlights I see nothing against LSU or Alabama I wonder how he did against both those teams? I guess it's time for me to do some research because I realize he played in the SEC, but many players had great games against Kentucky & Tennessee.

 

[den-the-coach]

Re: Finding the Fits: Zac Stacy to take over for SJax for Ra

What I am amazed at as to why nobody actually takes the time to look how Stacy did against the big boys in the SEC when it comes to defense Alabama & LSU. Every other team in the SEC pales in comparison to these two programs with the one exception being Auburn in 2010. So here is how he did against Alabama & LSU and I can't believe in the four years he was at Vanderbilt, he only played the Crimson Tide once in 2011.

2011 against Alabama he ran 4 times for four yards. :grr: and had 3 recpetions for -4 yards. That is the only game he played against Alabama.

2009 against LSU he did rush the ball 20 times for 89 yards and caught two passes for 14 yards, but then when he played against them again the following year (2010) he carried the rock 9 times for 19 yards with no pass receptions.

Also IMO South Carolina has had one of the better defenses in the nation of late and he did not fare well against them either: He averaged 2.8 yds in 2010, 2.6 in 2011 & 3.7 in 2012.

Les Snead spoke about the analytics on Stacy and that he led the SEC in rushing, but he only played Alabama once, LSU twice and struggled against the Gamecocks as well. IMO I come away less impressed.

<a class="postlink" href="http://espn.go.com/college-football/player/gamelog/_/id/483439/year/2011/zac-stacy" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">http://espn.go.com/college-football/pla ... /zac-stacy</a>

 

[CGI_Ram]

Re: Finding the Fits: Zac Stacy to take over for SJax for Ra

Good stuff, den.

Results are results. But, I think of any position... the RB needs to have help. This comes from a passing attack and/or offensive line making holes.

So, when evaluating running backs I think one must focus on physical traits and other attributes; like balance, vision, and the intensity in which he fights... as opposed to stats.

I think that's why so many late round running backs (or UDFA) emerge as stars. Talent evaluators need to anticipate how traits and attributes translate to success at the NFL level.

 

[den-the-coach]

Re: Finding the Fits: Zac Stacy to take over for SJax for Ra

Good stuff, den.

Results are results. But, I think of any position... the RB needs to have help. This comes from a passing attack and/or offensive line making holes.

So, when evaluating running backs I think one must focus on physical traits and other attributes; like balance, vision, and the intensity in which he fights... as opposed to stats.

I think that's why so many late round running backs (or UDFA) emerge as stars. Talent evaluators need to anticipate how traits and attributes translate to success at the NFL level.

True, but if you're going to speak to the analytics and state that he was the leading rusher in the SEC someone should be asking Les Snead how he did agianst the big boys, don't you think?

 

[albefree69]

Re: Finding the Fits: Zac Stacy to take over for SJax for Ra

CGI_Ram nailing it:
Good stuff, den.

Results are results. But, I think of any position... the RB needs to have help. This comes from a passing attack and/or offensive line making holes.

So, when evaluating running backs I think one must focus on physical traits and other attributes; like balance, vision, and the intensity in which he fights... as opposed to stats.

I think that's why so many late round running backs (or UDFA) emerge as stars. Talent evaluators need to anticipate how traits and attributes translate to success at the NFL level.

Great points.