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While Mason flourishes, Stacy disappears
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_b862b23d-646e-5771-a3f0-1cb2980345bc.html
A week ago during his regular Thursday media session, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said the Rams were going to give all their running backs some touches in the early going against Seattle, and then go with the hot hand.
Turns out, Tre Mason got the hot hand early. Very early.
“I think he did,” Schottenheimer said. “We all know about his talent. We still need them all. They’re all good players; they’ll all have roles for us.”
The Rams’ running backs situation has been a minefield for fantasy football players this season. It has reached the point where from week to week it has been difficult to determine who’s doing what.
At the start of the season, Zac Stacy was getting about two-thirds of the reps, with Benny Cunningham getting one-third. Then Cunningham started cutting into Stacy’s reps a bit. And now, after being inactive for the first four games of the season, rookie Mason has burst onto the scene beginning with the Monday night game against San Francisco.
Another rookie, undrafted Trey Watts, was sprinkled into the backfield for a couple of games earlier in the season. If that weren’t enough, you may have noticed that wide receiver Tavon Austin is getting some work at running back as well. Austin, in fact, had a season-high five carries Sunday against Seattle.
Almost lost in all that transpired in the 28-26 upset victory over the Seahawks was the fact that Cunningham made his first NFL start. So all in all, the Rams are taking the old running-back-by-committee thing to new heights.
“I think that’s kind of good for us,” Schottenheimer said. “For a defense not to know who they’ve got to prepare for. To know that at any moment it might be a different guy out there.”
Of course the most surprising thing that happened Sunday in the backfield wasn’t Cunningham’s start. Or the fact that Mason, the third-rounder from Auburn, broke out for 85 yards on 18 carries, including his first NFL touchdown.
No, that distinction goes to Stacy, who was on the field for only one play and had zero touches.
“It was just a weird situation,” Stacy told the Post-Dispatch. “Right now, we’re doing a rotation with me, Tre, and Benny — and we’re going with the hot hand. I’m just staying positive, I’ll keep working, and whenever my opportunity is called just take advantage of it.”
As a rookie last season, Stacy basically saved the Rams’ running game. After carrying just once for four yards over the first four games of 2013, he piled up 969 yards in the final 12 contests with his no-nonsense, between-the-tackles style.
Stacy got off to a decent start this season, but similar to the situation at wide receiver, the competition has been keen at running back. Stacy showed up on the injury list during the week of preparation for San Francisco (calf) and Seattle (ankle), but didn’t miss much practice time either week.
Is he healthy now?
“Absolutely,” Stacy said. “I feel good. Just little nicks and bruises that most running backs go through, especially around this time of the season. But I’m good to go; ready to roll.”
Running backs coach Ben Sirmans told his group that Cunningham would be starting the night before the Seattle game. But no one knew how the reps would be divided. The flow of the game and the “hot hand” approach determined that.
Stacy certainly didn’t know his role would be so limited.
“It was somewhat surprising,” Stacy said. “But at the end of the day, I was prepared mentally and prepared physically. And if my name was called I was ready to go.”
Schottenheimer said: “It wasn’t what we planned at all. It just kind of goes back to the thought of we got going a little bit and Tre was playing really, really well.
“Zac’s a really good running back. He’s going to help us this game — in a lot of games. He handled it like a pro and the main thing is we want to win. Whatever it takes to win, we’ll do.”
On Monday, coach Jeff Fisher went as far as saying Stacy could have 25 carries this week in Kansas City. That may be an exaggeration, but the backfield does remain in a state of flux.
There was a new wrinkle Thursday when Cunningham was a limited participant in practice because of a knee issue. (He did seem to be moving well.)
Most likely, Mason will be given every opportunity to develop a hot hand vs. the Chiefs after his eye-opening display against Seattle. He brings a speed element and a higher potential for the explosive play than Stacy and Cunningham.
“(Mason) certainly played well last week,” Schottenheimer said. “Popped a couple big runs. Some of it is that they haven’t seen him. Now teams get a better idea of what he’s about.
“I think there’s some things he needs to do, taking care of the football. Obviously that last play was a little scary, but wow, what a talented young man.”
Mason said he was trying to “put the nail in the coffin” on his third-down run at the end of the Seattle game that ended with a fumble and wild scramble for the ball. As a result, he almost put the nail in the Rams’ coffin.
INJURY UPDATE
Safety T.J. McDonald passed concussion protocol and returned to practice Thursday. RG Rodger Saffold (knee), WR Kenny Britt (ankle) and DE William Hayes also returned to practice after missing Wednesday’s work. But CB Janoris Jenkins (knee) remains sidelined.
• By Jim Thomas
http://www.stltoday.com/sports/foot...cle_b862b23d-646e-5771-a3f0-1cb2980345bc.html
A week ago during his regular Thursday media session, offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer said the Rams were going to give all their running backs some touches in the early going against Seattle, and then go with the hot hand.
Turns out, Tre Mason got the hot hand early. Very early.
“I think he did,” Schottenheimer said. “We all know about his talent. We still need them all. They’re all good players; they’ll all have roles for us.”
The Rams’ running backs situation has been a minefield for fantasy football players this season. It has reached the point where from week to week it has been difficult to determine who’s doing what.
At the start of the season, Zac Stacy was getting about two-thirds of the reps, with Benny Cunningham getting one-third. Then Cunningham started cutting into Stacy’s reps a bit. And now, after being inactive for the first four games of the season, rookie Mason has burst onto the scene beginning with the Monday night game against San Francisco.
Another rookie, undrafted Trey Watts, was sprinkled into the backfield for a couple of games earlier in the season. If that weren’t enough, you may have noticed that wide receiver Tavon Austin is getting some work at running back as well. Austin, in fact, had a season-high five carries Sunday against Seattle.
Almost lost in all that transpired in the 28-26 upset victory over the Seahawks was the fact that Cunningham made his first NFL start. So all in all, the Rams are taking the old running-back-by-committee thing to new heights.
“I think that’s kind of good for us,” Schottenheimer said. “For a defense not to know who they’ve got to prepare for. To know that at any moment it might be a different guy out there.”
Of course the most surprising thing that happened Sunday in the backfield wasn’t Cunningham’s start. Or the fact that Mason, the third-rounder from Auburn, broke out for 85 yards on 18 carries, including his first NFL touchdown.
No, that distinction goes to Stacy, who was on the field for only one play and had zero touches.
“It was just a weird situation,” Stacy told the Post-Dispatch. “Right now, we’re doing a rotation with me, Tre, and Benny — and we’re going with the hot hand. I’m just staying positive, I’ll keep working, and whenever my opportunity is called just take advantage of it.”
As a rookie last season, Stacy basically saved the Rams’ running game. After carrying just once for four yards over the first four games of 2013, he piled up 969 yards in the final 12 contests with his no-nonsense, between-the-tackles style.
Stacy got off to a decent start this season, but similar to the situation at wide receiver, the competition has been keen at running back. Stacy showed up on the injury list during the week of preparation for San Francisco (calf) and Seattle (ankle), but didn’t miss much practice time either week.
Is he healthy now?
“Absolutely,” Stacy said. “I feel good. Just little nicks and bruises that most running backs go through, especially around this time of the season. But I’m good to go; ready to roll.”
Running backs coach Ben Sirmans told his group that Cunningham would be starting the night before the Seattle game. But no one knew how the reps would be divided. The flow of the game and the “hot hand” approach determined that.
Stacy certainly didn’t know his role would be so limited.
“It was somewhat surprising,” Stacy said. “But at the end of the day, I was prepared mentally and prepared physically. And if my name was called I was ready to go.”
Schottenheimer said: “It wasn’t what we planned at all. It just kind of goes back to the thought of we got going a little bit and Tre was playing really, really well.
“Zac’s a really good running back. He’s going to help us this game — in a lot of games. He handled it like a pro and the main thing is we want to win. Whatever it takes to win, we’ll do.”
On Monday, coach Jeff Fisher went as far as saying Stacy could have 25 carries this week in Kansas City. That may be an exaggeration, but the backfield does remain in a state of flux.
There was a new wrinkle Thursday when Cunningham was a limited participant in practice because of a knee issue. (He did seem to be moving well.)
Most likely, Mason will be given every opportunity to develop a hot hand vs. the Chiefs after his eye-opening display against Seattle. He brings a speed element and a higher potential for the explosive play than Stacy and Cunningham.
“(Mason) certainly played well last week,” Schottenheimer said. “Popped a couple big runs. Some of it is that they haven’t seen him. Now teams get a better idea of what he’s about.
“I think there’s some things he needs to do, taking care of the football. Obviously that last play was a little scary, but wow, what a talented young man.”
Mason said he was trying to “put the nail in the coffin” on his third-down run at the end of the Seattle game that ended with a fumble and wild scramble for the ball. As a result, he almost put the nail in the Rams’ coffin.
INJURY UPDATE
Safety T.J. McDonald passed concussion protocol and returned to practice Thursday. RG Rodger Saffold (knee), WR Kenny Britt (ankle) and DE William Hayes also returned to practice after missing Wednesday’s work. But CB Janoris Jenkins (knee) remains sidelined.
