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        the Gridiron >> the Red Zone >>  Who is Marshall Faulk's backup?
        
(Message started by: StegRock on Aug 31^st, 2002, 6:35am)

Title: Who is Marshall Faulk's backup?
Post by StegRock on Aug 31^st, 2002, 6:35am

I believe he will be backed up by RBBC! In accordance, I think the values of both Trung Canidate and Lamar Gordon are very mitigated, even as proverbial "handcuffs" to Faulk. If I had Faulk, I do not know if I would bother handcuffing him to either. If I did, I would probably try to get both.

What do you think?

Title: Re: Who is Marshall Faulk's backup?
Post by paulinstl on Aug 31^st, 2002, 12:46pm

I have been saying, ever since the Rams drafted Gordon, that Martz will not go with a rookie RB to back up Faulk. I still believe this to be true, but several factors have emerged in this Training Camp.

Canidate's continuing fumblitis.

Both hearing Martz' displeasure about thir lack of effort in a couple of games.

Gordon not wanting to go back in a game with a slight sprained ankle.

Canidate is clearly playing better than Gordon on Special Teams.

Gordon actually looked better early in camp than he has lately.

Canidate's fumbles most of them, have been the result of his trying to make something happen instead of going down.

All of this means I know nothing more than anyone else, but I have a strong inclination that the job is Canidate's until he fumbles it away.

I just can't get over my initial feeling that Gordon was drafted because of a much needed addition in depth at a position where the Rams lost Holcombe and Watson.

Title: Re: Who is Marshall Faulk's backup?
Post by paulinstl on Sep 1^st, 2002, 7:13am

From Jim Thomas in the St. Louis Post Dispatch, Sept 1:

Trung Canidate may have lost another fumble Friday against Kansas City, but he hasn't fumbled away the top backup job behind Marshall Faulk at running back.

Not only has Canidate claimed the No. 2 job in the Rams backfield, coach Mike Martz said it wasn't even close.

"Oh, there's no comparison right now between the two," Martz said Saturday. "Truthfully, to be honest with you, there never really has been. Trung's light years ahead of Lamar in a lot of respects -- in just being able to deal with all the things that you've got to deal with at this level."

Canidate finished the preseason with 49 carries for 147 yards, and 11 receptions for 107 yards. Lamar Gordon, a rookie from North Dakota State, gained 89 yards on 26 carries, and had a team-high 16 catches for a team-high 137 yards. He scored two touchdowns to zero for Canidate. But like Canidate, Gordon's play tailed off in the final two preseason games.

"Lamar still gets a little big-eyed about what's going on out there," Martz said. "It's a little bit big for him right now. Lamar's going to be a terrific player in this league eventually. Lamar's where Trung was when he first came in."

Given Canidate's three lost fumbles in the preseason, it's hard to imagine Martz having much faith in Canidate, particularly with the game on the line in the regular season. But he does. Martz's strong vote of confidence Saturday was surprising given the criticism he directed Canidate's way after the Aug. 22 San Diego game.

"Trung's fine," Martz said. "I'm on him an awful lot, trying to press him. I put a lot of pressure on him, because if we have to do like we did a year ago for a game or two, he's going to have to play at a high level. And that's where we're trying to get him. But Trung's a good player."

Canidate replaced an injured Faulk for two games last season. He put on an eye-popping performance last Oct. 21 against the New York Jets, rushing for 195 yards on 23 carries. But the following week at home against New Orleans, Canidate lost a critical fumble in a 34-31 Rams loss.

Martz conceded that Canidate's fumbling problems remain a concern.

"Obviously, he got hit right on the ball (against Kansas City), and it pops out," Martz said. "But still, you need to protect that ball. At that point, the ball's in one arm, and he just didn't cover it up well enough."

But for now at least, Martz feels Canidate is a better option behind Faulk than Gordon. In opting for Canidate at No. 2 running back, Martz has decided one of the last unsolved issues of the preseason. Even though the Rams went 0-4 in the preseason, Martz said he's very pleased with the team's state of readiness for the regular season.

Title: Re: Who is Marshall Faulk's backup?
Post by StegRock on Sep 1^st, 2002, 11:37am

paulinstl,

Yea, I read that article, too... off "the Gridiron Newsstand" (Shameless opportunist :-[ )!

To me, when you read through it/read between the lines, it just says BRBBC (Backup Runnng Back By Committee) all over it. Doesn't that wishy-washy rhetoric say the same thing to you too... or anyone out there for that matter?

Title: Re: Who is Marshall Faulk's backup?
Post by Razzak on Sep 1^st, 2002, 11:43am

I got the impression Trung was the #2 guy. I wish I had Trung but some bastard grabbed him right before my pick. Anyways, the fact that Trung's proven he can step in for Faulk and that he's more experienced in the system would put him as the favorite, and I feel that the above article indicates he's a lock for it. [smiley=alcoholic.gif]

Title: Re: Who is Marshall Faulk's backup?
Post by paulinstl on Sep 1^st, 2002, 12:54pm

on 09/01/02 at 11:37:15, StegRock wrote:

I don't get any wish-washy talk from those quotes at all. That is the clearest expression of lack of confidence in a rookie I have ever heard from Martz. Seeing it any different may be caused by the fact that I have Trung in the CBFL, and you are in denial about the advantage this gives me if Faulk ever goes down! :P

I don't see any RBBC if Marshall goes down. It will be business as usual with Canidate. Gordon would fill the role that Trung does while Faulk is healthy.

Title: Re: Who is Marshall Faulk's backup?
Post by DirkDiggler on Sep 1^st, 2002, 12:59pm

All I know is that in Martz fantasy football world you never know what the hell is going to happen. With that team Martz seems to make guys valuable in the fantasy world. Who would of thought two years ago that Conwell, Proehl, Az-Hakim, Canidate, and Warner would actually have some fantasy value?

I am pretty confident that Trung will be the man THIS YEAR.

Title: Re: Who is Marshall Faulk's backup?
Post by StegRock on Sep 1^st, 2002, 3:41pm

on 09/01/02 at 12:54:22, paulinstl wrote:

As my message icon says, "Oh brother!"

I just think that, with regards to this issue, if you look at the fine print, so to speak, there is a lot to read in between the lines both in that article and throughout this offseason.

But, Paul, you know my bias here. How did I put it again? "I don't want that piece of junk." or something like that! :P [smiley=laugh.gif]

Title: Re: Who is Marshall Faulk's backup?
Post by Razzak on Sep 4^th, 2002, 10:04pm

Martz isn't too pleased with trung overall. He constantly criticizes his work ethic and how he practices.

Unless Faulk blows an ACL, Trung won't be the man THIS year. Heck, even if Faulk blew an ACL he might just grow a new knee for next week's game.