Rams Find Run Game In Surprise Win

Dec 15, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams running back Zac Stacy (30) celebrates his 40 yard touchdown with teammates during the first half against the New Orleans Saints at the Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

Since becoming the Rams starter, rookie running back Zac Stacy has brought a spark to the offense, and that certainly was a case this week against the Saints as he rushed for 133 yards, 108 of which came in the first half.

Surprising the Saints 27-16 was the Rams’ first victory since winning three weeks ago against the Bears. Since then the Rams lost two straight against NFC West opponents, the Cardinals and 49ers.

The difference in those games? Against the Bears Stacy rushed for 89 yards while the other rookie running back Benny Cunningham rushed for 109 yards. Against the 49ers Stacy did rush for 72 yards, but most of those yards came when the game was already out of reach, and against the Cardinals, Stacy rushed for only 25 yards.

Schottenheimer made it a point during the week that they wanted to get back to running the ball well, and they did just that, and it showed on the scoreboard.

Since becoming the starter in week five, Stacy has rushed for 854 yards, and you have to assume if he had been the starter week one he’d certainly be in consideration for the offensive rookie of the year, rather than just in the conversation.

As of right now Stacy is rushing for exactly 85 yards per game. If that stat continues he will rush for just over the 1,000 yard mark, making it the ninth consecutive season that the Rams have had a 1,000 yard rusher.

Stacy now has six touchdowns in six games and at least one touchdown is five of the last six. That was one area that Steven Jackson always struggled in, scoring touchdowns. Last season Jackson had only four touchdowns the entire season, and the season before that he had five.

Not only that, but Stacy has also contributed to the offense by rushing for 40 first downs. Doing that keeps the defense off the field and keeps drives going.

The Rams definitely found a gem in the fifth round of last year’s draft in Zac Stacy. He has definitely made an impact in his rookie season and has proved that he should be considered the running back of the future for this football team.

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