An old-school running back, Steven Jackson used to need a certain number of carries each game to get into a rhythm.
But with the NFL growing into more of a passing league, Jackson now has to be ready to go when his play is called. He plans to be on the alert when he leads the Falcons’ four-member running back committee against the Bengals in Cincinnati on Sunday.
Those days of carrying the football 25 or 30 times a game are history. Jackson, who had a productive 12 carries in the opener, will no longer be afforded the luxury of finding his rhythm.
“That forces me to be true to the play call,” Jackson said on Wednesday. “Sometimes you have to get in a rhythm, but when you allow yourself to get into a rhythm, the game comes to you. Now, when you know your carries are going to be (less frequent), you have got to really trust your reads.”
During the first episode of “Hard Knocks,” the veteran was shown delivering a speech to all the team’s young running backs. He was portrayed as the profound football philosopher heading into his 11th season, trying to pass along some inspiration to the younger players.
If they were soaking up the information, Jackson wasn’t able to lead very far during the exhibition season because he was nursing a right hamstring injury. But in the season-opener, Jackson led the charge.
He made the most of his dozen carries, gaining 52 yards (4.3 yards per game) and helping to balance out the Falcons pass-heavy offense.
Jacquizz Rodgers, Antone Smith and Devonta Freeman would make their presence felt in the 37-34 overtime victory, Smith delivering an electric 54-yard touchdown catch-and-run.
After being the primary ball carrier for much of his career with St. Louis, Jackson, 31, is just fine with sharing the football.
“Each guy has earned his playing time out there during training camp,” he said.
In all, the backs rushed for 108 yards on 22 carries and kept the Saints’ attack-oriented defense off balance.
A major contributor to the Falcons’ 4-12 downfall last season was their lack of a rushing game. Jackson suffered a left hamstring injury in the second game and missed four games. By the time he returned, the Falcons were 2-4 and without injured wide receiver Julio Jones.
The ground game never came around. After averaging a league-low 77.9 yards per game last, things looked different in the opener.
“We did a very good job in getting the running backs an opportunity to touch the football,” Falcons head coach Mike Smith said. “Steven Jackson was very efficient in his first action. It was great to see Steven back out there.”
The Bengals, who have a stout defense, don’t want to get into a shootout with the Falcons’ offense.
“We have to stop their running game,” Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said. “They are explosive with the runners that they have and they were excellent on third down. That’s the key to the football game.”
There is also a challenge in preparing to face so many running backs.
“Steven has a great style of running,” Lewis said. “Then the other guys come in with a little change-of-pace. We have to be conscious of who’s in the game.”
The Bengals gave up 94 yards rushing to Baltimore in their 23-16 win. They gave up 96.5 rushing yards per game last season, which ranked fifth in the league.
Jackson knows the Falcons face a major challenge.
“They are very long and athletic,” Jackson said. “They play with a high motor. They are veteran guys so they understand the game.”
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