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RB Antonio Pittman (Official Thread)

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RUNNING BACKS
The plan is for Steven Jackson to be the centerpiece of this offense. Saunders loves Jackson's versatility ? not just as a pass catcher, but as someone who can power it up the middle and also turn the corner and gobble up yards in the open field. But given his long holdout, it's unrealistic to expect a full workload for Jackson at the start of the season. With Brian Leonard recovering from a sprained shoulder, that means the bulk of the workload in the running game could fall on the shoulders of Antonio Pittman. Pittman lacks Jackson's size and acceleration, but he's a tough, one-cut runner who has gotten better as the preseason has progressed. Once he gets healthy, Leonard will work as a lead blocker, third-down pass catcher and occasional ball carrier.
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STLtoday - Rams: The offense
 
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not sure it was mentioned anywhere but Pitt was on the sidelines for the YSU game...he was sittting and talking to Beanie after the injury

Pittman to get more work against the Eagles?
by VanRam on Sep 2, 2008

For the Rams one question worth asking heading into this weekend's opener against the Eagles is how much work running backs not named Steven Jackson will get.

Jackson, as you may have heard, missed most of the preseason holding out for a new contract, limiting his practice time. Given that, 30 carries is out of the question for Jackson, and I suspect that most of his reps will be catching those screen passes. The Eagles were 21st in the league last season against running backs catching passes.

But the Rams will focus on running this season anyway, and against the Eagles that's probably a smart move given they have a solid pass rush (6th best, 7.4% sack rate) and three Pro Bowl-caliber cornerbacks, albeit one's really pissed off at his team. But the Eagles are little undersized up front, something an increasingly physical Rams offensive line (thanks new o-line coach Steve Loney!) will need to take advantage of.

So, if Jackson's not ready for 30 carries in the opener, that could mean extra work for Antonio Pittman, discussed this morning as primed for a breakout or something like it. Pittman's speed might be just the thing to use against the Eagles too. Last season, their defensive line's biggest weakness was the long run. According to Football Outsiders they ranked 20th in the league last season allowing runs of 10 or more yards.

Obviously, Brian Leonard and Travis Minor will see some carries too if Jackson doesn't touch the ball 30 times, but Pittman now seems to the be the best asset behind Jackson.
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Pittman to get more work against the?Eagles? - Turf Show Times
 
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Work pays off for Pittman
By Bill Coats
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
09/07/2008

Just hired as Scott Linehan's running backs coach, Art Valero walked into Rams Park for the first time last February and ran headlong into one of his new trainees. Though the 2007 season had ended barely a month earlier, Antonio Pittman already was preparing for '08.

"From day one in the offseason, he really worked his butt off to get himself to another level," Linehan said. "He knew he had a long way to go."

The 5-foot-11, 207-pound Pittman has "come miles" since then, Valero said. Far enough to be considered a viable alternative to Steven Jackson.

"You feel confident when you put him in a game," Valero said. "Certainly there's going to be a drop (from Jackson), but there's not going to be that big a drop. We can still run the offense as it is. We don't have to change it just because we have a different back in the game."

Pittman's value as Jackson's stand-in likely will be tested Sunday, when the Rams open the season in Philadelphia. After a 27-day holdout, Jackson has had just two weeks of practice, and almost no real contact. So Pittman might be called on early and often.

"The progress is there," Linehan said. "He's got the talent to be a really good back" in the NFL.
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STLtoday - Work pays off for Pittman
 
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SEREbuckeye;1252667; said:
Looking at the box score, the Rams were blown out by the Eagles 38-3. Pittman didnt log a carry all game long, even though Jackson struggled to finish with a lackluster 40 yards.

Any idea why he was a no show?
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Because NFL coaches, especially bad NFL coaches, give up on the run when they get down by two touchdowns in the first quarter. Pitt is not considered a third down/receiving RB. Unless he is spelling Jackson, to run the ball, he won't get very many plays. Let alone carries.
 
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Backup running back Antonio Pittman suffered a calf injury on the opening kickoff Sunday, ending his day. Which explains why Travis Minor was on the field for two plays in the red zone early in the third quarter. Steven Jackson was on the sideline for those plays following a 50-yard catch and run to the Seattle 5. Pittman is scheduled to have an MRI exam today in St. Louis.
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Pittman will be out for up to six weeks with cracked bone in leg

Hurt covering on opening kickoff Sunday

BY STEVE KORTE

News-Democrat

ST. LOUIS --


The St. Louis Rams will be without backup running back Antonio Pittman for four to six weeks due to a cracked bone in his leg.Rams coach Scott Linehan said Pittman suffered a small crack in his fibula near the knee covering the opening kickoff of the Rams' 37-13 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
"It doesn't look like a contact thing; it looks like he twisted it," Linehan said. "It does look like he'll be out for a bit."
Pittman had 39 carries for 139 yards last season after being claimed off waivers from the New Orleans Saints. He had one carry for six yards this season.
With Pittman out, Brian Leonard will serve as the team's backup to starter Steven Jackson.
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PITTMAN PRACTICES

Running back Antonio Pittman, who broke a bone in his lower left leg Sept. 21 at Seattle, was a surprise participant. Pittman, who was thought to be a week or two away from returning, even got some snaps during team drills.

"I think I'm ahead of schedule by a long shot," said Pittman, who had been backing up Steven Jackson before he was hurt. "It was a great test, pushing off on it and getting to do a lot more things. I expect it to be sore, but nothing that I can't handle. ... I think probably by next week I should be in the mix and ready to get back out there."
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