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RB Antonio Pittman (Official Thread)

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Running backs are battling to back up Steven Jackson
BY BILL COATS [email protected] 314-340-8189
06/11/2009

apittman625june1109.jpg

Rams running back Antonio Pittman, right, breaks a tackle attempt by Charger Matt Wilhelm in the first quarter of a pre-season exhibition game between the St. Louis Rams and the San Diego Chargers Saturday at the Edward Jones Dome (Christian Gooden/P-D)

Asked about his preference at running back when Steven Jackson isn't in the game, Rams offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur didn't hesitate. "We want Steven in there," he said, barely cracking a smile.

Well, sure. Jackson is one of the league's elite ball-carriers.

But given that nearly all successful NFL teams deploy two effective backs and that because of injuries, Jackson hasn't put together a full 16-game season since 2006, the question arises:

Who backs him up?

The answer might not surface until late in the preseason. The current roster includes five running backs ? one fewer since the trade May 7 of Brian Leonard, a second-round draft pick in 2007, to Cincinnati for defensive tackle Orien Harris.

That left Antonio Pittman, Kenneth Darby, Samkon Gado and rookie Chris Ogbonnaya, a seventh-round draftee, behind Jackson. During the spring, Pittman and Darby have gotten nearly all the reps with the second unit, earning them front-runner status.

Coach Steve Spagnuolo insists he has no favorite in this race.

"I'm not going to pin one against the other," he said. "I think both of the guys are picking up the system pretty well. ? I think both add certain things. I'm real anxious to see the competition when they put the pads on" at training camp.
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The 5-foot-11, 195-pound Pittman was signed off waivers as a rookie in September 2007, after New Orleans let him go. The former All-Big Ten performer, who left Ohio State after his junior season, was the Saints' fourth-round draft choice.

A speedy slasher who does most of his damage between the tackles, Pittman spent most of that season as the No. 3 back behind Jackson and Leonard. He picked up 139 yards on 38 carries in 11 games.

Pittman moved up to the No. 2 role last season as Leonard missed most of the year with a shoulder injury. Pittman played in 12 games, with five starts while Jackson nursed a thigh injury. He wound up with 79 carries for 296 yards and 18 receptions for 132 yards.

The competition for the backup spot this year will be "very fun ? very fun," Pittman said. "This is what you make your team out of. You want guys that are going to come out there and compete every day."
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"It's a very big role," Pittman said. "Being that guy that spells Steven, it's huge for the team, just so you know that when he comes out of the game, (the offense) doesn't skip a beat."
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Running backs are battling to back up Steven Jackson - STLtoday.com
 
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Top 5 position battles for Rams in training camp
June 11

#2 Backup Running Back

There are a number of questions all over the Rams roster, but I think one that will be the most intriguing in training camp will be who will be the main backup to Steven Jackson. Last season Antonio Pittman took over the backup role when Brian Leonard was not able to perform. Pittman had some flashes last season, especially against the San Francisco 49ers in late November when he ran for 95 yards. Kenneth Darby also showed some flashes last season in backup duty. Bill Coats of the Post-Dispatch even goes as far as saying that Darby has the edge right now. I know most Rams fans are nervous about these two guys as the best options to back up Jackson. I believe those worries are justified and I hope the Rams do pick up someone else to back up Jackson. But if they don't I lean towards Darby because I think he is a harder runner than Pittman. But neither one is seperated by that much in my opinion.
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Top 5 position battles for Rams in training camp
 
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Who will back up Steven Jackson? Darby is a decent No. 3 back, thanks to his pass catching skills. Gado looks the part with his heft, but he is a career depth guy. Pittman lacks the burst to be a true No. 2 back. Rookie Chris Ogbonnaya can catch the ball, but that?s Darby?s role. Our guess: GM Billy Devaney will keep shopping, as he did when he added Curry and NT Hollis Thomas on the fly.
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Rehabbing the Rams will take time - STLtoday.com
 
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St. Louis Rams' Gado, Pittman shine in battle to back up Jackson
BY Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
08/15/2009

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. ? Advantage Gado and Pittman. In the battle for the Rams' No. 2 running back job behind Steven Jackson, Samkon Gado and Antonio Pittman were the clear winners Friday over Kenneth Darby.

Darby entered the preseason as the clear No. 2 back behind Jackson, but he didn't get much done against the New York Jets. Darby carried six times for 16 yards, dropped a short pass over the middle and struggled on blitz pickup.

Pittman carried four times for 36 yards and caught a pass for nine yards ? all coming on a 63-yard field goal drive to close out the first half. But it was Gado who provided the play of the day for the Rams.

Gado burst into the open on a run up the middle, made a defender miss about 10 yards downfield, and then outraced the New York defense the rest of the way for a 77-yard touchdown. The score came on the second play from scrimmage in the second half and gave the Rams a 16-10 lead.

In four regular seasons with Green Bay, Houston, Miami and the Rams, Gado has never had a run longer than 64 yards.

As for Jackson, he had a light workload, with two carries for 15 yards.
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St. Louis Rams' Gado, Pittman shine in battle to back up Jackson - STLtoday.com
 
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Running backs

?Projected keepers (5) -- Steven Jackson, Mike Karney, Samkon Gado, Kenneth Darby, Antonio Pittman

?Projected to miss cut (2) -- Chris Ogbonnaya, Jerome Johnson
?Key issue -- The Rams' depth behind Jackson has been a question mark. Gado and Pittman looked good in the exhibition opener. Ogbonnaya looks like a candidate for the practice squad.
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Numbers games: Rams roster in perspective - NFL Nation - ESPN
 
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08.24.2009
Competition for No. 2 running back heats up
By Bill Coats
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The competition for the backup job behind running back Steven Jackson continues at Rams Park, where the first of two practices is under way. The players are in full pads this morning.

Kenneth Darby, Samkon Gado and Antonio Pittman are the primary contenders for the No. 2 spot, and each has had his moments in the preseason. What is St. Louis Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo looking for in this position?

?Two things are real important, probably in any backup position. And that?s, able to be a quality special-teams player, and have enough knowledge and mental capacity that, even though you?re not getting all the reps in a week of practice, and be able to not skip a beat if you go in there,? he said. ?I think both those things are important in any backup spot.?
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Competition for No. 2 running back heats up | Rams Report | STLtoday
 
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09.05.2009
Running backs Pittman, Ogbonnaya cut; Carriker on IR
By Jim Thomas
St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Running backs Chris Ogbonnaya and Antonio Pittman were released by the Rams on Saturday. Although the team still has one roster move to make before reaching the 53-man roster limit, it appears that Kenneth Darby is safe _ at least for now _ joining Samkon Gado as backups to Steven Jackson.
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Running backs Pittman, Ogbonnaya cut; Carriker on IR | Rams Report | STLtoday
 
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Another Free Talent Worthy A Look: Antonio Pittman
by John Morgan on Jul 19, 2010

Finding free talent in the NFL is about matching system and figuring out who failed because of external or correctable reasons. Pittman has strong potential in a ZBS scheme, was first cut in favor of Pierre Thomas, struggled behind the Rams broken line, and may be a malcontent. That makes him functionally free, and being free, his future is all upside.

Finding free talent in the NFL is about matching system and figuring out who failed because of external or correctable reasons. Pittman has strong potential in a ZBS scheme, was first cut in favor of Pierre Thomas, struggled behind the Rams broken line, and may be a malcontent. That makes him functionally free, and being free, his future is all upside.

In my continuing quest to improve Seattle's running back talent, I present another freely available player Seattle should sign and run through his paces: Antonio Pittman. Some projected Pittman as a second round talent prior to the 2007 draft, but he fell to the fourth. He was drafted by New Orleans but cut as a rookie (in favor of Pierre Thomas.)

Pittman then signed with the Rams and played for St. Louis in 2007 and 2008. He was not great by any stretch, but no rusher succeeded for St. Louis in 2007 and 2008, and Pittman was not a standout failure by any stretch either. Runs by Pittman averaged 3.7 and 3.8 yards per carry to Steven Jackson's 4.2 and 4.1, or, to put it another way, runs by Pittman averaged -8.7% and -4.9% to Jackson's -7.4% and -2.5% DVOA in 2007 and 2008. Fairly comparable, and Pittman was not just a change of pace back. He had five starts in 2008. He played for a broken team and was not able to overcome his surrounding talent. Old story.

Seattle's interest in Pittman lies in not what he has done, but what kind of rusher he is and what he is capable of. Pittman is a one-cut rusher with good speed through the hole. He looks fluid rather than fast, and his speed doesn't flash approaching the hole or running away from defenders, but in a zone blocking scheme, it's all about the ability to explode through the crease, and Pittman excels at that ability. He is an inside rusher that can receive a little and pass block a little. Basically, he can play three downs if he needs to. I think that completeness is part of the allure of Jones. Seattle believes that if it had to, it could probably rely entirely on Jones as its running back. Pittman has feature back potential and is well suited for a one-cut and go rushing attack.

There is no free lunch in the NFL, and apart from a some minor struggles, if Pittman had no other warts he wouldn't be available. Like other backs that otherwise fit Seattle's system, Jeremiah Johnson and Chris Henry, for instance, Pittman would be stashed on another team's roster. He isn't. Pittman is a free agent and did not play organized football in 2009. He clashed with Jim Tressel at Ohio State and when it seemed like he might lose snaps to Beanie Wells, forwent his senior season and declared for the draft. He skipped practice after his 23 birthday (oh no) and was called out to be more productive by interim head coach Jim Haslett. A call to be "more productive" is always a meaningful expectation, and not at all a hasty attempt to command respect by an interim head coach. I would guess, reading the tea leaves, that Pittman is a "malcontent" that doesn't play well with authoritarian types. Again, oh. no.
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Another Free Talent Worthy A Look: Antonio Pittman - Field Gulls
 
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I miss Antonio - always a consistent runner and his 1200 yard seasons we're always (I felt) overlooked because of having the Troy, Teddy and Gonzo trio.

I was hoping Cleveland would pick him up after the stint in S.L. but if he ended up in Seattle or Houston I think that would really give him a chance to prove he can play ball just fine in this league.
 
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