RAMS EMPLOY A FULLBACK: GOOD MOVE!

Amen brother! The Rams finally have owned up to the need for a solid, respectable, hard driving, experienced fullback. Why we parted with Madison Hedgecock, who knows?

Welcome Mike Karney to the fold and you bet Steven Jackson is a happy camper. For several years Karney has been a lead blocker for the New Orleans Saints and their offensive machine has been quite solid. He has good hands for receiving, can run when needed and gives Steven the lead blocker in many running plays designated to give him the daylight to let the big guy blast off!

This former coach has always been a fullback guy. Why my forty right trap and forty left trap were constants in our attack which saw either cross blocking employed by the center and frontside guard and the backside or weak guard pulling and trapping over center. Depending on the defensive scheme, the inside linebackers would be blocked by either the center or backside tackle.

Did this play get us yards. You bet. Some of the greatest runners in DeSmet Jesuit High School history were fullbacks like Tommy Gaus, Dave Kosakowski, Newt Daniels, Tim Hornof, all who loved this play and others but it was usually that inside trap that sprung them for good gains and sometimes all the way. One year when we opened up with Sumner High and their fleet defensive backs written up for their super speed, Gaus roared past them and couldn't be caught with thequick hitter. The old coach just might send this one to Coach Spagnuolo for his perusual just to keep them honest when the key off Jackson.

By the way, great blocking guards like Jim Baxendale, Tom Suntrup, Mike Gibbons, Chris Seyer, had a field day with this play. My old lame brain can't remember who it was but we once took Brian Andrejewski 65 yards vs Belleville East when both guards pulled and smashed into each other creating havoc for the defense and there was Brian free as a bird scampering to paydirt while the late Joe May, in his WBEW radio booth in Belleville wondered what brilliant coach had concocted this brew! And on Monday, when our film review took place there were many guffaws from players and much screeming from coaches when this Oscar Winning Play was shown.

But of course we know Karney will be mainly employed as was the great "Paul Dean", don't you remember Dizzy saying: "Me and Paul will win 40 games this year!" That was 1934 and they won more than that, I think 45 as "old Diz" won 30 himself. Wouldn't it be great if the Rams offensive line stayed healthy, Incognito kept his trap shut and just played football, Barron stayed away from penalties and let those long flappy arms do the talking both in pass and run blocking and our new guy Jason Brown anchor our center position with authority and leadership, and Jacob Brown and Greco, maybe even Mark Seterstrom come through. More will happen up front and yes, Coach, we will see the aggressive running game you knew so well with the Giants become a force. Then will commeth Karney with the powerful Jackson frothing at the mouth to add yardage with his punishing running.

Yes, the fullback, maybe disappearing in the ranks of some football offensive machines but becoming a niche in the St. Louis Rams 2009 attack. WELCOME MIKE KARNEY and yes, Jason Brown and James Butler to an interesting and we think "solid" rebuilding program!