Grand Marshall

Sporting News, The, Dec 27, 1999 by Dennis Dillon

"Missed a read here," Faulk says, watching himself take a pitch to the left and build up too much speed to the outside instead of cutting up inside. It forces tackle Orlando Pace to sustain his block longer. "I could have made Orlando's block a lot easier," he says.

On another play, Faulk drops low to block blitzing linebacker Keith Mitchell, flipping Mitchell over his shoulder. But Faulk knows he should have stepped up to meet Mitchell instead of lying in wait. "That got me in trouble late in the game," he says. "I gave up a sack."

Later, as linebacker Mark Fields blitzes past him, Faulk catches a pass for a 5-yard gain. "I was supposed to block him first. Horrible."

Faulk's best play comes in the final minute of the first half. He explodes out of the backfield on a post route, catches a short pass from Warner, jukes safety Willie Clay, who clutches air, and sprints into the end zone for a 30-yard touchdown. "I am a little quicker than normal," he allows.

Toward the end of the 70-minute film review, Faulk is joined by rookie running back James Hodgins. It is evidence of another distinguishing trait--one that had been missing in the Rams' locker room--Faulk has brought to St. Louis: role model-leader.

Two days after trading Faulk to St. Louis, the Colts drafted Edgerrin James, who is two inches taller, five pounds heavier, 5 1/2 years younger and has a lot less mileage. If there had been criticism of Faulk's running style in Indianapolis, it had been primarily twofold: He was weak between the tackles and ineffective near the goal line. Faulk has challenged both of those judgments this season. Through Week 14, he was averaging 4.1 yards per carry up the middle--a full yard more than he averaged last season.

"I think maybe he's running a little harder inside than he had," says Rich Snead, the Titans' director of player personnel. "He wasn't always a real tough guy inside. But I think he's probably picked that up a notch this year."

Faulk also has improved his efficiency inside the opponent's 10-yard line, having scored touchdowns on four of his 10 carries inside the 10. Only Arizona's Mario Bates and San Diego's Natrone Means (each 4-for-9) were better. Faulk was tied with Cincinnati's Corey Dillon in big-play rushes (10 or more yards) with 36.

Faulk accelerates quickly and is elusive in the open field, but he is not a workhorse-type of back. In fact, the Rams have tried to limit his carries to 20 or fewer in most games. What he does is mm football from a chess match into a guessing game. Is it going to be a run or a pass? The defense can be in a nickel alignment, and the Rams will come out in a running formation. Or the defense can have its regular personnel on the field, and the Rams will split Faulk out as a wide receiver. And woe to the defense that tries to cover Faulk outside with a linebacker.

"That's what adds to the dilemma," Giants defensive coordinator John Fox says. "Not only do you have to worry about him when he runs the ball, but he's also an efficient receiver. Most backs aren't as nifty running those types of routes from a wide receiver location. He can run routes that receivers run, and run them very efficiently."