Canidate ready for heavy duty

ST. LOUIS -- Marshall Faulk's backup is looking forward to a busy work day on Sunday.

It'll be the first full load for Trung Canidate, the St. Louis Rams' first-round pick last year, since he made it to the NFL.

"I've never doubted myself," Canidate said Wednesday as the Rams resumed practice in preparation for Sunday's game at New York against the Jets. "The more I play, the better I can do my job.

"Getting on the field and getting those touches, it's definitely something that you want."

Faulk, the NFL's MVP last year, is listed as questionable with a bone bruise in his right knee. A decision on his availability is expected Friday, although coach Mike Martz said Wednesday he would recommend Faulk sit out at least one game.

He's confident that Canidate, who has 47 yards on 14 carries and three catches for 9 yards, can assume Faulk's role. Faulk, who leads the NFL in rushing and receiving yardage, has been handling the ball an average of 20 times per game.

"That's why Trung is here," Martz said. "He's got to be able to defeat the same matchups that Marshall does and our expectations would be that he'd do that same thing."

Martz said it might be tough to talk Faulk into resting the knee, but he's preparing as if Canidate and not Faulk is the starter. Canidate's backup would be Robert Holcombe, who has one carry for 2 yards.

"I don't know the whole details on that," Canidate said. "Shoot, he's the starter and however he's feeling, that's how it's going to go.

"I'm just going to prepare and make sure I'm ready for whatever situation."

Canidate is the fastest player on the team, but he's undersized at about 200 pounds and he missed almost all of last season with various injuries. During the offseason he did a lot of weight lifting to strengthen his upper body and prepare for a heavier role.

Left breathless

Martz personally scouted Canidate in college at Arizona and said when he was drafted that his speed took his breath away. That burst makes him a lot different runner at times than Faulk, who is very patient waiting for the hole to open.

"He goes too fast on some things," Martz said. "Particularly on some of the runs, he gets up in there a little quicker than you'd like him to."

Fumbles are not a concern with Canidate, who covers up well in traffic. He proved his worthiness as a receiver last weekend in a 15-14 victory against the Giants, catching a key fourth-down pass on the game-winning drive and then drawing a pass interference call in the end zone by outrunning the defense. Then he scored on a 1-yard run.

"Trung's played well when he's played," quarterback Kurt Warner said. "But he's never been in a position where he's got to carry the load. Now it's all on him."

The Rams had a four-wideout package when Trung made his fourth-down catch.

"You think a game on the line, he's going to go to the guys that have produced," Canidate said. "It puts a lot of extra pressure on the defense knowing that Warner is going to throw the ball where the open guys are. I happened to be open on that play."

Good blocker

Martz has no qualms about Canidate's ability to protect Warner, either.

"The thing that's always been impressive about Trung is he's always been just an outstanding pass blocker, which would shock you when you see him because he's a very slight guy," Martz said. "He's able to step up in there and stop you."

One thing Canidate won't be doing on Sunday is returning kickoffs. Martz is turning those duties over to defensive back Dre' Bly, who's been volunteering for special teams since training camp. Canidate has returned nine kicks for a 22.8-yard average with a long return of 36 yards.

"I just don't want to expose him to that," Martz said. "Dre's been bugging me all year long about returning kickoffs and I really like him back there."