Martz defends decision to leave Faulk, Warner in during rout

By R.B. Fallstrom ~ The Associated Press

ST. LOUIS -- Nobody has accused the St. Louis Rams of running up the score.

But coach Mike Martz sure leaves the high-profile stars on the NFL's only unbeaten team in the game a long, long time regardless of the score.

Quarterback Kurt Warner was behind center until the bitter end of the 42-10 blowout over the Miami Dolphins two weeks ago, and backup Jamie Martin only got to do the kneel-down snaps in Monday night's 35-0 victory over the Detroit Lions.

The same goes for Marshall Faulk, who scored the final touchdown Monday on a 7-yard run with 4:38 to go.

Martz's defense on Monday: He wanted to preserve the Rams' first shutout since they moved to St. Louis in 1995, and also wanted to give a neglected running game some work.

After the Rams took a 28-0 lead over the Lions with 10:14 remaining, Martz thought about calling off the dogs. Then he changed his mind, perhaps remembering that the Rams had thrown 16 straight passes in the first half.

"I wanted to finish that game with Marshall feeling good about running the ball and the offensive line feeling good about coming off the ball," Martz said. "We were able to accomplish that without Marshall having any kind of injury."

No time for Martin

Last week, Martin didn't even get to do the kneel-downs. Warner played the whole game, Martz reasoning that he was just going to hand off the ball anyway.

"I just didn't want any quarterback-center exchange problems or issues at that point," Martz said. "He wasn't going to get hit."

Against the Lions, Faulk finished with 71 yards on 14 carries and nine catches for 80 yards. On the final drive his number was called five of the six plays and he accounted for 40 of the 45 yards.

Against the Dolphins, Faulk had 38 yards rushing and 53 receiving in the first half, and finished with 170 total yards. He had three carries on the drive that put the Rams ahead 35-10 with 6:46 remaining.

"I know that's a risk," Martz said. "But it's a psychological thing to finish off a game where you're pounding on somebody and Marshall gets into that run mode."

Martz said it's hard to persuade his starters to come out.

"They're very, very competitive, they don't care what the score is," Martz said. "They just have fun playing, and they enjoy every second they're in the game."

"Oh no, we want to keep on pushing and get the job done," offensive tackle Orlando Pace said. "I think it's good for the team."

Martz apparently isn't anxious to see more of backup running back Trung Canidate, the team's first-round pick last year, and Martin, signed as the backup quarterback after Joe Germaine was cut the week before the season opener.

It's a curious philosophy, given that Faulk has undergone two surgeries on his right knee in the last year, and that Warner missed five games with a broken finger and sustained a concussion in the regular-season finale.

Canidate has nine carries for 37 yards and a touchdown behind Faulk, who leads the NFL with 615 yards.

Martz is trying to find work for Canidate elsewhere, giving him kickoff return duties.

Tucker, Archuleta will play

Two injuries won't keep St. Louis Rams offensive tackle Ryan Tucker out of the lineup.

Tucker said he'd definitely play this weekend against the New York Giants, despite a separated left shoulder and a broken right hand that was in a cast on Wednesday.

"Oh yeah, I'll be out there," said Tucker, who'll face up opposite Michael Strahan. "Of course I will. It's going to be a good challenge."

Coach Mike Martz wasn't surprised by that attitude.

"They can break both hands; it doesn't matter. They just club them up and away they go," Martz joked. "I'm sure Ryan will play."

Martz said outside linebacker Mark Fields, who missed the last two games with a rib-cage injury, and Adam Archuleta, who suffered a broken thumb in Monday's 35-0 shutout of the Lions, also would play.