Rams running back Jackson sets goal to accumulate 2,500 yards

~ His 2,334 yards from scrimmage last year led the league and wasthe fifth-best totalin NFL history.

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Rams' Steven Jackson always sets goals for himself. This year, he's setting the bar no lower than the NFL record.

Jackson forecasts he can reach 2,500 yards from scrimmage this season. Last year, he set a goal of 1,600 yards rushing and fell just short with 1,528 yards.

Last year was still a breakout season for Jackson. He compiled an NFL-leading 2,334 yards rushing and receiving -- 11 ahead of San Diego's LaDainian Tomlinson. He gained 806 yards receiving on 90 receptions. His performance earned Jackson a berth in the Pro Bowl, his first in his three years with the Rams.

The 6-foot-2, 231-pound Jackson is setting his sights higher this year.

He wants to beat former Rams running back Marshall Faulk, the NFL's current record holder, who gained 2,529 yards in 1999. Faulk rushed 1,381 yards and added another 1,048 receiving in helping the Rams earn the Super Bowl championship with a win over Tennessee.

With St. Louis ending its three-day minicamp Thursday at Rams Park, Jackson said good things will happen for the team if he reaches his goal.

"As a team goal, we want to win the Super Bowl," Jackson said. "My personal goal is what I stated it was. I don't put that pressure or that burden on anyone else ... to get to that number, I'm pretty sure we're winning and we'll be in the playoffs."

Three other players have topped Jackson's yardage from last year. In 2005, Tiki Barber compiled 2,390 yards. Tomlinson gained 2,370 total yards in 2003. Barry Sanders combined for 2,358 yards in 1997.

During the offseason, Jackson has been working on his pass-route running.

"I'm working on becoming a leader," said Jackson, who will be 24 in July. "Now that I've had the season I've had, I'll be getting a lot more attention from the defenses and the defensive coordinators. I talk to my defense a lot. Guys that I trust, I ask them about different defenses."

Rams coach Scott Linehan sees Jackson becoming more of a leader this season.

"He did more last year as the year went on," Linehan said. "He mostly does his talking on the field with how he plays. At the end of the year, the team took on Steven's demeanor and attitude with the way he was playing."