why did they wait till game 5 to start Stacy?

Balzer: Zac Stacy taking advantage of open door

By Howard Balzer

http://www.ksdk.com/story/sports/nfl/rams/2013/11/08/zac-stacy-taking-advantage-of-open-door/3474139/

KSDK Sports) — At the beginning of the season, there was some uncertainty in the Rams’ rushing attack.

Daryl Richardson was the starter, and he was the main man in the season-opening win over Arizona with 25 touches: 20 runs for 63 yards and five receptions for 33 yards. However, Richardson injured his foot in that game, and he hasn’t been the same since.

Isaiah Pead had been expected to challenge Richardson for the starting job, but he has been a forgotten man in the offense. After missing the opener on league suspension, Pead carried six times for 20 yards in Week 3 against Dallas. Since then, he has been inactive twice, and didn’t play in three games.

Even rookie undrafted free agent Benny Cunningham moved ahead of him on the depth chart.

The door opened for rookie Zac Stacy in Week 5 against Jacksonville, and to say the least, he has taken advantage.

After Stacy had rushed for more than 100 yards Sunday against Tennessee, coach Jeff Fisher was asked if he had expected this much from Stacy.

Fisher said, “Yeah; we drafted him. We thought that he had really good skills inside and again, it’s not easy against the defensive fronts. We’re running against eight-man fronts for the last five weeks, and he’s still making yards.”

Of course, the reality is that after having one carry in the season opener, Stacy was inactive for the next two games and then didn’t have an attempt in Week 4.

From the moment that Zac Stacy took over that No. 1 spot he’s been a great weapon for us.
Quarterback Kellen Clemens

The next five games have been eye-opening, especially the last two. After rushing for 210 yards on 49 carries in his first three games as a starter, Stacy has grinded out 261 yards on 53 attempts against Seattle and Tennessee.

Asked about hardly playing early in the season, Stacy said, “That’s the business part of the game. We have good backs on this team, and we all prepare the same. I just kept working in practice, and now that I’ve been given an opportunity, I’m just trying to do all I can to make the most of it.”

Said quarterback Kellen Clemens, “From the moment that Zac Stacy took over that No. 1 spot he’s been a great weapon for us. He’s a good back. He’s also very good out of the backfield. He’s a great weapon for us. We’re lucky to have him. He’s stepped up in a big way.”

So, why did it take as long as it did for him to get his opportunity? Running backs coach Ben Sirmans told the Post-Dispatch, “Sometimes you wish you would’ve figured out what you had a little earlier. Based off Zac’s success at Vanderbilt in the top conference in college football, we knew he had talent. But he was a little banged up in camp, and we had Daryl and Isaiah getting the bulk of the reps. They were the guys we’d seen, guys who had actually played in the NFL.

“It can be really difficult to get a true indication of what you have in a player until you see him in live situations.”

Now that he has been seen consistently over five games, Stacy looks to have a stranglehold on the job.

He has a knack for making something out of nothing and pushing for additional yards.

“He’s doing a great job of eliminating those negative runs,” left guard Chris Williams said to the Post-Dispatch. “Even when there’s nothing there, he’s getting two or three yards, running through tackles and playing tough. But I’m not surprised – he’s a Vandy guy.” Williams also went to Vanderbilt.

How accurate is Williams? Of Stacy’s 103 rushing attempts, only six have been for minus yardage, and he has had none in the last two games. Four of those negative yardage plays came in the game against Carolina.

Said Stacy, “Just making plays, that’s it. That’s what it all comes down to. Week-in and week-out we stress making plays all across the offensive room. There’s no secret sauce to what I’m doing; just making plays.”