I am curious as to why Martz would use Jackson more than he used Faulk in his prime.
Actually Vermiel had Faulk in his prime, not Martz. By the time Martz got the Head Coaching position, Faulk was beginning to have his kneee issues and it's been all downhill since.
Vermeil only had one season with Faulk (1999), and it's been Martz ever since.Fantasy Points Scored:
1999: 315 (Vermeil)
2000: 375 (Martz)
2001: 341 (Martz)
You're right, I apperciate the correction. Martz indeed had a top flight injury free Faulk for 2000 & 2001.In 2000 Martz used Faulk predominantly. Faulk set an NFL record in 2000 with 26 touchdowns, including 18 on the ground. He led the NFC with 2,189 combined yards, went to his fifth Pro Bowl, and was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player.
The story I've heard after 2000 ended, is that in the off season Faulk reviewed his performance and worked on what he determined was his biggest weakness. He felt he needed to be more precise in his patterns, and run them like a wide receiver would. His focus in the spring and summer of 2001 was his pass routes.
Martz used the 2001 version of Faulk more often on the outside, to exploit coverage mismatches against linebackers or safeties. Faulk still ran for nearly 1,400 yards—averaging more than five yards a carry—but his off season dedication to improving his passing game paid big dividends when he caught 83 passes, including a career-high nine for touchdowns.
It was 2002 when the wheels started to come off for Faulk.
He registered career lows in starts (10) and carries, and for the first time in four seasons, his rushing average dipped below five yards and has been declining since.
How the above history relates to Jackson will be quite different, in that he is much more of a North/South banger type runner than Faulk ever was.
I honestly don't think Faulk will figure in the run game as much as most seem to. But, will Martz know how to use Jackson effectively, since his skill set is so much more different than Faulk's? I think Martz will. Even more importantly will Martz figure out he needs to call the run more often?
As you yourself said Yudkin;
Overall, WE ALL know that the Rams SHOULD run more. My azalea bush fully realizes this and informed me as such.
(I loved this line and was dying for the chance to quote it

)But then you had to go and ruin it by saying this
Unfortunately, Mike Martz does not understand and comprehend this, and he's the only one that has a vote!
Personally, I think that this is the year when Martz finally reaches the intelligence level of your azalea bush David.