(3:45 Update) Jackson Fired Up for Fullback

-         Rams running back Steven Jackson made it known last year that he’d like the Rams to find a true, blocking fullback to help open some running lanes for he and his fellow running backs.

-         After all, Jackson had his finest NFL season with Madison Hedgecock clearing the path. But the Rams parted with Hedgecock in 2007 and have been searching for a hammer to open holes ever since.

-         The likes of Richard Owens and Dan Kreider were given a shot, even undrafted rookie Russ Weil got a look. But none really got the job done.

-         Well, Christmas came early (or late, depending on how you look at it) for Jackson on Wednesday when the Rams announced the signing of fullback Mike Karney.

-         Karney is exactly the type of powerful hammer of a blocker the Rams were searching for. His release from the Saints came at the perfect time and things just happened to come together perfectly for Karney and the Rams to get together.

-         I’ll have more on Karney in a feature for the site later today but I got a chance to catch up with Jackson on Wednesday afternoon and he couldn’t be happier about the addition of Karney and center Jason Brown.

-         On adding Karney and Brown: “I really like where we are going with it. I think signing a center and now bringing in a fullback is really a step forward in what we need as an offensive unit to getting the offense back on track.”

-         On if he knows Karney at all: “I don’t know a lot about him personally. Over the years I have seen him in New Orleans; I have seen the holes that he has opened up for Deuce McAlister and Reggie Bush and those guys. He’s extremely talented and someone I am looking forward to working with.”

-         On how much the offseason moves have motivated him: “It gets me pumped. Two things about this offseason have got me pumped. One was seeing Arizona run in the playoffs to a Super Bowl and then the things we are doing in the front office. And Coach Spags, I’ve had the chance to talk to him a couple of times here and the direction and insight he is giving us, I have been excited for football since the middle of January. I am getting ready to return next week or soon and I’m just ready to give my all to this offseason program and show my leadership to the guys that are coming aboard.”

-         On what the offseason moves mean to him: “It really makes it exciting. Each and every year you always have that fresh breath of something new, something exciting that the unexpected can happen and I think once again we are going to have it this offseason.”

-         Jackson is expected back in town next week for the start of the offseason conditioning program and from the sounds of it, he can’t wait to get back to work.