Oct 21, 2012; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams running back Isaiah Pead (24) returns the ball against the Green Bay Packers during the second half at Edward Jones Dome. The Packers defeated the Rams 30-20. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kane-USA TODAY Sports

The St. Louis Rams lost one of their most reliable and dependable players in Steven Jackson. But the Rams aren’t necessarily worried about the loss, in fact it’s part of a youth movement within the organization. They have two running backs with had carries in 2012 that were in their rookie season, Daryl Richardson and Isaiah Pead.

Daryl Richardson saw more carries than Pead as the #2 running back on the depth chart, but that doesn’t mean he is inheriting the starting role. Richardson will likely have to compete with Pead for that spot.

“He [Pead] just didn’t get a chance because of the other two,” Fisher said, via the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “But he’ll get his opportunity this year. … He’s got a chance to make a lot of big plays for us.”

Richardson had 98 carries for 475 yards and a solid 4.8 yards per carry average. Pead, while restricted to 10 carries, had 54 yards for an explosive 5.4 yards per carry. Pead was a 2nd round pick and Richardson was a 7th round pick, both in the 2012 draft.

The Rams also appear committed to using Pead as a running back and not as a punt/kick returner.

“Probably not,” Fisher said. “If at all, it would be in the kickoff (returns) as opposed to punts. But if things work out, you typically don’t use one of your top backs as a returner.”

But Pead definitely has the explosiveness the Rams could be looking for. As an upperclassman at Cincinnati he rushed for 2,288 yards and averaged 5.8 yards. A number actually lower than his career average of 6 yards. And as both players enter their second NFL season, Fisher is optimistic about their futures.

“We’ve always said that players make their biggest improvement from year one to year two,” Fisher said.

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Although both second-year backs Isaiah Pead and Daryl Richardson are undersized and not viewed as potential feature backs, the Rams view both guys as players who can be every-down backs at the pro level. Rams GM Les Snead told Thomas, “Pead toward the end of the year, Daryl at the beginning and middle, proved they can play in the league …They will all have a role. Richardson is going to have a role. Pead is going to have a role. They are all going to have a role and we are going to utilize those roles.”

Pead and Richardson are both explosive, young backs with potential, and Richardson averaged 4.8 yards per carry on 98 attempts for 475 total yards on the season. He also added 24 receptions for 163 yards last season, and I think the Rams can have a viable committee with both guys leading.

Even though Thomas does not see the Rams signing a free agent running back, he went into detail about how former Alabama Crimson Tide feature back Eddie Lacy could be a nice fit for the Rams. It would be interesting to see the Rams go after a running back in the draft, and I think they are better off doing that than signing somebody on the free agent market. They should save a little bit of their cash and roll with a committee of intriguing, young running backs if Jackson is not retained. After all, this organization is high on the prospects of Pead and Richardson. The Rams should  go for value at the RB position, and it seems more and more like Jackson won’t be back next season- but it is imprudent to think that they cannot get a deal done.

You can follow Joe Soriano on Twitter for more NFL updates @SorianoJoe.

Feb 26, 2012; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cincinnati Bearcats running back Isaiah Pead does running drills during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE

Having missed out on Trent Richardson earlier in the draft, the St Louis Rams have chosen Isaiah Pead of the Cincinnati Bearcats as the heir apparent to superstar Steven Jackson.

Pead wasn’t rated as highly as some of the other running backs of this class but is certainly worth the pick. This is a modern day running back who is versatile and can play all over the field.

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