Professor

excerpt:

That's fortunate, because Linehan is expecting the 6-foot-2, 231-Jackson to be a workhorse. As opposed to Martz's air-heavy attack, Linehan's offenses with the Vikings and Dolphins were reasonably balanced, with a 55-45 percent pass-to-run ration.

Miami's top two backs last year, Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams, combined for 66 more carries than Jackson and Faulk, and produced 312 more yards. Those numbers have Jackson smiling.

If Linehan is "going to use me in the way that he used Ronnie and Ricky, I feel like this can be my breakout year," Jackson said.

Can Jackson respond without Faulk on hand for relief? Will he be able to withstand the pounding that 300-carry backs take? Linehan believes Jackson is primed, indicating that 25 carries a game could be a viable target number for him.

"He's shown to be a mature pro in his approach," Linehan said. "He knows that he's got to practice like he's going to play, and you see him getting himself ready. That takes some time, and he's at that point, his third year, where he's ready to go."

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