Coach Jeff Fisher says Isaiah Pead's one-game suspension will have no bearing on the Rams' running back competition.

"Not whatsoever," Fisher said Thursday. "He's not going to be penalized as far as reps and carries during the preseason. We're getting ready for a long haul, and we'll be without him for one week, which we understand, but it doesn't complicate things." The fact that the Rams aren't taking a tough-love approach with their second-year back suggests he remains their preferred lead runner. Zac Stacy and Daryl Richardson are going to get a lot of hype this summer, but Pead remains our best guess to replace Steven Jackson on early downs.

Rams coach Jeff Fisher threw support behind Isaiah Pead following his one-game suspension for a substance-abuse violation.

The Rams know Pead is their most talented back. So they are propping him up instead of pushing him down. They need him. "He obviously has to suffer the consequences and miss the game," said Fisher. "But I'm pleased with how he's bounced back and his professional approach to being a member of this team." We still like Pead's chances of leading St. Louis in carries this season.

The Rams reportedly knew about Isaiah Pead's one-game suspension "for months" and maintain "high expectations" for the 2012 second-round pick.

Per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the one-game ban stems from a "minor violation" from last year. Profootballtalk's Mike Florio speculates it resulted from some "previously unknown violation of law." The NFL does not have to disclose reasons for suspensions, and nor does Pead's camp. Ultimately, the one-game suspension could affect Pead's ADP and make him a better draft-day value.

NFL suspended Rams RB Isaiah Pead one game for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

The suspension comes at a bad time for Pead, who is in a three-way battle to start. He's still very much in the mix for carries, but this opens the door wider for rookie Zac Stacy and Daryl Richardson. Pead has the ability to practice with the team and play in preseason games, so he'll still get plenty of reps. The fact that Pead is missing one game is much less of a concern than the bad vibes he's generating in St. Louis. The 50th overall pick in last year's draft, Pead's rookie season was a major disappointment.

Rams second-year RB Isaiah Pead attributed his slow first season to falling behind due to the NFL rule that prevents rookies from attending offseason workouts when their colleges are on the quarter system.

"The crazy thing was, I wasn't even in school at the time," said Pead, who admitted his rookie season was "miserable" because he was so far behind. "I was just sitting around. I had a playbook, but I couldn't explain it to myself. I missed all but a week of (offseason practices) last year, so this year, I just feel like I'm that much farther along." In a "wide open" camp battle, Pead will battle Daryl Richardson and rookie Zac Stacy for the starting tailback job.

Isaiah Pead admitted his rookie season was "miserable."

Thanks to a late graduation from college, Pead missed last year's OTAs and never recovered. The second-round pick fell behind seventh-rounder Daryl Richardson and ended up with 10 carries despite being healthy all year. Now that Steven Jackson is gone and Pead has a year in the system under his belt, he's expecting a major role. "Whole new era, whole new attitude, whole new team, whole new Pead," he said.

Coach Jeff Fisher confirmed that RB Isaiah Pead is in the mix to start this season.

Pead barely got off the bench as a rookie, receiving just 10 carries all season as he fell behind Daryl Richardson. Now there's a massive opportunity with Steven Jackson in Atlanta, and Fisher hasn't lost faith in his second-round pick. "He'll get his opportunity this year. ... He's got a chance to make a lot of big plays for us." Like most young backs, Pead needs to show improvement in ball security and pass protection. But he has significantly more upside than Richardson and is the current favorite to lead this committee. The Rams will also add more talent to the position, possibly via April's draft.

Rams coach Jeff Fisher stated at the Combine that he's maintained high hopes for 2012 second-round pick Isaiah Pead despite a quiet rookie year.

After his college's late graduation cost Pead OTAs, his rookie year never really got started. He has ample talent for a year-two leap. "We drafted Isaiah because we felt like he has a chance to be a good back, not necessarily just a change-of-pace back for (Steven Jackson) but the guy," Fisher said. "Daryl (Richardson) can be the guy. Most everybody is using multiple backs in their offense."

Isaiah Pead rushed for 21 yards on five carries in Week 17 versus the Seahawks.

Pead totaled five carries for 33 yards in 14 games before Sunday. The second-round pick out of Cincinnati seemed to be in the doghouse all season long as he battled fumbling issues. Pead also had a knack for not hitting the hole hard and being somewhat tentative when he was given opportunities to carry the rock. He ends his rookie season with ten carries for 54 yards and three catches for 16 yards. Longtime starter Steven Jackson is expected to hit the free agent market this offseason, so Pead and fellow rookie Daryl Richardson could be asked to carry the load in 2013. Pead drew comparisons to former Jeff Fisher running back Chris Johnson when he came out of Cincinnati.

Isaiah Pead caught one pass for nine yards in St. Louis' Week 10 tie with the 49ers.

Pead coughed the ball up on his lone catch - a screen in overtime - but was ruled down. Putting the ball on the ground was a running theme for the Rams' second-round pick, as he fumbled two kick returns, losing one in the fourth quarter. It was the kind of performance that would get a player of lesser draft pedigree cut, especially since it wasn't Pead's first brush with ball-security issues. A real-life liability, Pead is a fantasy non-factor.

Coach Jeff Fisher reiterated Tuesday that the Rams will look for ways to get the ball in RB Isaiah Pead's hands after flashing explosiveness on three garbage-time carries in Week 8.

"We are going to continue to try to get him some touches," said Fisher. "It makes sense. You are playing in an NFL game; you are playing against NFL players and for him to flash like that regardless of the situation in the game was pretty impressive." While we love Fisher's optimism for Pead's Dynasty league potential, the No. 50 overall pick remains a longshot for redraft value this season.

Coach Jeff Fisher will look for ways to get the ball in Isaiah Pead's hands after the rookie flashed playmaking ability in three garbage-time carries versus the Patriots.

"We drafted Isaiah because of those run skills and he's got them," Fisher said. "But again, it's hard to get everybody the carries, but we'll try to keep him involved." Pead finally showed confidence and decisiveness after running with hesitation and uncertainty in preseason action. While it's the first positive sign for Pead's Dynasty value since early August, those in redraft leagues can continue to ignore the Rams' third-string back.

The Bengals reportedly "coveted" rookie RB Isaiah Pead in the draft.

It makes perfect sense. Pead starred at the University of Cincinnati and the Bengals aren't exactly overflowing with talent in the backfield. But even though Pead has been a healthy scratch most weeks in St. Louis, there's no trade opportunities here. NFL teams don't trade away young talent that is in the first year of team-friendly contracts.

With Steven Jackson battling a Week 2 groin injury, second-round pick Isaiah Pead played just two offensive snaps.

Pead has clearly been overtaken by more-impressive seventh-round rookie Daryl Richardson, who played 43 snaps and rushed 15 times for 83 yards while catching two passes for 19 more. Richardson did lose a fumble, but for now he's obviously ahead of Pead on the depth chart. Jackson's status for Week 3 at Chicago is uncertain. On his first 17 NFL carries, Richardson has 103 yards and should be prioritized over Pead on waiver-wire lists.

Playing behind fellow rookie Daryl Richardson, second-round RB Isaiah Pead rushed 10 times for 58 yards versus the Ravens in the preseason finale.

Richardson (12 touches, 55 yards) played extensively with Sam Bradford and the starters while Pead entered primarily with the second-team offense. While it was nice to finally see Pead playing with confidence, Richardson did nothing to lose ground. The two will both see action behind Steven Jackson, leaving the starter without an obvious handcuff.

Coach Jeff Fisher attributes rookie RB Isaiah Pead's preseason struggles to poor run blocking and a slow training camp start after missing the majority of OTAs.

"He just really hasn't been given an opportunity to hit a crease and show what he can do," Fisher said. "The game did slow down a little bit for him after Week 1. I think from a run skill standpoint, all you have to do is look at those two kickoff returns and you'll get a sense of what he can do in the open field." Although Pead hasn't run with confidence in preseason action, it sounds like Fisher believes he's finally turning the corner and adjusting to NFL speed.

Isaiah Pead rushed ten times for 33 yards in the Rams' preseason opener against the Colts Sunday.

He also caught three passes for nine yards. Pead was used as a change-of-pace back behind Steven Jackson with the first-team offense, before handling virtually all of the second-team reps. St. Louis' offensive line seemed to run block better when Jackson was in the game. Pead remains a rookie to monitor throughout August as the go-to handcuff for overworked, 29-year-old S-Jax.

Rams second-round RB Isaiah Pead has looked "really impressive" in training camp, according to veteran Steven Jackson.

Pead still "gets lost every once in awhile" after missing offseason practices due to Cincinnati's late graduation date, but coach Jeff Fisher has been impressed by his run skills, pass protection, receiving ability and finishing. NFL Films analyst Greg Cosell opined after the draft that there "isn't much difference" between Pead and LeSean McCoy coming out of college. Rotoworld's Adam Levitan ranks Pead as the No. 5 fantasy "handcuff" this season.

Stationed at Rams camp, ESPN's John Clayton calls rookie RB Isaiah Pead a "Darren Sproles-style back with speed, decent hands and an ability to run up the middle well."

It's the latest lofty comp for the explosive, well-rounded Senior Bowl MVP likened to Jamaal Charles and LeSean McCoy by NFL Films guru Greg Cosell. The Rams front office and coaching staff reportedly saw similarities to Chris Johnson as well. Pead is ranked as the No. 5 overall Dynasty rookie by Rotoworld's Chris Wesseling.

According to NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah, the Rams have internally evaluated second-round pick Isaiah Pead as a Chris Johnson-type back.

Keep in mind Jeremiah spent all of 2011 and the winter of 2012 as an Eagles scout, evaluating incoming college prospects. "I really liked him when I evaluated him," Jeremiah said of Pead. "And from talking to the guys in St. Louis, I know they're very high on him. Jeff Fisher sees some traits in (Pead) that remind him of Chris Johnson." Pead should be drafted in all leagues as Steven Jackson's handcuff and an every-week RB2 in the event Jackson breaks down.