Rams’ Delpino Takes Advantage of Opportunity

Ten touchdowns, a highlight reel of big plays and 902 yards from scrimmage into the season that has lifted him from obscurity, Robert Delpino still acts like a jittery temporary worker on Sundays.

Apparently, it takes more than carrying an entire offense for nine weeks to soothe three years’ worth of backed-up emotion.

Delpino, responsible for 36% of the Rams’ yardage this year, realizes that shots at stardom do not come often.

“On game day, I’m probably the most nervous person out there,” Delpino said. “I keep to myself. I don’t say much.

“Right before the game, I’m nervous as hell, to tell you the truth. There still is that factor--there is now, and there was then, when that transition was made.

“There was a lot of pressure on me then to be moved into that situation.”

The transition came the first week of the season, when tailback Cleveland Gary fumbled on his fourth carry and Delpino was moved out of his backup fullback spot into the lead tailback role.

Which is the role Delpino quietly had waited three years to assume.

Delpino did not waver, and now, the Rams acknowledge he is easily their best offensive player in terms of pure production.

Delpino leads the team in rushing, with 476 yards; is second in both receptions, with 31, and receiving yards, with 426; and his league-leading 10 touchdowns are three more than the rest of the team combined .

Still, those years waiting have taken their toll on Delpino’s ability to savor his position. With Gary still in the picture, and the full-time arrival of Marcus Dupree on the horizon, who knows how long his run will last?

“There’s always that little shadow of, not doubt, but the idea that things might change at any time,” Delpino said. “That’s just being realistic. That’s the way I approach my position so far.

“There’s not doubt, but there’s that reality.”

Despite Delpino’s acceptance of the uncertainties of his status, there is little doubt that he has won a major spot in this offense, Dupree or no Dupree, Gary or not.

Coach John Robinson hints that Delpino could see more time as an all-purpose fullback with either Gary or Dupree in the backfield, and Delpino just listens and does what he is told.

Through three seasons, he served as a kickoff returner, third-down pass-catching specialist, blitz pickup artist, lead blocker, and, by the way, a tailback when needed.

But he has had his taste of being the offensive workhorse, and he definitely likes it.

“I think to utilize my overall skills, I need to be in a situation where I get the ball,” Delpino said. “But that’s a coaching decision.

“It’s only my first real season as a starter. I can only get better.”

Delpino, who had bulked up 10 pounds from his 205 of last season, entered training camp behind Gary and Dupree at tailback; behind last year’s team MVP, Buford McGee, at fullback and figured that he was still behind the 8-ball.

But Gary stumbled and is recovering from a knee injury, Dupree spent most of the first half on the injured-reserve list and Delpino has the spotlight.

Said Delpino: “There’s satisfaction now. Because of the first three years, and mainly last year, I’m very happy about it, happy to see I can perform the way I thought I could, just to show people if they had a little doubt in their minds.”

And Delpino knows he has surprised everybody, even his coaches, by playing so well so long. Robinson worried that he could get beaten up, but he has carried the ball 142 times and does not complain about the pounding.

“In my eyes, it’s not a surprise, but in their eyes . . . I don’t know,” Delpino said. “I think the element of surprise comes when you’ve never seen me do it before. . . . But I’d never been given the chance before. Every chance I’d been given, I had been taking advantage of in the past.

“So, I don’t think there should be any kind of surprise factor with anyone because it’s always been there.”