No Sense of Security : Delpino Hasn’t Taken Starting Role for Granted
Ten touchdowns, a highlight reel full of big plays and 902 total yards from scrimmage into the season, Robert Delpino still acts like a jittery temp worker on Sundays.
It seems it takes more than carrying an entire offense on his back for nine weeks to soothe three years’ worth of backed-up emotion.
Delpino, the man responsible for 36% of the Rams’ positive yardage this year, realizes shots at stardom do not come his way very 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 this season, when starting tailback Cleveland Gary fumbled on his fourth carry and Delpino was forced out of his backup fullback spot into the lead tailback role.
That is the role for which Delpino had quietly waited to assume most of three years.
When the time came, Delpino did not waver, and now the Rams acknowledge that this former backup fullback is easily their most productive offensive player.
Delpino leads the team in rushing, with 476 yards, is second in receptions (31) and receiving yards (426), and his league-leading 10 touchdowns are three more than the rest of the team combined .
Without him, the Ram offense might be at Ground Zero, and averaging about that many points a game.
Still, those years of waiting have taken a toll on Delpino’s ability to savor his current 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.”
But despite Delpino’s acceptance of the uncertainties, there is little doubt 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. Delpino just listens and does what he is told to do.
Through his first three seasons, he was a kickoff returner, third-down pass-catching specialist, blitz-pickup artist, lead blocker, and, by the way, a dangerous tailback if they ever needed him.
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. I don’t think in this offense, the fullback, his talent’s are utilized if he can run or if he can go one-on-one against the linebacker. There’s not the proper plays for a person like that to be a fullback.
“It’s only my first real season as a starter. I can only get better.”
Delpino, bulked up 10 pounds from his playing weight of 205 last season, entered training camp behind Gary and Dupree at tailback, behind last year’s team MVP Buford McGee at fullback, and figured he was still behind the eight-ball this season.
“Really, things hadn’t changed from last year, and I didn’t expect them to,” Delpino said.
“I wanted to come in in good shape, heavier, maybe change something about me. It wasn’t really a thought of coming in and doing what I’m doing now. That was the last thing on my mind.”
But Gary stumbled and is now recovering from a knee injury, Dupree spent the better part of the first half on injured reserve and Delpino has the spotlight.
“He’s been our big-play guy, no question about it,” said Ernie Zampese, who has altered the offense a little to get the tailback more pass-action. “Every game it comes up that way. When a guy makes a big play, he is most likely to make that play. And he’s done it all year. And I think he’ll continue to do it.”
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 always thought I could, just to show people if they had a little doubt in their minds.”
Delpino says he recognizes he isn’t the perfect size for Robinson’s power-back, muscle-through-the-tackles kind of running attack and appreciates the Rams running more quick traps and draws, instead of pitchouts, to get him the room he needs to break runs.
“Yeah, I think that’s smart,” Delpino said. “I’m only 215. Marcus is 240, Cleveland’s 230. I think it’s smart to utilize me for what my weight-size is, what I can actually do, realistically.”
And realistically, Delpino knows he has surprised everybody, even his coaches, by playing so well so long into the season. Robinson has worried that Delpino could get beat up over time, but he has carried the ball 142 times and does not complain of 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.”
Robert Delpino By the Numbers
Date Opponent Rushing Receiving Att. Yds. LG TD Rec. Yds. LG TD 9-1 St. Louis Cardinals 15 81 14 2 10 113 41 0 9-8 New York Giants 27 116 36 1 1 9 9 0 9-15 New Orleans Saints 19 67 11 0 0 0 -- 0 9-22 San Francisco 49ers 9 5 5 1 3 39 28 0 9-29 Green Bay Packers 13 24 5 1 5 57 28 0 10-13 San Diego Chargers 17 50 8 2 1 6 6 0 10-20 Los Angeles Raiders 14 27 5 0 8 118 38 1 10-27 Atlanta Falcons 8 56 24 1 1 -5 -5 0 11-3 New Orleans Saints 20 50 7 1 2 89 78 0 Totals 142 476 36 9 31 426 78 1