Faulk Wins AP Offensive POY

January 13, 2000 / 3:12 AM EST / CBS/AP

Beyond the record numbers and the dazzling footwork, something Marshall Faulk did between snaps perhaps best describes his total game.

With the clock running down at Tennessee in Game 7 and the St. Louis Rams out of timeouts, wide receiver Az-zahir Hakim was momentarily stunned and lay on the turf. Faulk swooped in and guided Hakim to the line, avoiding a penalty and keeping a game-tying drive alive.

The next day, coach Dick Vermeil said Faulk was the most alert player he'd ever seen on the field. Everything that's happened with Faulk, the key to the Rams' No. 1-rated offense and an overwhelming choice for The Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year award, has confirmed that.

Faulk is the second player in NFL history to amass 1,000 yards rushing and receiving in the same season. He broke Barry Sanders' 1997 total yardage record. Along the way, he elevated the games of his teammates.

"He knows what everybody does on the field," tight end Roland Williams said Wednesday. "Marshall's just the man. It's very obvious he understands the game besides having great athletic ability."

Faulk ran for 1,381 yards, caught 87 passes for 1,048 yards and totaled 12 touchdowns for a total of 2,429, breaking the previous mark of 2,358. He helped himself with patience, waiting for holes to open and plays to develop before blasting through.

Fullback Robert Holcombe wasn't taking any credit for Faulk's numbers.

"Marshall, he does a lot of stuff on his own," Holcombe said. "He makes everybody's job a little easier."

Vermeil, an avid auto racing fan, likened Faulk to the ultimate turbo charger.

"He adds a boost to your horsepower that goes beyond description," Vermeil said. "You just don't know when he's going to put the pedal to the metal and go to the end zone."

Faulk said he's blessed with a combination of instincts and awareness.

"I just want to absorb as much as I can when I'm sitting in the meetings to know what exactly is going on around me, and where the danger is and the trouble is," he said. "How can this play not be effective? What can stop this play? I want to know exactly how it works."

The Rams improved from the No. 27 offense to No. 1 in a single season due to the prolific contributions from Faulk and quarterback Kurt Warner, who was named the AP MVP last week. Since then, Faulk has won two awards, also being voted team MVP.

"That's cool, that's great, Faulk said. "It's great to be recognized."

Faulk said his dual 1,000-yard season is a bigger accomplishment than breaking Sanders' record because of the durability and versatility that's required. The 49ers' Roger Craig is the only other 1,000-1,000 man, doing it in 1985.

He came close last season, with 1,319 yards rushing and 908 receiving. In 1998, he lined up behind another unusually talented first-year quarterback, Peyton Manning.

"You've got to play every play, you've got to be in there," Faulk said. "And you've got to catch some lucky breaks to make some things happen."

Acquiring Faulk for second- and fifth-round picks two days before the draft was a big break for the Rams, and completed their offseason rebuilding job. The Rams went from 4-12 to 13-3, the best record in the NFC, and scored 526 points third highest in NFL history.

"From our perspective, it's monumental," Rams director of player personnel Charley Armey said. "He makes things happen by his presence."

Vermeil has often said there's more to the package, and Faulk isn't arguing.

"There's always more," Faulk said. "Do I know what? No. Does anybody? No. The situation will have to present itself and I'll take advantage of it."

Faulk earned 26 votes from a nationwide panel of 50 media members, beating Warner by eight votes. Manning and rookie running back Edgerrin James, who replaced Faulk in Indianapolis and won Offensive Rookie of the Year honors, each got three votes apiece.