Steven Jackson is the quintessential feature back. The St. Louis Rams veteran has 120 carries through the team’s 0-6 start. The rest of the Rams’ running backs share 15 attempts.

The Indianapolis Colts used to lean on Edgerrin James in a similar fashion, but no more. Since the departure of their career rushing leader before the 2006 season, they’ve taken a tandem approach with their running backs.

Sunday in the Edward Jones Dome, the Rams must deal with Joseph Addai and rookie Donald Brown .

“I’m cool with that,” Addai said. “I’ve been rotating since college. That’s what I do.”

Addai has rushed 704 times during his four-year, 48-game career. He has handled at least 20 attempts 12 times but only once in his past 21 games. Jackson has had at least 21 carries in three of his past four games.

“Everybody wants to be the guy,” Addai said. “Who doesn’t want 20 carries a game? But what we get — going into the game and knowing the situation — we’re all right.”

Addai leads the Colts with 210 yards on 62 attempts. Brown, the 27th overall pick in the April draft, follows with 154 yards on 44 attempts.

Brown’s backup role is in stark contrast to his final season at the University of Connecticut. He led the nation in rushing with 2,083 yards by averaging 28.2 carries per game. His busiest day as a pro was a 14-carry outing at Arizona.

The transition from feature back to complementary player hasn’t been that difficult for him.

“My second year in college, we had the same two-back system,” Brown said. “It seems like every good team in the NFL is doing that nowadays. It keeps guys fresh, especially two backs who complement each other so well.”

James used to consider his first 10 carries in a game as a feeling-out period. Now, 10 carries might be all Addai or Brown get.

Whatever rhythm each needs to be successful must be generated immediately.

“You just have to go in there with both feet and make the most of it,” Brown said.

Addai agreed.

“We never know what the situation is,” he said. “We kind of think the worst, feeling you might not get a lot of opportunities, so take advantage of whatever you get.”

Sanders takes day off

If safety Bob Sanders makes his first appearance of the season Sunday against the Rams, it will be in his usual role.

“If he’s capable of going, we probably will start him,” coach Jim Caldwell said Thursday.

After going through a full-squad workout Wednesday, Sanders was held out Thursday. That has been his routine in previous seasons.

Caldwell said Sanders came out of Wednesday’s practice in good shape.

“We feel good about his progress and where he is,” Caldwell said. “He feels good about it.”