Springing for Jackson(Chad) will be a leap of faith

[TheManeMan]

The draft story of Chad Jackson is a story of jumps.

Vertical jumps, broad jumps, jumps in draft stock, jumping to conclusions and, most likely, a leap of faith.

Even though the Florida receiver has improved his draft standing considerably since the end of the 2005 season, it will take a leap of faith for a team to take him in the first round, where he almost certainly will go.

This is what we know about Jackson: He can run fast. (He ran a 4.32 40 at the NFL Scouting Combine.) He has size. (He measured in at 6-0 7/8, 213.) He is explosive. (He had a 38 1/2-inch vertical jump and 10-2 broad jump.)

This is what we don't know about Jackson: why he didn't play as he tested.

Jackson didn't play poorly. As a junior in 2005, he tied the Florida school record for receptions in a season with 88. He showed excellent hands and the ability to catch balls away from his body. Many of those 88 catches came on passes across the middle, so you know he's tough.

But Jackson didn't make many big plays. He averaged 10.2 yards per catch. To put that in perspective, consider this: 580 college players had better averages last season, according to STATS Inc. In fact, even if Jackson had doubled his average per catch, 14 players would have had a better average.

So we know Jackson was no threat to go vertical. Whether that was a reflection of Jackson's ability or Urban Meyer's loose change offense is debatable. But it would seem fair to give Jackson some benefit of the doubt. Says one AFC general manager, "On the tape from his sophomore year (when he played in a different scheme), it was clear he could run. A coach on the old staff used the word explosive to describe him." In 2004, Jackson averaged 22.3 yards per catch, third best in the country. But he caught only 29 passes, not enough for NFL scouts to feel completely confident in his abilities.

Should we jump to the conclusion that Jackson was a prisoner of his offense? Well, if he was, he didn't have cellmates. Meyer has been a head coach for five years -- one at Florida, two at Utah and two at Bowling Green. He has coached 18 receivers who caught 25 passes or more in a season over those five years. Of those 18 players, Jackson's average per catch was the worst. Four Gators teammates averaged more than 13 yards per catch in 2005. Steve Savoy, who went to camp with the Lions last year as an undrafted free agent but didn't make the team, averaged 16.6 yards per catch in Meyer's offense at Utah in 2003.

Although Meyer's offense did not provide many downfield opportunities for Jackson, it's clear the offense wasn't the only factor in his low average. Jackson could have done more once the ball was in his hands. You could add up all of Jackson's yards after the catch and still not have enough to constitute a proper dog walk. "He's not a run-away-from-you guy or a make-you-miss guy," says one AFC director of college scouting.

Jackson did not play fast in 2005. The elements of suddenness were missing from his game. Consequently, his route running was substandard. He rounded off corners and failed to separate. Even at the Combine, where he wasn't running routes designed by Meyer, Jackson's route running was mediocre. "He didn't drop his weight easily, and he looked uncomfortable and tight in his hips," the scouting director says. "He's not special as a route runner."

If you were charitable, or trying to justify your interest, you'd say Jackson is a raw route runner. And you wouldn't be stretching the truth. He's an inexperienced player who is likely to improve.

With the right coaching, and in the right system, only imagination can limit a player with Jackson's measurables.

But first-round picks, especially high ones, need to be used on players who have proved they can do the job. If it were my first-round pick, I'd let someone else take that chance. Nobody thinks a leap of faith will be a jump off a cliff when they take the first step.

Senior writer Dan Pompei covers the NFL for Sporting News. E-mail him at

[SouthStndJunkie]

I would pass on Chad Jackson as well.

[ludo21]

I really hope we pass on a WR in the first.

We can get equal if not better WR's later in the draft. (Hagan, Haas, STovall)

[Rascal]

Originally Posted by ludo21

I really hope we pass on a WR in the first.

We can get equal if not better WR's later in the draft. (Hagan, Haas, STovall)

Word.

[DBroncos4life]

Originally Posted by ludo21

I really hope we pass on a WR in the first.

We can get equal if not better WR's later in the draft. (Hagan, Haas, STovall)

after looking at the modern history of the draft I would say you are wrong.

[KipCorrington25]

This guy has Ricky Nattiel written all over... pass.

[Requiem]

He played under Zook and Meyer. Different coaches, different styles. That's probably why his performance fluctuated as a player. /end argument.

[Rascal]

Originally Posted by DBroncos4life

after looking at the modern history of the draft I would say you are wrong.

There are probably only going to be two WR's taken in the first round this year (Jackson and Holmes) and looking at history it is apparent that the #1 taken each year in the draft does not do very well (ie a bust).

[ludo21]

Originally Posted by DBroncos4life

after looking at the modern history of the draft I would say you are wrong.

Id be willing to bet that 1 or both are going to bust. (holmes and jackson)

[DBroncos4life]

Originally Posted by ludo21

Id be willing to bet that 1 or both are going to bust. (holmes and jackson)

why because experts feel that way or is it something you saw in watching them play? I think that Moss, Holmes and Jackson will do very well in the NFL. It might not be Jerry Rice good but I think they will hold there own.

[ludo21]

Originally Posted by DBroncos4life

why because experts feel that way or is it something you saw in watching them play? I think that Moss, Holmes and Jackson will do very well in the NFL. It might not be Jerry Rice good but I think they will hold there own.

I just dont see them doing well. Sometimes i get these odd feelings on players (sometimes right, mostly wrong ) But ill stand by what i said.

C Jack did show good hands in the all star comp tho, ill give him that.

[Jens1893]

Originally Posted by DBroncos4life

why because experts feel that way or is it something you saw in watching them play? I think that Moss, Holmes and Jackson will do very well in the NFL. It might not be Jerry Rice good but I think they will hold there own.

Holmes is the one I feel best about. Jackson has that UF thing working against him.

[Requiem]

Originally Posted by Rascal

There are probably only going to be two WR's taken in the first round this year (Jackson and Holmes) and looking at history it is apparent that the #1 taken each year in the draft does not do very well (ie a bust).

Which probably has more to do with the situation the player is in, (often going to poor teams) rather than the type of player he is.

[Requiem]

Originally Posted by Jens

Holmes is the one I feel best about. Jackson has that UF thing working against him.

This isn't a Spurrier wide receiver, so the whole pedigree of the "Florida Bust Theory" is a little bit iffy in my opinion.

[watermock]

I seem to remember a certain WR that was a can't miss 4 years ago.

[DBroncos4life]

Originally Posted by watermock

I seem to remember a certain WR that was a can't miss 4 years ago.

I don't remember anyone calling a WR a can't miss player.


Jackson has great hands, speed that you look for, work ethic, and attitude that you would want as well. People keep saying its his speed that is making him move up the draft board but I believe its the fact that he interviewed so well. That means more to me then a 40 time.

[watermock]

So what make you think Jackson would have more of an impact when his TPC is 10 and Lelie 20? Plus he played for Florida. Lelie played for Hawaii...get the connection?

[Requiem]

Originally Posted by watermock

So what make you think Jackson would have more of an impact when his TPC is 10 and Lelie 20? Plus he played for Florida. Lelie played for Hawaii...get the connection?

Jackson is more physical and can get a lot more yards after the catch than Lelie can.

[Rascal]

Originally Posted by Requiem

Jackson is more physical and can get a lot more yards after the catch than Lelie can.

Then explain why his YAC was not overly impressive either?

[Atlas]

Originally Posted by DBroncos4life

I don't remember anyone calling a WR a can't miss player.


Jackson has great hands, speed that you look for, work ethic, and attitude that you would want as well. People keep saying its his speed that is making him move up the draft board but I believe its the fact that he interviewed so well. That means more to me then a 40 time.

That's the part I like when I read about Jackson. Everyone says he has great hands. Shanny and Dinger can teach him to run better routes but if you can't catch you can't catch.

[Requiem]

Originally Posted by Rascal

Then explain why his YAC was not overly impressive either?

Like I've said many times, Urban Meyer's offense. Look at more than just the statistics, if you've seen Jackson play, he shows a lot of promise and ability when after the catch.

[Mediator12]

Originally Posted by Atlas

That's the part I like when I read about Jackson. Everyone says he has great hands. Shanny and Dinger can teach him to run better routes but if you can't catch you can't catch.

I strongly disagree. Even Jerry Rice admitted he struggled to catch the ball his first two years in the league. Catching can be improved, but again it is more mental than physical anyway.

[brother love]

Doesn't look that bad to me.

2005 Game Log			Receiving					Rushing					Fumbles
DATE	OPP	RESULT	REC	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD	ATT	YDS	AVG	LNG	TD	FUM	LST
9/3	Wyoming	W 32-14	10	138	13.8	26	3	1	5	5.0	5	1	0	0
9/10	Louisiana Tech	W 41-3	5	105	21.0	80	1	1	16	16.0	16	0	0	0
9/17	Tennessee	W 16-7	8	53	6.6	19	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
9/24	@Kentucky	W 49-28	9	105	11.7	36	2	3	16	5.3	16	0	0	0
10/1	@Alabama	L 31-3	8	50	6.3	15	0	3	13	4.3	12	0	0	0
10/8	Mississippi St.	W 35-9	7	78	11.1	18	0	4	28	7.0	16	0	0	0
10/15	@LSU	L 21-17	5	29	5.8	20	0	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
10/29	Georgia	W 14-10	3	21	7.0	21	0	1	-2	-2.0	0	0	0	0
11/5	Vanderbilt	W 49-42	8	53	6.6	11	1	2	11	5.5	9	1	0	0
11/12	@South Carolina	L 30-22	10	104	10.4	31	1	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
11/26	Florida State	W 34-7	9	97	10.8	29	1	0	0	0.0	0	0	0	0
Outback Bowl	Iowa	W 31-24	7	76	10.9	22	0	1	2	2.0	2	0	0	0

Especially the good output against Florida State.

[meangene]

Out of the 1st Round possibilities at WR (Jackson, Holmes, Moss) I would take Moss over the other two. His explosiveness will translate to the NFL level. He is small and there are questions about his fit in the Denver system but, with guys like Steve Smith and Santana Moss performing like they are, I'm less concerned about that than in the past. The rules changes have really helped out the smaller receivers.

[16slayer24]

we ahvent had much luck with first round WR in the past i like defensive depth devoe showed promise lelie can be explosive and watta could be exceptional who knows i just scare d of a 1st round wr