By Jim Thomas
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
04/17/2008
Third in a series of NFL Draft notebooks by Jim Thomas, exclusively on STLtoday.com. Today's topic: wide receivers.
Should the Rams draft California’s DeSean Jackson, he won’t be a total stranger to offensive coordinator Al Saunders and quarterbacks coach Terry Shea.
"I met them when I was younger," Jackson said. "My freshman year of high school, my brother had a chance to take me to training camp. Going in there, meeting them when I was young — I met Dick Vermeil, I met some other coaches out there — I felt really good at the training camp."
Saunders, Shea and Vermeil were all with Kansas City at the time. Jackson’s older brother — Bryon — once was a member of the Chiefs’ practice squad.
Who knows? DeSean Jackson could renew acquaintances with Saunders and Shea this training camp as a St. Louis Ram. He was among the wideouts paying pre-draft visits this week to Rams Park.
Generally projected as a late first-round prospect, Jackson would be very tempting if still around when the Rams pick early in Round 2. League sources say Rams coach Scott Linehan likes Jackson a lot — and what’s not to like?
At Cal, Jackson was a big play waiting to happen. Turning pro following his junior season, Jackson scored 29 touchdowns in 36 college games. Last year alone, he had a 44-yard pass reception, a 73-yard run from scrimmage, and a 77-yard punt return.
Despite suffering a badly-sprained thumb in Cal’s ‘07 season opener, Jackson caught a career-high 65 passes. He finished with six punt returns for TDs in his college career — a Pacific-10 Conference record.
"I consider myself a receiver first," Jackson said. "That’s just an (addition) I can bring to a football team — the ability to return kicks and punts, and just bring an electrifying air to the game."
At the NFL Scouting Combine, Jackson’s 4.35-second 40-yard dash led all wide receivers. The only other wideouts in that neighborhood were Florida’s Andre Caldwell, Missouri’s Will Franklin, and Appalachian State’s Dexter Jackson — all at 4.37 seconds.
Seemingly, the only thing Jackson lacks is size at 5-9 1/2 and 169 pounds.
"It’s not going to hurt me," Jackson said. "You can put on my film, and actually see I play bigger than what I really am."
However, Jackson does admit he could "get stronger and put a little bulk on me."
ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
04/17/2008
Third in a series of NFL Draft notebooks by Jim Thomas, exclusively on STLtoday.com. Today's topic: wide receivers.
Should the Rams draft California’s DeSean Jackson, he won’t be a total stranger to offensive coordinator Al Saunders and quarterbacks coach Terry Shea.
"I met them when I was younger," Jackson said. "My freshman year of high school, my brother had a chance to take me to training camp. Going in there, meeting them when I was young — I met Dick Vermeil, I met some other coaches out there — I felt really good at the training camp."
Saunders, Shea and Vermeil were all with Kansas City at the time. Jackson’s older brother — Bryon — once was a member of the Chiefs’ practice squad.
Who knows? DeSean Jackson could renew acquaintances with Saunders and Shea this training camp as a St. Louis Ram. He was among the wideouts paying pre-draft visits this week to Rams Park.
Generally projected as a late first-round prospect, Jackson would be very tempting if still around when the Rams pick early in Round 2. League sources say Rams coach Scott Linehan likes Jackson a lot — and what’s not to like?
At Cal, Jackson was a big play waiting to happen. Turning pro following his junior season, Jackson scored 29 touchdowns in 36 college games. Last year alone, he had a 44-yard pass reception, a 73-yard run from scrimmage, and a 77-yard punt return.
Despite suffering a badly-sprained thumb in Cal’s ‘07 season opener, Jackson caught a career-high 65 passes. He finished with six punt returns for TDs in his college career — a Pacific-10 Conference record.
"I consider myself a receiver first," Jackson said. "That’s just an (addition) I can bring to a football team — the ability to return kicks and punts, and just bring an electrifying air to the game."
At the NFL Scouting Combine, Jackson’s 4.35-second 40-yard dash led all wide receivers. The only other wideouts in that neighborhood were Florida’s Andre Caldwell, Missouri’s Will Franklin, and Appalachian State’s Dexter Jackson — all at 4.37 seconds.
Seemingly, the only thing Jackson lacks is size at 5-9 1/2 and 169 pounds.
"It’s not going to hurt me," Jackson said. "You can put on my film, and actually see I play bigger than what I really am."
However, Jackson does admit he could "get stronger and put a little bulk on me."