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WR Jackson Seeks Speedy Transition
Tribune photo by CLIFF MCBRIDE
Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie Dexter Jackson (l) listens to head coach Jon Gruden at the Bucs mini-camp.
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Published: May 3, 2008
Updated: 05/03/2008 10:39 am
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TAMPA - Dexter Jackson showed up for the Bucs' rookie minicamp on Friday still wearing the golden slippers that helped launch one of the greatest upsets in college football history.
"They're my lucky shoes," Jackson said of the gold-trimmed black cleats he wore during Appalachian State's stunning upset of Big 10 power Michigan in September. "The Bucs gave us shoes, but these are already broken in and I need to be light on my feet here."
Being light on his feet has never been a problem for Jackson. A year ago at this time, long before he became the face of the Division I-AA Appy State program and a Sports Illustrated cover boy, he ran a 4.3 40-yard dash at a workout for pro scouts.
That 40-yard run put Jackson on every NFL scout's radar, but it was the 68 yards he ran while turning a short pass reception into a touchdown against Michigan that got him where he is today.
"It really helped kick-start this whole journey for me," Jackson said of the first-quarter pass play that launched the upset. "After that game, it was like, let's check him out and see what he can do. Let's do some research on him. It really helped."
It mostly helped Jackson's stock. Before the Michigan game, most NFL scouts saw Jackson as a late second-day selection - a fifth-, sixth- or seventh-round pick, according to Bucs pro scouting director Mark Dominik. After that game, scouts looked at Jackson more like a second-round option.
And that's where the Bucs took him, their thinking being that his speed could one day allow him to replace Joey Galloway as the wideout who stretches defenses like taffy. In the meantime, the Bucs plan to use Jackson's speed for other purposes.
In particular, they want him returning punts and kicks. In fact, Jackson's ability to help the offense before it even takes the field is the primary reason the Bucs selected the 5-foot-9, 182-pounder from Dunwoody, Ga.
"We looked at him as a returner-receiver who hopefully can develop," Dominik said. "In this league, if you want a returner you've got to go get one. They're hard to just pick off. And we haven't done that in forever."
It shows. Not until last year, after 511 games and 1,865 attempts, did the Bucs have a player return a kick for a touchdown. Jackson, though, gives the Bucs the ability to start a completely different kind of streak.
"He's a quick-strike guy," Bucs coach Jon Gruden said of Jackson, who returned 93 punts for 837 yards and 35 kicks for 619 yards during his college career. "He'll give us a real kick in the return game."
To warrant the second-round pick the Bucs used to get him, Jackson will have to do more than return kicks and punts. He also will have to become a reliable pass catcher, and many believe he can.
He obviously has the speed. And he has good hands and runs good routes, scouts say. The concern is his size. Mention that to Jackson, though, and he immediately rattles off the names of receivers who have not let their lack of ideal size slow them down.
"Steve Smith, Santana Moss, Roscoe Parrish - there are a lot of small receivers who have made a big impact in the game," Jackson said, "and I feel like if I can get to the outside and get one-on-one, I can use my speed to my advantage."
Jackson obviously made good use of speed at Appalachian State. He didn't get to use it very often, though. Opponents often double-teamed him to force the ball to other areas, limiting Jackson's usefulness but not his impact.
"When he did get the ball it was usually for big yards or a touchdown," said former Appalachian State receivers coach Lonnie Galloway. "But now it's time for him to go to work. I told him, plug in that Jugs machine, find somebody to feed it for you and catch, catch, catch. If he does that, he'll be fine."
Jackson has every intention of following his old position coach's advice. He said he came to the Bucs to work on his game and prove he can be the double-edged weapon they drafted him to be.
"Coming from App, I have to work twice as hard as the next guy," he said. "But I'm going to work hard every day, because I feel like if we're in a two-receiver set, I can be one of the receivers out there."
Reporter Roy Cummings can be reached at (813) 259-7979 or rcummings@tampatrib.com.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( SANDY1 ) on May 3, 2008 at 9:24 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Go dexter..Lets see the speed for real and some good slant patterns!!Good luck and welcome!!
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Posted by ( justmyopinion ) on May 3, 2008 at 6:50 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
SMALL COLLEGE / SLANT ROUTE / JERRY RICE. WHATEVER THIS YOUNG MANS FUTURE HAS IN STORE REMAINS TO BE SEEN...LETS GIVE HIM A CHANCE TO GROW INTO A REAL PLAY MAKER. LIKE I SAID SMALLL COLLEGE / SLANT ROUTE / JERRY RICE THE REST IS HISTORY!
GO DEX!!!!!
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Posted by ( austinpowers ) on May 4, 2008 at 4 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Dex's Michigan game slant pattern carbon copy of GALLOWAY. He also out runs corners once the ball is in hand. Gruden press(s) DEX into lineup sooner than expected in 2008 to take some pressure off Galloway. Thought I think Devin T was worth more and should never pass on 4.37 Caldwell, but Jackson could be a surprise...who knows...
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Posted by ( austinpowers ) on May 4, 2008 at 4:05 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
AFTERTHOUGHT : DEXTER PLEASE STUDY THE DAM PLAY BOOK OR YOU WILL ONLY RETURN KICKS IN 2008 - TALK TO M BENNETT IF YOU THINK YOU CAN SKIP IT - ALSO LEARN SOFT HANDS TECHNIQUE FROM GALLOWAY AND SELL YOUR MOVES BETTER
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Posted by ( AppMan ) on May 5, 2008 at 10:16 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Congrats Dexter! Go get 'em! Thanks for the memories!! By the way Mr Cummings, we are App State, not Appy.
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