Although Eagles rookie wide receiver DeSean Jackson didn't cost his team with his best impersonation of Leon Lett in Texas Stadium, I will forever remember it as his legacy. In his efforts to get his celebration ready and look as flashy as possible, Jackson released the ball before he broke the plane of the goaline. What's worse is it wasn't the first time he's done it in his career.
So far Jackson has been a big part of the Eagles' potent offense in the absence of starting wide receivers Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown. In fact, Jackson has the most receiving yards of any rookie, and ranks eighth in the league overall. Not bad for a position NFL scouts say takes the longest to master.
Unfortunately, this gumshoe is one of the cockiest players I've seen to date. It could very easily draw attention to him for all the wrong reasons, and he didn't make it any easier on himself by literally throwing away a touchdown in a game where his defense couldn't keep the Cowboys out of the end zone. If the Eagles did not end up scoring a TD on that drive, as Brian Westbrook did on the next play, Jackson would have had that play follow him around for the rest of his life.
For now, he's having a solid campaign. His speed is elite, and he has moves to make even the savviest veteran miss. My knock on him is his size. He's maybe 5'10", 175 lbs. tops. As physical as the NFC East is, I don't think his body will hold up. Consequently, if his size does become an issue, it can turn him into a one-dimensional player in the offense as a vertical threat who can't go over the middle for fear of getting knocked out.
Jackson has as much talent as any receiver in this draft class. However, listen up young buck. You have not accomplished anything in this league yet. I know you see how flashy TO and Ocho Cinco are and you want to emulate that, but don't let things go to your head. That's how you fell out of the first round of the draft to begin with. Don't let your bad habits overshadow your production, otherwise you won't be worth the cost of the aspirin to numb the headache you'll become.
So far Jackson has been a big part of the Eagles' potent offense in the absence of starting wide receivers Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown. In fact, Jackson has the most receiving yards of any rookie, and ranks eighth in the league overall. Not bad for a position NFL scouts say takes the longest to master.
Unfortunately, this gumshoe is one of the cockiest players I've seen to date. It could very easily draw attention to him for all the wrong reasons, and he didn't make it any easier on himself by literally throwing away a touchdown in a game where his defense couldn't keep the Cowboys out of the end zone. If the Eagles did not end up scoring a TD on that drive, as Brian Westbrook did on the next play, Jackson would have had that play follow him around for the rest of his life.
For now, he's having a solid campaign. His speed is elite, and he has moves to make even the savviest veteran miss. My knock on him is his size. He's maybe 5'10", 175 lbs. tops. As physical as the NFC East is, I don't think his body will hold up. Consequently, if his size does become an issue, it can turn him into a one-dimensional player in the offense as a vertical threat who can't go over the middle for fear of getting knocked out.
Jackson has as much talent as any receiver in this draft class. However, listen up young buck. You have not accomplished anything in this league yet. I know you see how flashy TO and Ocho Cinco are and you want to emulate that, but don't let things go to your head. That's how you fell out of the first round of the draft to begin with. Don't let your bad habits overshadow your production, otherwise you won't be worth the cost of the aspirin to numb the headache you'll become.
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