After his first practice with the team, DeSean Jackson took some time to speak to members of the media at the conclusion of the first session. It was surprising to see Jackson come out to talk to the media as some speculated he would bypass them and their questions on the progress, if any, of his contract talks.
He spoke about what it felt like to be back in football mode and being surrounded by so much talent, as well as the Steve Smith signing.
But one thing stood out to me. Hidden between two different sound bites, Jackson slipped in his view on himself compared to other receivers around the league.
“I consider myself one of the best receivers in this league, so for me to go against [the talented CB’s] every day in practice, by the time the game comes around I’ll be ready to go,” said Jackson.
There are a handful of receivers out there that are a part of the aforementioned “best receivers in the league” group Jackson brought up: Calvin Johnson, Andre Johnson, Roddy White, Larry Fitzgerald and Greg Jennings.
Those five players are perennial Pro Bowl members and are consistently near the top of the league in all the major receiving categories.
Jackson, on the other hand, ranked 12th in yards, T-29th in touchdowns, T-71st in receptions. Are those top WR numbers?
No, but Jackson isn’t like other receivers, he’s got many different aspects of his game that other receivers lack.
First, there’s the explosiveness he possesses. Not many receivers in the league have the speed and quickness of Jackson. There’s just one receiver I can think of that has a similar skill set to that of Jackson, at least in terms of speed and quickness, and that is Pittsburgh’s Mike Wallace.
Last season, Jackson led the league in yards per reception at 22.5; Wallace was second in the league with 21.0 yards per catch. Since 2008, Jackson leads the league in touchdowns of 50 yards or more (13), leading players such as Tennessee’s Chris Johnson (10) and Cleveland’s Josh Cribbs (6).
He is the most explosive player in the game.
But some will say that he can’t be classified as a top flight receiver because of his lack of receptions. That may be true, but there’s more to the picture that many people fail to realize. While Jackson is on the field, he draws the attention of every member of the opposition’s secondary. Because of this, Jackson faces many double-teams and/or safeties shadowing him over top.
However, this allows players such as Jeremy Maclin, Brent Celek, Jason Avant and LeSean McCoy to flourish. While Jackson has the attention of every cornerback and safety, Maclin is faced with single coverage on the majority of plays, which is why he finished with 70 receptions and 10 touchdowns last season .
Even McCoy benefitted from Jackson’s threat to opposing defenses; he racked up a team-high 78 receptions, which was the most by any RB in the league. Avant and Celek combined for 93 receptions and five touchdowns, as well.
So for that reason, as well as his explosiveness and game-changing ability, Jackson should be classified as one of the best receivers in the league. There just aren’t that many guys in this league that can keep up with him and do the things that he does.
Just ask the Giants’ special teams coverage unit.
There aint one person that has a normal mind that doesn’t think Djax is 1 of the best WR in the game. Question is, is he top 5? and he’s not. He is barely top 10. He fits the mold of the Austin Miles/Wes Welkers of the world and not the Fitzgeralds or the Johnsons.
After the TO fiasco I can’t believe he didn’t have enough sense to use a different agent
He’s not top 5, but I’d say he’s top 10. Sidney Rice is making $8 mil a year, and he’s done a lot less than DJax, and is even a little less durable. Moss is making $10mil a year, but he’s a 70-80 catch guy. I say split the difference, give him a four year deal with a nice guaranteed base, but back loaded otherwise in case he gets hurt.
If he keeps it up, he’ll be eligible for another big money deal before he’s 30, and we’ll have a happy pro bowler.
Sign him to a 3 Year – $35 MIllion Deal with $15 Million Guaranteed $$$
and his annual Salary would be about $7 Million per Year. If he stays healthy and productive he can still get another big Deal at 27- 28 Years of age
rcp, why would he choose Rosenhous(spelling)….I would. The man is the best at what he does and will get you paid.
Paulman I would tell you to shove that 3 years up your arse. Im not TO and the whole country knows Im underpaid. Dont make me go through all the players including the starting QB who have injury problems. Your just gonna single me out. lol. Players get hurt all the time no matter what thier size. I now become a locker room distraction and Im in the media everyday. Wanna send me home? Good luck with your 5 yards and a cloud of dust recievers. You aint winning shit without me. Lets not make this like the Eagles are the only game in town. Their are plenty of teams that will give me long term deals next year and some of them have actually won a superbowl. PS Im not returning punts eithier. Stick Smith back thier in crucial moments. That would be my stance quite honestly.
Well said Doggolden.
It is nice to have 2 or 3 play scoring drives. When you are behind but a couple of scores. But your team is better off, when you have the ability to consistantly move the ball down the field the way the team did without Jackson in the preseason opener.
8-10 play drives give the coaches more time to make defensive adjustments.
8-10 play drives give the defensive players more time to rest.
Djax ability could break a game open or demoralize an opponent. So he has great value. But the Eagles can win and be successful without him.
They have Vick, Maclin and McCoy, all capable of making big plays.
During Andy Reids time here the Eagles have consistantly locked up young talent before they became too expensive. They even redid Winston Justices contract. They could have taken care of DJax along time ago. The CBA did not stop them from giving baby-arm more money.
The Eagles see something in Djax that we don’t or can’t see. His talent is unquestioned.
I remember Buddy Ryan saying that all’s Chris Carter did was catch Tounchdowns. I thought “what a moron!” we later find out he was protecting Chris Carter.
It should have never come to this. With all the money the Eagles have shelled out recently, there has to be another reason they won’t pay this guy.
Right or wrong the Eagles will let pro-bowl talent go. In the past those pro-bowlers have not done as well on other teams. Some have, Babin and Burgess. Some have not McNabb, Trotter.
But Babin and Burgess were not playing at a high level at Philadelphia.
Jackson is, and they have had a couple years lock him up and have not.
That is the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard. Id rather have the Riley Coopers of the world and take 8-10 plays to score so the defense can adjust instead of the superstar who can score in 1 play. lol Psssst bsmvideos guess what we have had the Riley Coopers for 13 years and it DOESNT WORK. GIVE ME THE SUPERSTAR! DJAX should apologize for being a homerun hitter to the defense. please. Fans are so f$%in pathetic. We wait years for a stud reciever and now you complain he scores to fast. Unbelievable.
Although he is a deep threat on every down, he is very inconsistent, disappears for long periods, is small & injury proned. He is not worth $10M a year, like he wants. $6M-$8M over 3-4 years is plenty. If not, too bad!
daggolden –
If resting the defensive players and having time to make gametime adjustments is rediculous to you then thank you for revealing your football IQ.
We have yet to win a superbowl with Jackson, so until that is done, in the end he has done nothing to get us closer than any other of the scrub WRs we have had in past. Explosiveness not withstanding. How much did he explode in the Greenbay playoff???
Yeah that’s what I thought.
Good teams can shut his pee wee butt down.
And that’s what you face in the playoffs.
As I recall I mentioned Vick McCoy and Maclin as other explosive players.
Not Riley Cooper.
Well Daggolden, that sounds good,
I just don’t beleive the Eagles FO will extend D-Jax beyond 3 Years..
@bsmvideos
The model of offense you describe wins superbowls, see steelers and packers running the ball, but it is not reid’s game plan. Reid is a high wire act and without djax, he can’t pull it off.
You may be on to something though on why he isn’t signed; maybe there is a change in offensive philosophy, a bigger, grind it out receiver with Avant and Cooper, along with a running game with the signing of ronnie brown, who looks like he can grind out the yards as well
OK. Question is… how much would he settle for? I would pay him 8 million a year, 9 is a huge stretch. Would the Eagles pay him 8/mil a year? Would he accept 8/mil a year??
I disagree with you vricchini, DeSean is definitely worth more than a Welker. He is definitely a top 10 receiver. I would love to have DeSean in at 6/mil a year, but don’t think he’s going less than 8.
BSMVideos How about this the next time Jackson breaks out in the open we will have him lay down and get touched at the 30 yard line so the defense gets rest and can make adjustments. Ridiculous we would rather take 10 play drives and possibly score instead of big play scores that ndont allow the defense to west. They need all the west they can get so they can adjust. lol
3 Year Deal at $35 MIllion ($15 in Guaranteed $$ spread out over the 3 years)
which wold be a and a base Salary of about $7 Million Per year.. what’s wrong with this for he would avarage approx $12 MIllion per Season..
daggolden Your point is taken.
Both big play ability and the ability to run out the clock or have prolong drives are part of successful football teams.
I think we just disagree over the value of Desean Jackson.
I think the Eagles can win without him. Having coached a talented but troublemaker player before, I always taught my team that we could win regardless of who is missing. That may be the only thing that me and crystal ball Andy agree on.
I was sitting in a resturant in Southfield Michigan watching last years Giants game. I told everyone at the bar that the Eagles have come from behind twice on this team and could do it again. When Desean fumbled the return I put my head down. As the play developed and his vision and speed enabled him to blow past the giant defenders, I lost my mind. (some say I never found it.) That Joy was priceless.
I love Desean Jackson and think he is valuable, but this Eagles team has the most talent on it since the TO days. If they get a right tackle this team will do what the Patriots did a couple of years ago.
We can win without Desean. But I still would like for them to sign him and make the offense as explosvie as possible.