Chances of Jackson being the #2 WR

[BRiZ]

the best players will play, Jackson will smoke any WR we have besides Moss (and Welker if he was playing slot but hes not). Dont let his injuries derail you, hes a beast, the only thing we have to worry about is him staying healthy, thats it.

 

[Patjew]

Oh no it's the Jackson bust train...I think this year is very important for him. We shall see how he does..Givens was a hard worker and wanted to prove that his late drafting was bogus and through hard work he did. Chad has two years of injuries to overcome. He has a much higher ceiling but in time we will know if he comes close to acheiving anything close.

I'm not on the bust train. But I completely agree with your bolded statement, and seeing that Givens was one of my favorite players and totally clutch, I doubt that CJ will eclipse his output. For long stretches, Givens was the de facto #1 WR on Super Bowl winners.

 

[ALP]

CJ,

none of us will be dissapointed, CJ will be the next generation's Randy Moss mixed with TO

a lot like brandon marshall for the broncos

this yr will be average to above average, he will be lining up opposite moss mostly, but will get looks after moss, welker, and watson

and after this yr, the guy will be an absolute beast

 

[JoeSixPat]

Maroney's been switched to receiver?

I don't understand. Are you trying to say that Maroney and Gaffney will stretch the defense???????

No - Maroney's not been switched to WR, but I've never felt that a running back was going to stretch defenses the way a bonifide deep threat WR would.

Deus and I disagree on that point, as he's pointed out numerous times now that Gaffney is a deep threat WR, as is any RB, WR or TE on the field.

Personally I just don't see defenses being stretched by an RB but Deus will dig up some statistics to prove that anyone on the field is a deep threat WR.

I love Gaffney and what he brings to the team - but I do not see him as a deep threat WR, and I highly doubt defensive coordinators are treating him that way in their coverage either.

Both Stallworth and Gaffney were used deep, as their numbers show.

100% of the NFL wide receivers, tight ends, running backs and quarterbacks are a 'viable deep threat' under the right conditions.

I don't think Stallworth was used deep - nor was anyone else - at least not enough to make a difference in the way that teams covered Moss. And I think that offense would benefit GREATLY if Chad Jackson were able to step up and keep defenses honest, and limiting the double and triple coverage that wore Moss down over the season.

 

[jbb9s]

There are some high expectations for Jackson.

Size,
Speed,
Age
High college profile/draft position

He has high rankings in all these categories. I understand why someone would be bullish on him. No questions here.

However, if you consider there are 1600+ players in the fold right now league wide, I guarantee that there might be 50-70 players floating out there on various teams that other organizations/fans feel equally as high on. Might be a stud TE on the Bears with mad hands who blew up in the combine last year, might be one of those other burners from the SEC at wide out, could be a QB that has been learning from Brett Favre for 3 years, could be Vince Young's TE from college who has half his career catches in one game (off the top of my head..approximately).

I'd just encourage people to get there expectations in check. Jackson could be a #2, more likely a 3 (excluding Welker) and next time a JETS fans says D'Brickshaw Ferguson is a year away from being a Pro Bowler, understand how they are making the same assumptions that some on this board are making of Jackson.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Only if Welker or Moss suffer injuries.

 

[RayClay]

No - Maroney's not been switched to WR, but I've never felt that a running back was going to stretch defenses the way a bonifide deep threat WR would.

Deus and I disagree on that point, as he's pointed out numerous times now that Gaffney is a deep threat WR, as is any RB, WR or TE on the field.

Personally I just don't see defenses being stretched by an RB but Deus will dig up some statistics to prove that anyone on the field is a deep threat WR.

I love Gaffney and what he brings to the team - but I do not see him as a deep threat WR, and I highly doubt defensive coordinators are treating him that way in their coverage either.





I don't think Stallworth was used deep - nor was anyone else - at least not enough to make a difference in the way that teams covered Moss. And I think that offense would benefit GREATLY if Chad Jackson were able to step up and keep defenses honest, and limiting the double and triple coverage that wore Moss down over the season.

Joe, I think you have stretch on the brain. the field stays the same size. If you can get open and catch the ball a lot of things can be accomplished. If you keep sending two receivers deep, they'll just play a deep zone.

 

[JoeSixPat]

Joe, I think you have stretch on the brain. the field stays the same size. If you can get open and catch the ball a lot of things can be accomplished. If you keep sending two receivers deep, they'll just play a deep zone.

Even Maroney?

I think that's a "stretch".

I don't think they'd play a zone at all - I think they'd do what was so effective - covering Moss tight with two, sometimes three guys.

I'd love to think they'd lay off Moss and go with a zone but that's not what we saw last year - Moss was absolutely DRAPED in tight coverage.

I don't go back and analyze game tape routinely, but unless I'm imaginging things Moss was not the beneficiary of zone coverage generated by a deep presence on the other side of the field. It was just the opposite - but I'd LOVE to see that happen.

If Jackson can show he's at least a credible deep threat, and defenses are worried his speed and ability to make the catch will burn them, then I think they WILL be forced to go with a zone defense.

Until that happens, if I'm a DC I'm going to double and triple team Moss until someone makes me pay for that.

 

[RayClay]

Even Maroney?

I think that's a "stretch".

I don't think they'd play a zone at all - I think they'd do what was so effective - covering Moss tight with two, sometimes three guys.

I'd love to think they'd lay off Moss and go with a zone but that's not what we saw last year - Moss was absolutely DRAPED in tight coverage.

I don't go back and analyze game tape routinely, but unless I'm imaginging things Moss was not the beneficiary of zone coverage generated by a deep presence on the other side of the field. It was just the opposite - but I'd LOVE to see that happen.

If Jackson can show he's at least a credible deep threat, and defenses are worried his speed and ability to make the catch will burn them, then I think they WILL be forced to go with a zone defense.

Until that happens, if I'm a DC I'm going to double and triple team Moss until someone makes me pay for that.

If we are predictably sending two receivers deep, of course they will play a deep zone. There are lots of other ways to exploit a defense and good route runners like Gaffney and a pounding running game that wear the defense out are necessary too.

No doubt, sending two burners out occasionally is an asset, but predictably pass happy teams get defensed as the physical playoffs roll around.

Having been at both ends of that last year and in 2001, I don't think it needs explaining.

 

[Disco Volante]

http://myespn.go.com/blogs/hashmarks/0-7-468/Observations-from-Patriots-camp--Day-2.html

Observations from Patriots camp, Day 2
June 7, 2008 2:32 PM
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The Patriots have finished practicing in 90-degree heat at their outdoor facility adjacent to Gillette Stadium. Tank Williams' leaping interception of a high-arcing Tom Brady pass to Kevin Faulk drew the liveliest reaction from players. Backup receiver C.J. Jones took another stab at a towering deep ball from Brady, but this one, perhaps a little underthrown, caromed off Jones' lower body. Jones had a shot at a deep pass yesterday as well. ...

Donte Stallworth's offseason departure and Wes Welker's absence from this camp are leaving additional high-profile reps for receiver Chad Jackson. We've seen Jackson work on the outside, opposite Randy Moss. Jabar Gaffney is getting some work in the slot. The roles aren't especially important this time of year, particularly with Welker sidelined only temporarily. But the additional first-team work is certainly valuable for Jackson wherever he can get it.

The former second-round draft choice is looking to break through in his third NFL season. Injuries kept Jackson off the field as a rookie. He played in 12 games last season, starting one. He caught 13 passes, three for touchdowns. ...

Tight end Marcus Pollard has high miles, no question, but he snared a touchdown pass in practice after slipping behind Adalius Thomas. It's sometimes tough to tell who had the primary coverage responsibility, particularly in practice situations. Thomas was nearest to him when the pass was completed.

Pollard, 36, struggled for Seattle late last season, losing a fumble and dropping an end-zone pass during the Seahawks' playoff defeat in Green Bay. The Patriots are putting him to work in this camp while Benjamin Watson continues to recover from injury. Pollard played more than 40 percent of the snaps for Seattle last season despite missing two full games and parts of others with injuries. That's a lot to ask from a player his age, but Pollard's experience could make him valuable as a backup.

Practicing in the heat is usually toughest on the big guys. New England had been working with only 11 offensive lineman before re-signing center Gene Mruczkowski yesterday. The team is carrying 14 offensive lineman, right at the league average, but Stephen Neal and Oliver Ross remain unavailable while recovering from injuries. ...

The three-day mandatory camp wraps up with one practice Sunday.

 

[JoeSixPat]

If we are predictably sending two receivers deep, of course they will play a deep zone. There are lots of other ways to exploit a defense and good route runners like Gaffney and a pounding running game that wear the defense out are necessary too.

No doubt, sending two burners out occasionally is an asset, but predictably pass happy teams get defensed as the physical playoffs roll around.

Having been at both ends of that last year and in 2001, I don't think it needs explaining.

Towards the end of the season last year, were teams playing off of Moss in a zone? Or were they double and triple teaming him?

We had Gaffney on the other side of Moss last year and they didn't defend him like a deep threat - nor should they - and Moss saw very heavy coverage.

So why would they go to a zone next season, unless we have someone who they do respect as a deep WR?

 

[Leave No Doubt]

CJ,

none of us will be dissapointed, CJ will be the next generation's Randy Moss mixed with TO

a lot like brandon marshall for the broncos

this yr will be average to above average, he will be lining up opposite moss mostly, but will get looks after moss, welker, and watson

and after this yr, the guy will be an absolute beast

I'm on this one.