With all eyes waiting to see what kind of playmaker DeSean Jackson (#10) would be in mini-camp, he didn’t disappoint.
Jackson, who clearly has a swagger about him, catch all passes well with his hands. The rookie seems to have an affinity for screens and after getting his hands on the ball, he quickly moved up field especially in traffic.
Sunday also marked a better day for the Jackson catching punts than on Saturday. However the second round pick from Cal did have some trouble catching punts in the windy afternoon session – main returners were Jackson and fellow rookie Quintin Demps (#33).
I also observed that Jackson needs to move more swiftly after plays are completed and maybe he needs to read the “rookie rule” memo on leaving his helmet on during practice. Overall, Jackson is an exciting player that will go inside for catches and he clearly was the best punt returner in the group.
Training camp will be a challenge for Jackson as he tries to rip off his “redshirt” while trying to impress the coaches in reps versus veterans like Asante Samuel. BTW: For everyone worried about his size (5’9, 169), Jackson’s frame and legs are much sturdier looking up close than former Eagles skinny receiver Todd Pinkston.
Lloyd Vance is a NFL Writer/Analyst for BIGPLAY Football (Magazine, Website, Blog, and Podcast)
