For the last four or five years that Donovan McNabb was the starting quarterback of the Philadelphia Eagles, fans would always say that McNabb wasn’t really a west coast offense quarterback.
They pointed out the fact that he was a streaky passer who would have problems with his accuracy.  McNabb throws the deep ball better than the short pass which is just the opposite of the strengths of the quarterback, Joe Montana, whom the offense was created to help.
The 49er Hall of Famer lacked big time arm strength but he was amazingly accurate with his short throws.¬† There was a lot of truth to the statement that McNabb wasn’t and isn’t a west coast offense quarterback.
Well Eagles fans I’ve got more news for you, and you might not be interested in hearing it, but nonetheless I’m going to tell you the truth.
Our Pro Bowl wide receiver DeSean Jackson may be the top big-play weapon in the NFL but he isn’t really the kind of receiver that legendary Hall of Famer 49ers head coach Bill Walsh was thinking about when he designed the short passing west coast offense.
Prototypical west coast offense receivers are supposed to be big wide outs, who run great routes and catch everything that touches their hands.¬† They’re supposed to be big enough to take the pounding that comes with catching balls over the middle.
They’re supposed to be comfortable while operating around the hard-hitting safeties and linebackers.
Unlike many of the very successful west coast offense receivers like Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens, Jackson thrives off the deep ball and doesn’t have the size to be catching passes over the middle.¬† He can’t stay healthy while taking shots from the opposing team’s linebackers and safeties.
There’s been talk about the Eagles running more of a pure west coast offense with the more accurate Kevin Kolb taking over at the quarterback spot.¬† I interpreted that to mean we could expect to see bundles of throws across the middle to all the receivers and especially the wide outs.
Kolb may fit the pure west coast offense and second year receiver Jeremy Maclin may fit it but the team’s number one receiver doesn’t.¬† I don’t think Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg are going to send the 165 pound speedster across the middle and inside again and again.¬† It would give all the 210 pound safeties and 250 pound linebackers plenty of shots at silencing one of the most explosive weapons in the NFL.
Last year in one of the Redskins games, Jackson was hit on the shoulder by Washington middle linebacker London Fletcher and he suffered a concussion.  Yes, he suffered a concussion from being hit on the shoulder, not on the head.
The hit occurred after he caught a pass over the middle.
You can believe that defensive coordinators around the league took notice of the fact that Jackson didn’t make any long touchdown catches or punt returns during the game and a half that he missed because of the concussion.
I’m interested in seeing how Reid and Mornhinweg employ the west coast offense, get the ball in Jackson’s hands but avoid putting him in situations where he can get pounded.
The former California Bear has a lot of outstanding qualities but size, strength and abiliy to take vicious hits aren’t a part of that list.
Dallas had success beating up on Jackson in the last two games of the season. They tried to hold him up at the line of scrimmage.
Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey did a good job on him in the next last game of the regular season by jamming Jackson when he came off the line of scrimmage.
Will Andy and Marty continue to send Jackson over the middle on slants, curls and crossing routes or will they restrict to mainly outside short routes and the deep stuff?
I don’t think they’ll ever completely refrain from sending him inside but I don’t think they make a habit of it, but we’ll have to wait and see how they utilize their most dangerous weapon.
Wonder if he can play CB…
Hmm…. You know G I compared him to Andre Reed of Buffalo Fame in that as far as size and speed go they are similar. I will stand by my comparison and Desean will continue to be successful despite his “limitations”. I would love for us to have some big WR to compliment him in the years to come and R cooper may be a start that way. Look at the RFA that they brought in this year and see that Reid seems to be looking the same way for the future.
G, you don’t have to be hit in the head to get a concussion. Westbrooks 2nd concussion came from a routine tackle as well. You’re right in that DJax isn’t well suited for dirty work but he’s not as frail as you portray him to be. I’ve seen him take some good shots in his 2 years and he’s gotten right back up. Besides, he’s smart enough that once he gets the ball he’s not gonna take a blow up hit like alotta guys. You see Welker do it, hell…even P. Manning will hit the turf if he sees the hit coming.
D-Jax has got such great vision and open field awareness, that he knows when to protect himself when
the defenders come and also uses the sidleines very well as his friend..
He can be used in bunch formations and still cut underneath and have lots of open field in front of him..
and on fly-routes,and double post, post and fly routes, back up wide-out screen, bubble screen,down and outs, etc,etc He’s a better route runner than some are giving him credit for ..
I hear what you’re saying G..but I really don’t remember Jerry Rice taking too many big hits. He was really slippery about not getting hit too hard..he just sort of slid off defenders. I think the key is yards after catch…and certainly Jackson is hugh there. He is apt to take it to the house at any moment.
Tom..Eagles fan in AZ
Send Maclin across the middle. I’m still pissed at him for alligator arming that pass against Dallas. The kid saw the safety and didn’t want any parts of that ball. lol
Desean runs some of the sharpest routes..and ur making it seem like west coast is all over the middle..YAC..We can now run plays that clear the way for yards after catch..because Jerry was the highest Guy..when u hear the guy who defined it all as a receiver in Jerry rice say that this kid is the fastest and best route runner hes seen come out of college it carries weight..and nobody on here or so called experts are guna tell me different..and it shows..he’s a monster and I think this kid can do it all..this is one of the most useless topics I ever saw but whatever..
Dont talk shit on DJax..Ever.
Reid finally gets recievers he claimed the team didn’t need when there’s no proven quarterback….This coach is always one position away. First it ws recievers, then linebackers, then returners, then fullback, then safety, now it’s center. Kolb get life insurance…..they’re going to kill this kid and we will never know what our recievers could have been for they will be looking to fill Mcnabb shoes for years once it’s realized they have bobby hoying jr. with the keys to Reid’s future. This thing will crash and burn and the late JJ will not be there to cover this offence’s deficiencies
Man, how pathetic is JaMarques Russel? Make Ryan Leaf look like Brett Favre..
I agree G. I don’t want to see Jackson run too many route between the hashes unless they are deep posts. Leave that to Avant, Maclin and Celek. Of course Jackson will have to run a couple a game to keep DBs honest but he’s a guy that needs to get down the field. It’s like Randy Moss, when he’s not catching the deep ball, he isn’t real effective. A west coast offense is suited for guys that can consistently get hit and tackled by LBs and Safeties and more importantly, take short passes, break a tackle and turn it into a 40 yard gain. But I do think we have a good mixture of wideouts so Jackson can be effective down the field. I think Kolb has a decent enough arm to make good down field throws. But I doubt it will be anything close to McNabb, this year anyway.
My only question is what do you think Desean would be saying if he stats aren’t nearly has good with Kolb at QB? I think this kid is a diva in the making but we will see.
And he is frail. Not as frail as the article sounds but he has already had a concussion, groin and ankle injuries in his first 2 years from hits and tackles that weren’t that brutal. I can see him pulling back from a catch if a MLB is waiting. The kid is smart but no matter how shifty someone is, one of these days someone will catch him. This is why I hope Maclin takes that step up and his route running has gotten better. We know he comes from a spread offense so with McNabb at QB he had a lot of downfield routes to run and now will have to be even more precise. The funny thing is, I think the offense suits Kolb better but the receivers suit McNabb better. Go figure.
One word of advice eagles fans: Relax
NEWSFLASH! All WCO have MORPHED and the eagles version has incorporated the deep ball – and while Kolb doesn’t have McNabb’s deep ball, he certainly can get it done.
They might go to more pure west offense routes with Kevin Kolb taking over but I don’t want to see them use DeSean Jackson in that way. He’s a great receiver who is likely headed to another big year, but the reason I wrote the article is because they’ve got to be smart about how much they expose him to big hits. I don’t think all those slants and curls for him would be a good idea. I don’t want to see him utilized in the “wildcat”.
Garry – agreed about the wildcat. But I think you can use him on curls – but only throw it to him if he’s deep past the safety ( would have to get good protection and 7 step drop). But for CURLS – DJAX is perfect. He can easily make the CB bite on his speed, then cut back and catch the ball (will be there quicker and more accurate now) then, be out in space to make the CB miss. I can see the peril with the quick slant, but he’s PERFECT for curls – can always use the sideline for protection too…
I agree he isnt a west coast WR. Thats why I was so shocked that they drafted Kafka. Cause if Kolb doest work out wouldnt you want a guy who can throw some deep balls
This is such useless topic..don’t u think they read this sh!t..I mean we are all human..our media strirrs up drama..enough..we got rid of mcpoop..now wer just making crap up G..I like this site, but cmon..articles like this are “pointless” finally Andy drafts a pro bowl WR and We find something wrong with it..lmao..and I doubt articles like this would affect a professional. I’m just saying. I don’t see enough support or positive stuff said about our squad..cmon be creative and talk real X’s and O’s.
Seriously, it doesn’t matter. You can talk about the West Coast Offense all you want. Its still just football. Desean is a great receiver. Period.
We haven’t been a west coast offense for over 2 years now. Just thought you might want to know that.
Andre Reid was considered the most durable player by his coach and he was 6’2″ 190 lbs. Jackson is not the most durable player and is 5’10” 165lbs. No comparison at all
Andre Reed was no where near 6’2 take that to the bank. I have met him personally and I remember being shocked at how much shorter he was than I would have thought. He was still great. I am telling you Desean looks to be about the same size. The Teams used to really exaggerate size in their game books by the way. I went to the same college as Reed and he is a big deal being the only NFL product from there of any note.
How exactly has desean not been durable. I think reggie brown was far less durable over the same time period as jackson. He got a concussion and missed what a week? Oooooh! In the old days he wouldn’t have missed a play but considering the leagues stance on concusions the 5 chances to guess how many fingers game doesn’t work anymore. Don’t hate on D Jax the Great!!
10 is gonna get so many balls that are throwing him open into space I expect big big numbers from him and he will make Kolb a star!!!!
Last point on Reed- He may have been 6’2″ if you measured him WITH long cleats on concrete and a helmet adding 3 or so inches to his height. Just saying that there are ways of telling a different “truth”.
G does bring up a legitimate issue, which is why the Eagles drafted TE/HB Clayton Harbor..
Look for him at 6’2″ 245 lbs with speed to be in the inside slot WR spot and run those intermediate
routes and still have the size,strength to break tackles.. Harbor played in a “Spread Offense” and is very adept and working the middle of the field.. You have him and Celek out there together working the middle and short zones, then D-Jax/Maclin to do their thing down the field…
the more I read and watch this Harbor kid, the more I like him, he’s not a traditional TE and lacks the
size.weight to be on the line of scrimmage, but split him wide, move him around in the slot or even from the backfield and I could see lot him creating lots of match-up problems for defenses
Andre Reed
Height: 6-2 Weight: 190 Age: 46
Born: 1/29/1964 Allentown , PA
College: Kutztown
Experience: 16 Seasons
Andre Reed and DeSean Jackson have nothing in common in terms of size and speed.
Jackson reminds me of Anthony Carter, who had a great career in the USFL and NFL (6 years with the Vikings, 3 of which were all-pro). Eventually, injuries caught up with him. One thing to consider is that Carter had success when the NFL was still a “running” league.
Reid was able to use able to use such a receiver as Jackson in getting to the Superbowl. Anyone remember Todd Pinkston? Reid used Pinkston to stretch the field and T.O. caught the ball underneath, when he didn’t outrun them.
The problem is T.O. was the No. 1 and Pinkston was No. 2. Owens made Pinkston better, not the other way around. If Maclin steps up, it could work. However, McNabb threw the ball very deep to Pinkston. Many times, he over-threw the coverage. Safeties and CBs had to play extra deep. I don’t know if Kolb has the same type of arm. This is still a game of inches and there are a lot of questions to be answered.
Last thing: Reid has never shown concern for injuries or the possibility of being injured. He dialed up pass after happy pass, regardless of McNabb’s health. He has also shown the same disregard for Jackson’s health. Reid likes to call the reverse, run Jackson out of the Wildcat and occasionally send him over the middle, any of which increases Jackson’s chances of being injured.
D-Jax at 5-10 & 175lbs would be closer in size,weight and proably quicker to a young ex-Houston Oilers WR Earnest Givens who played for years with Warren Moon..
D-JAx has more strength than his little frame may show but they do have to be smart on where they get him the ball.. If he gets 6-8 touches a game, he going to make 2-3 big plays,,..
I don’t think you give Desean Jackson enough credit. The kid is a stud WR. He is an amazing at creating seperation. The thing about the West Coast offense and DJax going over the middle is being blown way out of proportion. Also, the kid has missed ONE game in two years. Give me a break about being fragile.
When the Eagles line up 4 wide, with a TE it’s going to be hard for any MLB or Safety to keep their mind on their assignment but also keep their eye on nailing DJax coming over the middle. He will be fine running the underneath route (in front of the LB) and the slant (beind the LB). Also, 1-on-1 no safety or MLB in the league will be able to contain him. If they get a hit on him so what thats football and he’d tell you the same. That hit last year he got destroyed, and he missed one game. I don’t think he can get hit much harder than that. But missing one game, how is that not durable?
I just feel like with his combination of speed, route running and elusivness that this issue won’t be as big as some of you think it will be. Also, the whole offensive playbook is not changing. They are still going to run the same plays, same routes but instead of having to break a route and get open for McNabb, the ball will be delivered where it is suppose to.
It should be fun watching Safety Taylor Mays of the 49ers trying to tackle D Jax when they meet this Season…
Good Article. DJax had done a pretty good job avoiding the big hit, but Let Vick handle all the wildcat crap, if we even use it. Marvin Harrison was great at avoiding the big hit, DJax should watch his footage.
I remember when Schiller was comparing Reggie Brown to Reggie Wayne. Andre Reid is a hall of famer.
Give jackson a few more years before you cannonize him.
He is almost a Marvin Harrison mold. A little ligher and 2 inches shorter. But he is faster and more elusive and explosive. They both are excellent route runners and both have above average hands. Pretty good comparison. If Harrison can stay away from the big hit, why can’t Desean?
Marvin: 6-0, 185
Desean: 5-10, 175
Pretty similar stats after the first 2 years too.
Marvin: 32 games, 137 receptions, 1,702 yards, 14 td’s
Desean: 31 games, 125 receptions, 2,079 yards, 11 td’s
Harrison made a living on the down & out route pass and catch thrown by one of the best Passers in the Game for years…Outside of that and of course straight deep fly routes, you did not see Harrison catch the ball inbetween the hash-marks all that often..
I also think both have very good to excellent hands… (I don’t recall seeing M Harrison dropping too many passes during his prime )
Eagle Believer – you broke a cardinal rule on this site – you attacked a subjective opinion with stats and data. Next thing you know you will be drawing conclusions based on this imperical data, like – DJax is off to a better start in his career then Marvin Harrison.
As for me, I think DJax was 6’4” 230 lbs in high school and has been shrinking every year. He’s never been this small, and never had to play against players so much bigger – he’s used to towering over his opponents –
OK – I’ll stop being a know it all smart butt for 5 minutes and ask my normal rhetorical question I ask after such articles – what wide reciever or RB likes to get clocked? The former cardinal rcvr (Bolquin?) is huge – but got clocked in the jaw – did his coach have to be careful he didn’t take a big hit as he was laying on the ground?
Heck – I’m more worried about DJax getting hurt doing his little end zone flips and stuff –
Big – E that whole Reggie to Reggie thing – ya, hate to admit it, after that first Redskin game……
Navy – I didn’t attack anyone’s subjective opinion. If you go back and READ, I actually agreed with him and offered comparable statistics to support the same arguement. Get off your high horse…
Also, it’s not about a coach changing the scheme. It’s about the receiver getting alligator arms after getting clocked multiple times.
EB – SARCASM ok, weaponX warned me it doesn’t come across on posts so I learned my lesson – I thought the whole part about Djax being 6’4 and shrinking gave it away
Haha…gotcha. And yea sarcasm doesn’t come across on posts. We need an international sarcasam sign.
My vote is for the tata’s…..(.)(.)
G, kolb didn’t seem to have a problem getting desean the ball last season:
desean caught for 101 and 149 yards when kolb was in..
people keep talking about the west coast offense like it’s set in stone… sure that’s what AR wants to do primarily, but who’s to say they can’t throw wrinkles in that meet the strengths of kolb AND desean.. they’re football coaches.. it’s not like the WCO came with some mandatory handbook.
but that’s cool.. keep telling us how much we’re gonna suck this season
love it midnight….personally i think Desean can be the best receiver in the league. No matter what type of offense.
EB – nice – got a chuckle out of that – I’ll vote for the tata’s
MG85 – outstanding point – the WCO was a Bill Walsh/George Siefert thing run in San Fran by Joe Montana/Steve young thing – everything else is a ‘version’ –
Please keep in mind that the NFL is cyclical. It reverts from a passing to running league as the defenses adjust. It’s been a “passing league” for about 6-7 years now (because of rule changes), and the defenses are beginning to catch up. Pass rushers are at a premium. Whenever a QB has less time, he is less accurate. Also, the more he gets hit, the less accurate he is. Hey, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning rarely got hit for about 4 years. Not the case any longer. Brady’s not the same QB since his injury, and Peyton, despite having a great game, threw the pick to lose it. It’s all about having time to pass, and that amount of time is diminishing for everyone. Pretty soon, I think you’ll see the bigger backs dominate (as the linemen and linebackers get smaller).
DW – that was probably one of the best posts I have read on here – kudos
Goodstuff Drummer,
I wouldn’t be surprised to see “women” playing in the NFL soon…
Good post Drummer. I think this is very true. You are seeing a lot of pass-happy offenses like the old USFL more and more. The league most certainly changed from a power run game to a passing league.
I’m not sure you are going to see the power back ever come back. The NFL has evolved and most running backs can’t carry the load by themselves for too long. This is why you see a lot of teams carry 2 RB’s and a lot of great RB’s who decline once they hit that magic number of 30. The wear and tear for one RB is too much to handle anymore. Bigger, stronger, faster players are coming out of college more so than in years past.
The league has become all about speed.