Couldn't care less about the trash talking, but tackling is great for all defensive players. Other skills are more important for a CB, but great defenses don't give up many yards after contact.
I remember seeing him on some nickel or dime packages. I know McCain is usually the nickel so it was probably only in a few of the early games where they used dime more often. Tackling is a great skill and lost on many players. I know watching all the missed arm tackles last year made me retch. It's like the Torture Rack and his tackling: cool to see but I'd rather see him nail FGs from 50yds. Likewise on a corner, it's a secondary skill and certainly not enough to compensate for poor coverage abilities. Could be too early to tell on him because those skills are cultivated, but he hasn't shown the speed needed to keep up with WR2's who are often young but fast.
I only watched the first part of the first preseason game, but I actually saw him make a SMART play early on. That alone is progress
This will be the year where Kareem finally puts it all together. Mark my words. After having no coaching in previous years, he made strides last year. So far this preseason, he's actually been playing fairly well, from what I've seen. The coaches are saying that they now expect him to step in front of passes and make plays on them, and I've seen him do that. He's young still, and it typically takes corners a few years to adjust to the NFL. Plus, having Jonathan Joseph has helped him tremendously. We're lucky he didn't crawl into a hole after his first year. Way too much pressure to put on a 22 year-old rookie(I think was his age at the time, off the top of my head).
There were large stretches of games when it was difficult to tell who was in at the CB2 position. I take that as a good sign for Jackson. I took it as he was doing well on most routes. His problem is covering wide receivers with speed going deep. If he gets deep help or a pass rush, he'll be fine. The Texans were very good as a pass defense last year. The improved pass rush helped a lot.
He's only getting better. His work ethic must be awesome. This is what I love about having a winning culture. Guys work their butts off once the team becomes a contender.
I expect him to have a good year. I think he could actually put himself in position to capitalize on bad throws. Picks up 4 or 5 ints
I think I remember that play. He made a jump on a route and almost had the pick. If anything, I hope he learns how to play more aggressive on the short routes , since his weakness is playing deep. It actually looks like so already, he's showing up more often on plays closer to the line of scrimmage. He shot out like a missile aimed straight at Jacobs' thigh. I don't know if what a team looks for in their nickel corner is any different than what they want out of their starting corners, but if their skillsets are interchangeabe I'd much prefer Kareem be that and have him covering slot receivers and big TEs, since his "strength" is his physicality.
But he was the guy that got picked on by Brees and single handedly gave them a scoring drive. That PI on the TD for good measure was classic Kareem. Take out Cody, Watts, and Cushing, and Jackson gets exposed. Folks still don't get that the defense around him is the real reason for Jackson's "improvement" last year. What CB doesn't look better when QBs only have 2 seconds to operate?
Classic Jackson was being too far from receiver to commit a PI and falling down. Modern Jackson is committing the PI. I am not a fan nor hater of Jackson...he is a player with limitations. He needs a pass rush or safety help. He isn't a No. 1 corner. The Texans went vanilla yesterday. He was in a lot of man. Last night's game plan did not play to his strengths. This looks to be a test to measure what they have in him. He failed. The Texans are trying to work with him on shaping body and turning around on the ball. There was one deep route that he was stride for stride with WR and he was in position to make interception. He didn't turn. I am thinking he is faster, but probably will always need help against fastest WRs. He needs a lot of work still on turning his head. He gave too much cushion last night and allowed the WR to get inside position at least a couple of times. I hope this was due to lack of help and doesn't happen in regular season. He seemed better last season than rookie season on cushion besides a few obvious times, but it could have been QBs not taking advantage of it as much, too. Jackson is much better than rookie season, but still needs more help. He is not a shutdown corner. When I see him get burned deep, is it his fault for having limitations, Wade's fault for gambling that pass rush could protect him, Wade's fault for not giving him help, or the safety's fault for getting sucked inside? Jackson takes some blame for not developing to point where he turns head, but he is what he is. It is up to coaches to protect his weaknesses or GM to get someone else. With Money spent on Joseph and Manning, I think GM is saying it is up to coaches.
His coverage skills have vastly improved mainly b/c he's not falling for the initial juke moves receivers put o him.I think this is more to do with he's playing more off the receiver than before though. One other thing I realized is he still has trouble knowing just exactly where the ball is. Especially, in deep ball situations he can't locate the ball and just plays the receiver but most receivers are too good for that.
