Hahaha, listening to Eric Winston on 610 talking about how the Texans like to keep things close to the vest and he just said "Beat writers like John McClain think they have inside information, but they don't know anything"
Overview Jackson was overshadowed by a higher-profile surrounding cast at Alabama. But the cornerback played an integral role in the secondary for the Crimson Tide's national championship defense. Jackson was presented with the team's 2008 Unsung Hero Award for his contributions to the success of the team with the least recognition, but he continued to perform out of the spotlight. The durable and consistent cornerback played in every game for the Crimson Tide over the past three seasons, starting the last 38 contests. He collected 29 pass deflections to rank fourth on the school's all-time record list. The cornerback increased his number of pass breakups in each season at Alabama, and his progression as a player coincides with the success Alabama has had on defense. In his first season, Jackson and the Crimson Tide secondary allowed 221.31 passing yards per game to rank 48th in the country as the team finished with a 7-6 record. The following campaign, the secondary saw an increase in effectiveness as they rose to 30th nationally, allowing 189.36 aerial yards per game while the team concluded the year with a 12-2 record. In Jackson's final season, the defense led the Crimson Tide to an undefeated record and a victory in the BCS National Championship game. Jackson's ability as a shutdown cornerback and the secondary's aggressiveness in press coverage were big reasons why, as they allowed just 166.00 passing yards per game as a unit to rank 10th nationally. Jackson was a star running back at Westside High School. He was rated 17th-best overall prospect in the nation by Rivals.com and competed in The Max Emfinger Third Annual High School All-American Bowl Classic in Shreveport, La. As a senior, he rushed for 1,436 yards with 20 touchdowns, adding 16 tackles with three interceptions on defense. Jackson originally intended to enroll at Vanderbilt University, but the staff asked him to go to Fork Union Military Academy to improve his academics. At Fork Union, he excelled at cornerback, intercepting five passes in his only season at the school. He was given a four-star rating from Rivals.com. After the 2007 season, he changed his mind on Vanderbilt and elected to sign with Alabama following his stint at Fork Union. He was an instant sensation at Alabama, enrolling in time (January of 2007) to compete in spring drills. He came off the bench in the season opener, but started every other game for the Crimson Tide. He ranked fifth on the team with 66 tackles (48 solo) and finished second on the squad with three interceptions. Jackson was named Alabama's Co-Player of the Week after putting on an outstanding performance vs. Tennessee, collecting six solo tackles with one tackle for loss, two pass deflections and two interceptions returned for 29 yards. He captured first-team Freshman All-Southeastern Conference honors from the league's coaches. The following season, Jackson provided the Crimson Tide with a lockdown defender on the edge. He started all 14 games and registered 44 tackles (28 solos), eighth-best on the team, as he added one interception, 10 pass deflections, one fumble recovery and one blocked kick. At season's end, Jackson was presented with the team's 2008 Unsung Hero Award for his contributions to the success of the team with the least recognition. In his final season at Alabama, Jackson was a valuable piece of a secondary that ranked 10th nationally allowing just 166 aerial yards per game. He collected 49 tackles (30 solo) to rank sixth on the team and added three tackles for loss, one interception and 13 pass deflections. Jackson came up big for the eventual national champs vs. Florida in the SEC title game, as he racked up a season-high six tackles with one stop for loss and two pass deflections. At season's end, Jackson announced he would forgo his final season of eligibility to enter the NFL draft. Analysis Read & React: Good route recognition. Reads the body lean of his opponent and has the athleticism to react accordingly. He anticipates the path of the ball and extends to reach around a receiver to break up passes. Reads run quickly and attacks the run on the perimeter. Man Coverage: Good bump-and-run corner. Provides a good, physical pop at the line of scrimmage and keeps his hand on the receiver downfield to control. Good use of body to push the receiver outside, using the sideline to help cut off the space in which the quarterback can throw the ball. Allows too much separation on deep routes and has stiffness in his hips when suddenly changing direction. Face guards at this level, but won't be allowed to do so in the NFL. Zone Coverage: Good awareness for zone coverage. A bit high in his backpedal and has some stiffness in his hips, but trusts his eyes and locates the football quickly. Savvy, physical player. Likes to use his hands to re-route the receiver. Has quick feet and a good burst out of his breaks to close. Closing/Recovery: Lacks an elite second gear to recover if beaten initially, but has an impressive burst downhill to close on the ball. Plants his foot and drives, showing good body control to adjust around the receiver and get his hands on the ball. Times his leaps well and has an explosive vertical. Good hand-eye coordination and ball skills to extend and pluck outside of his frame. Run Support: Aggressive to the line of scrimmage to help against the run, protecting the edge and forcing the back to cut back inside. Fights through the receiver's block and has the agility to elude bigger blockers in tight quarters. Good vision and effort to cut through the trash in pursuit. Takes good angles in pursuit. Tackling: Strong wrap-up tackler. Brings his hips through and can be a big hitter on the boundary. Willing to face up bigger ballcarriers. Will lead with his shoulder when he sees the receiver in a vulnerable position. Good strength for the drag-down tackle when trailing the receiver across the middle. Intangibles: Highly competitive player that puts in time in the film room. Asked for his grade from the NFL Advisory Committee, but didn't read it upon receiving it. Jackson gave the unopened envelope to Nick Saban to hold until after the BCS National Championship game so that the contents wouldn't be a distraction. Career Notes Jackson played in every game -- 41 career games -- during his three seasons at Alabama and started 40 contests, registering 159 tackles (106 solo) with eight stops for losses of 24 yards … Deflected 29 passes and intercepted five others for 164 yards (32.80-yard average) … His 29 pass deflections rank fourth on Alabama's all-time record list behind only John Mangum (47, 1985-88), Fernando Bryant (31, 1995-98) and Jeremiah Castille (1979-82) … Deflected 13 passes in 2009 to rank seventh on the school's single-season record list behind John Mangum (24, 1989), Efrum Thomas (19, 1989), Marquis Johnson (17, 2009), Milo Lewis (16, 1999), Fernando Bryant (14, 1996) and Charlie Peprah (14, 2003) … Forced one fumble and recovered another for minus-9 yards … Added one quarterback hurry and two blocked kicks … Returned one punt for eight yards. 2009 Season Jackson started all 14 games at right cornerback, ranking sixth on the team with 49 tackles (30 solo), including three stops for losses of 13 yards … Tied for seventh in the Southeastern Conference with an average of 1.00 passes defended per game, as he totaled thirteen pass deflections, with six coming on third-down plays, as he also registered one interception that he returned 79 yards … His 13 pass deflections ranks seventh on Alabama's season-record list … Added one quarterback pressure … Made 24 tackles after receptions for 371 yards and 15 first downs, including three third-down stops and another on a fourth-down, as he rerouted receivers away from 23 other pass attempts … On 22 running plays Jackson was involved in, the opposition gained 136 yards and six first downs, including five third-down stops … The junior added three tackles on the kickoff coverage unit … Posted two of his hits inside the red zone, including one on a goal-line play. 2008 Season Jackson developed into one of the best shutdown cornerbacks in the South, as opposing teams managed to complete just 21-of 56 passes targeted into his area (37.5 percent) … The sophomore recorded 44 tackles (28 solo) with a stop for a 4-yard loss … Recovered one fumble and blocked one punt … Also had a 5-yard interception return and ranked 11th in the Southeastern Conference with 10 pass deflections. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1273346
Solid pick no doubt but there were just better players on the board at the time. We should have traded down and picked up another pick.
I said it's something we don't do as much. I only remember GQ in press coverage. But if that's the direction to take the CBs, it should be applauded. I'm tired of the those colts receivers running their routes without their timing being interrupted.
Doesnt matter what defense we ran, because Dunta would always leave about a 15 yard cushion between himself and his man...guess we wont have that problem anymore.
If the Broncos trade a 2, 3 and 4 to get into the 25th slot, I am sure we could/should have been able to get at least a 3rd out of it.
The Texans have always seem to be biased towards corners who can support the run. They showed it in the past with Robinson, and when they chose to pursue Jacques Reeves over other free agent corners that year. It also seems to be a quality common to all the CB's they've drafted in recent years. The last corner that the team had that wasn't good at run support and open field tackling was Phillip Buchanon, acquired by the previous regime. We all hopefully remember how that turned out. As near as I can tell, this is one area where Jackson is pretty clearly universally rated better than Wilson, which leads me to believe that is was a factor in the selection.
I'm very upset with the Jackson pick. Hopefully I'll eat crow on this, but Kyle Wilson will be a much better player than Kareem Jackson. Jackson benefited from playing on a much more talented defense, and won't be nearly the player as Wilson. The only thing that would make up for this is if we take a Chad Jones-type in the second round tomorrow.
Why are you so sure of this? Wilson was the 4th CB taken, there has to be a reason other than the highlight films we've all seen. There is no doubt that Jackson is better against the run and has great technique.
You said it yourself. I thought We we're after a Cover guy. A guy that could lock his man down and stay in front of him. Jackson isn't that guy. Another CB that's good against the run. We've drafted about 3 of those already and Quinn seems to be the only decent one.
From General Douche.... http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/fb/texansfront/6971760.html When the Texans watched San Diego trade with Miami to get the 12th pick to take Fresno State running back Ryan Mathews, they turned their attention to their second-biggest need at cornerback. With the 20th overall pick, the Texans had a choice of the cornerbacks rated second, third and fourth behind Florida's Joe Haden, who was taken seventh by Cleveland. General manager Rick Smith tried to trade down but found nobody interested in making a deal. With a choice of Rutgers' Devin McCourty, Boise State's Kyle Wilson and Alabama's Kareem Jackson, the Texans selected Jackson. "The other corners are talented, too, but we felt Kareem is the most ready to come in and challenge (for a starting job) because he's so well-rounded," Texans defensive coordinator Frank Bush said. "He's very physical. He loves to hit. He's a big-time player for a big-time program. He's a winner who played for Nick Saban." Jackson, a junior, played three years for the Crimson Tide, including last season's national championship season. "He played in a complex system, so we don't think he'll have a big adjustment to the next level," Bush said. "I don't see any drawbacks. It's up to us to teach him the system, coach him up and watch him develop. "One thing I like about Kareen is his physical nature. You saw with what we did last year with (outside linebacker Brian) with Cushing in the first round and (cornerback) Glover (in the fourth round), we want to be physical. That's his style. "He's also a very mature kid. He's smart and very aggressive. I'm just real excited to get him here." The second and third rounds of the draft will be Friday night. The Texans need a running back in the second round.
