Gruden on Jackson; an "explosive" playmaker

The Bucs picked up a receiver after all, just a little bit later than many thought.

In second-round pick Dexter Jackson, a 5-foot-9, 182 speedster out of Appalachian State, Jon Gruden said the Bucs got an explosive playmaker, someone who could help them just as much in special teams (on both punt and kick returns) than as receiver.

Jackson may have been under the radar, but was the face of Appalachian State's upset over Michigan after he appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated. Jackson averaged 16.8 yards per reception, including 22.9 his senior year, and gained 619 yards on 35 kickoff returns.

Gruden pointed to the Bucs needing a dynamic playmaker on the return game, and apparently, Jackson was it. Jackson's stock rose in after the Senior Bowl and the combine, when he ran a 4.37 40 yard dash.

"He's a quick strike guy," Gruden said.

-- JOE SMITH

joesmith@sptimes.com

(Pictured - Dexter Jackson, right. AP photo, 2007)

Comments

just the guy I was hoping we were targeting after Desean Jackson was taken - great pick up and good value as he was the last player with crazy speed at the time

[JH]

According to other publications, D. Jackson ran a 4.27 and 4.30. In three to five years, we will all know if he was the right pick. He's a Buc now, so I will root for him! My problem with how the Bucs draft is that they seem to choose players only for special teams, especially in the later rounds, and yet, the special teams never improves. I wonder if Gruden will acknowledge that he was responsible for this pick. He didn't do that with Talib. I just hope that Gruden and Allen know what they're doing.

[kevinmmills]

http://sports.aol.com/fanhouse/2008/04/17/appalachian-states-dexter-jackson-has-speed-but-can-he-play-wi/

Hopefully worst case he's randel El and best case he's you know who from the panthers. Granted thats a long shot but nobody ever thought steve smith was going to be steve smith. He didnt turn into a good receiver until his second year.

if he can help the punt return game, which has been lacking, and we can get better field position and also come in as the slot guy in some 3 and 4 WR's sets and stretch the field and maybe turn some WR screens into big gains he'll be worth the pick.

I was never really sold on any of the big WR's, we already have a log jam there. kind of makes you gun shy about drafting another.

I hope everyone can read this, but here are D. Jackson's stats in games last year. I am not too thrilled that he hasn't played any big time opponents (except for Michigan), but neither have a lot of NFL WRs while in college. I get the sneaking suspicion that he will be relegated to special teams in his first two years.

2007 OPPONENTS No Yds Avg TD
at Michigan (Sep. 1) 3 92 30.7 2
LENOIR-RHYNE (Sep. 8) 2 77 38.5 2
Northern Arizona (Sep. 15) 0 0 0.0 0
at Wofford (Sep. 22) 5 45 9.0 0
at Elon (Sep. 29) 0 0 0.0 0
Gardner-Webb (Oct. 6) 4 93 23.3 0
Georgia So. (Oct. 20) 0 0 0.0 0
at Furman (Oct. 27) 2 61 30.5 0
at The Citadel (Nov. 3) 2 57 28.5 1
Western Carolina (Nov. 10) 3 37 12.3 0
Chattanooga (Nov. 17) 1 13 13.0 0
James Madison (Nov. 24) 4 47 11.8 0
E. Washington (Dec. 1) 2 54 27.0 1
Richmond (Dec. 7) 1 52 52.0 1
Delaware (Dec. 14) 1 60 60.0 1

[Brett]

8 TDs in his senior year of I-AA football and he's our 2nd round pick? Good lord, Bruce...

[kevinmmills]

I think the question now is what WR's make the team. We will carry 5, 6 at the most.

Galloway [given]
Hillard [given] ? Gruden likes vets too much to cut him, right.
Stovall - still has some upside. is a maniac on special teams.
D. Jackson - the second round pick BETTER make the squad.
A Bryant - probably the most skills after Galloway, as long as he has a good attitude through preseason you would think he has to make it.

Thats 5.

clayton - does he finally come around.
Warren - was GREAT last preseason. EG anyone.
Spurlock - probably has lost his job.
Chad lucas - back to the practice squad.

Assuming we carry 6 Clayton might be fighting for a future in this league in a competition with Warren.

On paper we actually have talent at WR. It's up to the coaches to get them to perform and produce.

The clayton/Warren saga that might play out over the preseason should be interesting.

Once again you guys show how little you know -- his stats are a bit low b/c App. State ran a spread option offense, so they weren't chucking it 50 times a game. Get a clue.

[JOhn]

He's explosive BECAUSE HE'S COOKING UP HIS OWN METH! Give me a flippin break!

[MJ]

WHAT A DISASTER BY GRUDEN AND ALLAN!!! FIRST ROUND WE TAKE A POT HEAD WHO HAS PROBLEMS WITH COACHES, SHOWING UP LATE FOR MEETINGS AND PRACTICES AND WHO GOT BURNED ALL GAME LONG IN THE KANSAS - KANSAS STATE GAME. SECOND ROUND WHEN LIMAS SWEED SIX FOOT FOUR INCHES TALL NOTED FOR HIS GOOD HANDS WE TAKE A RECIEVER THAT EVERYBODY ELSE HAS MARKED FOR THE THIRD OR FOURTH ROUNDS WHO IS ONLY .17 FASTER THAN LIMAS OUT OF TEXAS. JACKSON IS ALSO 5.5 INCHES SHORTER. THE PICK UP OF TWO DRAFT CHOICES A 5TH AND 7TH DOES NOT MATTER AND IS JUNK BECAUSE A 5TH 6TH OR 7TH ROUND PLAYER HAS NEVER MADE A GRUDEN TEAM. GRUDEN / ALLAN DRAFT GRADE F

[Scott]

Thank god the Monday morning qbs on here are not in charge of this team. First, they would have probably blown all our free agency money on overrated big mouths, second, the negative statements about Jackson are rediculous. He averaged 23 yards per touch...that is an amazing stat in and of itself. And he did it against not only against division 2, but against michigan, in all star games, etc. The only thing that bothers me is that his kickoff return average was not very high (only about 20 yards per return). I would have liked for that to have been in the high 20s at the college level. Here is hoping that his special teams blocking stunk.

[willem]

well sorry genius without a name, because we where a bit to busy so check the game plan of app state.
Again sorry for that because we where working while you live in your moms basement checking the college stats.

WE ARE SORRY

[JH]

In addition to the receiving stats, I forgot to include his special teams stats. He returned 35 kickoffs for 619 yards (17.7 avg.) and 93 punts for 837 yards (9.0 avg.) and two touchdowns. He clearly will be a return specialist and MAYBE used sparingly as a fourth receiver. Remember that receivers from other teams could be cut before training camp. The next big deadline in June 1st.

[Michael Singleton]

All the anticipation in the off season of waiting for this weekend and I sit here shaking my head going. Why the hell didn't the Bucs trade out of the first round and pick up another 2nd and maybe a 3rd. With all the trading up by teams Tampa didn't consider trading out of the 20th pick! Instead we took Pot Head! We could have had Devin Thomas and Flowers, Laws, or Carlson. Bruce get your head out of you know where.

[se3xsc]

Once again, a wonderful 1st day of the draft for the Bucs...NOT!! I'm upset that we had Mike Jenkins, a local product, on the board and we passed him up for someone from a basketball school with character issues. Then we traded #52 to move down 6 spots, add a 5th this year & a 7th next year. Name one 5th or 7th rd pick that has stuck with the Bucs. You can't because they don't exist! Then with #58, we take a guy from a Div 1-AA school who had a total of 30 receptions last year against pretty pathetic competition. Wow, I can't wait to see what we do on Sunday. I'd been looking forward to the draft for quite some time, woke up early this morning all siked up, and we get this from Gruden & Allen. Thanks gentlemen, there's always 2009.

"well sorry genius without a name, because we where a bit to busy so check the game plan of app state.
Again sorry for that because we where working while you live in your moms basement checking the college stats.

WE ARE SORRY"

dear clueless,

Apology not accepted... I work too, it' s called being knowledgeable about football. Please stop going around spouting nonsense about something you know nothing about and about a player or team that you haven't at least seen play on TV. It's amazing that so many people on here base all their opinions on the belief that Gruden and Allen are the devil reincarnate.

"Once again, a wonderful 1st day of the draft for the Bucs...NOT!! I'm upset that we had Mike Jenkins, a local product, on the board and we passed him up for someone from a basketball school with character issues. Then we traded #52 to move down 6 spots, add a 5th this year & a 7th next year. Name one 5th or 7th rd pick that has stuck with the Bucs. You can't because they don't exist! Then with #58, we take a guy from a Div 1-AA school who had a total of 30 receptions last year against pretty pathetic competition. Wow, I can't wait to see what we do on Sunday. I'd been looking forward to the draft for quite some time, woke up early this morning all siked up, and we get this from Gruden & Allen. Thanks gentlemen, there's always 2009."

Amazing...

Who cares where he went to school, I want the best player and besides Kansas (a supposed basketball school) won the Orange bowl, in which Talib was the MVP thanks to a pick 6. What happened to USF in the bowl game again?

5th round picks & 7th rd picks have sucked but who stuck - Greg Peterson.

30 receptions but he had a 20 yd avg and played in a spread OPTION offense. Pathetic competition yet they beat Michigan and won the I-AA national championship.

Now please stop crying and go back to bed supposed bucs fan.

"Why the hell didn't the Bucs trade out of the first round and pick up another 2nd and maybe a 3rd. With all the trading up by teams Tampa didn't consider trading out of the 20th pick!"

watch the press conference before you make assumptions about what the bucs intentions were -- Gruden said the phone wasn't ringing for trade talks

[Ray]

A message to the Glazers. Fire Gruden/Allen and hire all these whining naysayers here. Obviously, they have a better understanding than a coach that has won a S.B. and won the division 3 times. Who cares what school Jackson went too. you guys watch too much ESPN. Just becuase his name is not mention on ESPN, right off the bat you think he is going to fail. Look at Jerry Rice who went to a no name school and we all know how he turned out. Look at Micheal Clayton who went to very well known school and we all have seen how he has turned out. Draft is crap shoot. Some players stick and some don't. Only time will tell. Jackson has not worn a Bucs jersey yet and rght off the bat all these naysayers are saying he is going fail.

[Kris Johns]

Why did we pass on Brian Brohm TWICE!!!?

[Tray]

ok, now lets be serious about something here. I know that we needed a burner to open up things in the secondary, but why in the world would we pass up on Limas Sweed. The man runs a sub 4.5 and he has the type of playmaking ability that we thought we had in Michael Clayton. I'm not gonna bash Jackson, but i'm willing to bet that he will be more of the jaquez green type than a steve smith type...

[Bryan]

5'9" 182 lbs wide receiver you've got to be kidding. We alredy have that in Warrick Dunn if he wanted to be a WR. How desperate can we be for another WR? So he's fast, unless he can seperate himself from the defense in a "bump and run" will he even be able to see the ball coming? I also hope he's a dynamite punt returner because we deperately need one. I wish him well because Like it or not, he's a Buc now and that's all that counts.

It's hard to translate college production into NFL potential, and although I am scratching my head, if these kids are coachable... I remember Derrick Brooks was too small, Barber, who's that? Warrem Sapp another pothead. As much fun as you all have insulting each other it's not to be determined today if these kids can play in the NFL. There are no automatic picks unless the players name is Manning!

Warrem Sapp, who did he play for, that would be Warren Sapp, ya' dope!

[RICK]

MJ -

IF YOU ACTUALLY KNEW ABOUT KANSAS FOOTBALL YOU WOULD UNDERSTAND TALIB GOT BEAT ONCE IN THE KANSAS STATE GAME FOR A TOUCHDOWN BY JORDY NELSON. IN CASE YOU DIDN'T NOTICE JORDY NELSON WAS TAKEN AS THE 3RD RECEIVER IN THE SECOND ROUND! AHEAD OF YOUR PRECIOUS LIMAS sWEED!

IF YOU THINK MOST NFL PLAYERS DON'T USE WEED OR SOME OTHER DRUG YOU ARE OUT OF YOUR MIND! I'M SURE YOU WERE DREAMING OF TAMPA TAKING THE SAFETY OUT OF MIAMI SIMPLY BECAUSE TAYLOR, WHO PLAYED FOR THE REDSKINS WAS SO GOOD. GET OVER IT! TALIB IS THE STEAL OF THE DRAFT!

Perhaps the worst draft in Bucs history. A very dark day indeed at Ray Jay. The al Qaeda sounding guy will be under a drug suspension; Dexter is too small and won't make the team (he'll be on the practice squad).

[nick]

You guys kill me, Talib will be fine. The NFL couldn't field 32 teams if they got rid of everyone that had a little weed habit at some point in their lives. Everyone seems to forget that most experts had the Talib as the heir to Assante Samuel in New England before all of these "character issues." His onfield performance will be fine with Kiffin and Barber around to coach him up.

Jackson is crazy fast and you can't teach speed. Galloway will slow down eventually and Jackson could be a replacement for him. I've seen every App State playoff game for the past two years because a buddy of mine plays 1-AA. They play just as good of football in App State as most D1 programs as the Michigan game proved.

Even if he s a bust who cares? WRs are a dime a dozen every year in the draft, who was the last "lock" WR who panned out? Looking forward to day 2 and defending the NFC south crown.

[RICK]

TALIB SHOULD DOMINATE IN TAMPA AND THEN BOLT THE CLUB AS SOON AS HE IS ABLE TO. IT IS OBVIOUS THE FANS DON'T RESPECT THE ORANGE BOWL MVP. TALIB IS BETTER THAN THE TAMPA BAY ORGANIZATION AND DESERVES TO PLAY FOR A BETTER FRANCHISE.

people just relax. more than likely gruden had very little to do with this draft. most head coaches dont. they have a million things going on and that is why there are scouts hired by the team. one man can not scout over 300 players and run a football team. these scouts are professionals and break down each player. there is sop much that actually goes into drafting a player. bruce allen is the man who says yes or no. why? because he is the one that hired the scouts and they converse with him. that is how the business is run. yes the coach might throw his two cents in but the deciding factor is the gm. how do i know this? well i have a degree in sport management and i played college ball and have quite o few friends in the league. i like to check to see what vall people are saying about my favorite team and that i why i wrote this. i just wish you people would be more understanding and give a little more respect to our team. basically....RELAX and in two or three years we can see how the first day of the 2008 draft has panned out!

eeeeeeasy rick

KANSAS HAS PLAYED USF RECENTLY IN FOOTBALL AND TAKEN THEM BEHIND THE WOODSHED. PERHAPS YOU REMEMBER TALIB OWNING THE BULLS? I THINK KU IS GOING TO PLAY THEM AGAIN NEXT YEAR. PERHAPS THERE ARE SOME SOUR GRAPES FROM ALL OF YOU USF FANS WHO HAVE BEEN SLAPPED SILLY BY THE JAYHAWKS AND TALIB IN PARTICULAR!

"KANSAS HAS PLAYED USF RECENTLY IN FOOTBALL"

DUDE GET A GRIP AND SHOOT SOME HOOPS. LAST WAS A FLUKE.

YEAR

How many 5' 9" 182 lbs WR succeed in the NFL??

WHAT WAS A FLUKE?

KU WINNING THE 2008 NCAA BASKETBALL TITLE OR 2008 ORANGE BOWL OVER ACC CHAMP VIRGINIA TECH?

OR IS THE FLUKE KU SPANKING USF IN 2006?

WAYNE CHREBET NY JETS

5 FT. 10 INCHES

188 LBS.

2006! C'mon man get serious. Do you really think that in five years Kansas will be anywhere close to USF in football. The big 3 is about to be the big 4 in the state of Florida. I was actually happy for K-State but it is not going to be continuous thing. They played great in a weak big 12. No will care next year. Kansas football came and went. Florida football is a constant and USF will be a contender in years to come.

[kevinmmills]

How many 5' 9" 182 lbs WR succeed in the NFL??

...Everyone loves a tall WR but the bottom line is it doesnt matter if your 5'9 or 6'3 if you can run good routes and get seperation you'll succeed, if you cant you'll be out in 3 years.

The Bucs havent had any success drafting WR's the last few years and height hasnt been a factor either way. We've had tall busts and short busts.

BTW Wes Welker is 5'9 185.

KANSAS WILL WIN THE NATIONAL TITLE THIS SEASON IN FOOTBALL! MARK MY WORD! YOU WILL GET A GLIMPSE OF GREATNESS WHEN KU INVADES SOUTH FLORIDA AGAIN AND TAKES ON THE BULLS THIS FALL!

"spanking usf"
Hardly a spanking....The score was 13-7.

[Mizzou]

Kansas win the National Title? Wow your really a great HOMER. Pride is great for your team but be realistic not stupid. Check out my name.... LOSER

HOW MANY TEAMS BESIDES TALIB AND THE JAYHAWKS COULD HOLD USF TO 7 POINTS? TAMPA BAY GOT THE STEAL OF THE DRAFT IN TALIB! HE IS THE NEXT DEION SANDERS!

[Nick]

Didn't realize there was such a big Kansas fan in the area. I like the Talib pick a lot, and was glad you guys won the bball championship. But football championship for the Jayhawks? I'll take the field on any odds you will give

[RICK]

MISERY CAN FINALLY HANG A BANNER NOW AND SAY THEY BEAT THE ORANGE BOWL CHAMPS!

By the way its impossible to invade USF AGAIN....Because Kansas never played here before. The '06 game was in Kansas.

PLEASE-

WITH MARK MANGINO AND TODD REESING AT QUARTERBACK THE KANSAS JAYHAWKS ARE GOING TO REWRITE THE RECORD BOOKS THIS FALL AND DISNEY WILL BE MAKING A MOVIE ABOUT KANSAS FOOTBALL AND THEIR NATIONAL TITLE!

KU PLAYED IN THE ORANGE BOWL IN MIAMI IN JANUARY. THAT IS WHAT I WAS SUGGESTING BY INVADING SOUTH FLORIDA AGAIN.

I actually like the Talib pick ....Just not you

[RICK]

YOU WOULD BE SHOCKED BY HOW MANY JAYHAWKS FANS THERE ARE IN PLACES LIKE FLORIDA, NEW YORK, OR CALIFORNIA.

Is this a joke or is this guy really serious? i really want to know

[RICK]

YOU DON'T HAVE LIKE ME. YOU JUST HAVE TO LIKE MR. TALIB!