Tarvaris Jackson - Have we dismissed him too quickly? (1 Viewer)

[Raider Nation]

I'm guilty myself of perhaps judging Jackson too prematurely. As a Peterson dynasty owner, I made it clear to whomever would listen that I wanted Minnesota to go out and get a "real QB" who could take some heat off of the running game and get all those defenders out of the box.

Then I took a peek at the numbers.

In '99, McNabb started 12 games for the Eagles. His first full year starting.

In '07, Jackson started 12 games for the Vikings. His first full year starting.

McNabb is the perfect measuring stick for Jackson. They are both big, strapping, athletic QBs. McNabb is 6'2", 236. Jackson is 6'2", 226. In '99, McNabb's offensive coordinator was Brad Childress in the West Coast Offense. In '07, Jackson played for the same man running largely the same scheme.

McNabb's legendary crew of WRs was made up of Torrance Small, Charles Johnson, Luther Broughton & Na Brown.

Jackson's murderer's row of wideouts consisted of Sidney Rice, Troy Williamson, Bobby Wade & Robert Ferguson.

Passing totals

McNabb '99 - 106/216, (49.1%), 948 yards, 8 TD / 7 INT

Jackson '07 - 171/294, (58.2%), 1911 yards, 9TD / 12 INT

Rushing totals

McNabb '99 - 47 rushes for 313 yards & 0 TDs

Jackson '07 - 54 rushes for 260 yards & 3 TDs

So what does all this mean? Maybe nothing... maybe everything. At the very least, I believe it means the kid deserves to be under center for at least one more year. All indications point to that indeed being the case. Childress seems committed to him. But I hear more and more people talking about how "the experiment is over" and the Vikes should draft one of the stud QBs, or grab an established veteran via trade or free agency. McNabb himself has been mentioned as possibly being Minnesota's next starting QB.

Using the above numbers to compare their neophyte campaigns, Jackson has better stats than McNabb with the exception of the YPC and interception categories. Donovan's numbers after his first season were not earth-shattering. If he had been benched after that season, the Eagles would not have gone to all of those NFC championship games. I'm guessing that folks cut McNabb a little more slack because he was the 2nd overall pick in the draft. You aren't just going to discard a player who was drafted that highly. Jackson, selected 64th overall, doesn't get the same benefit of the doubt. But maybe he should.

A breakout season from T-Jax in 2008 would not surprise me.

 

[Phlash]

Jackson is pretty physically gifted, and a smart guy to boot. He's being hindered by his offensive coordinator as well as crappy receivers who can't get seperation or catch the ball. When you have guys like ADP and Chester Taylor running the ball, you'd think that your receivers would get open - this isn't the case. He throws it accurately right to them and they can't hang on. Sure, he's made some rookie mistakes, but I think he'll be much better next year. He's very athletic and smart, and his upside is fantastic. I don't see why they'd turn the offense over to someone else when he's just barely started.

 

[msommer]

As Phlash alluded to the potential is there that the improvement in Jackson from his abysmal performances in 06 to what we've seen in 07 could easily have as much to do with getting Peterson on the team as it has to do with improvement in Jackson per se.

Kind of like the McNabb/TO discussion we had a few years ago.

The important thing is to find out whether Jackson can continue to improve.

In fact there are many similarities with the Eagles O

A young mobile QB

Crappy receivers

A dual RB approach (is it committe or synergy?)

 

[FUBAR]

I've said elsewhere that I think Jackson can be a good QB. Not great, I don't think he'll put the team on his back and carry it to the NFC Championship, but he won't have to. Give him a WR or two and his FF and NFL stock will shoot up.

 

[KellysHeroes]

McNabb didn't have a good Eagles team.... Jackson is in a much better situation. TJax has one of the best rushing support behind him.

There was a point, after mid-season, where it looked like Jackson was making great improvements... then he totally fell apart against the Bears and Skins. There is no way he should of been handed this Job... a FA or even a 1st rounder should be brought in to compete.

 

[snogger]

Jackson '07 - 171/294, (58.2%), 1911 yards, 9TD / 12 INT

The bold part is what most concerns me. A few of those were so bad it made you wonder WTF he was thinking. The way he played the 4th quarter against Denver was WOW. If he learns to take what is there and stops throwing it when he can't step into it he might be better than he has shown.

I'm beginning to waver on my "Go after McNabb" thoughts. There are a couple of things that need to change for next season if they are going to stick with him as their starter.

#1 - New Coordinator that can adjust to what the defense is doing. This guy sets a game plan in motion and it doesn't matter what the defense does he continues to stick with it even if it hasn't worked for 2 quarters

#2 - Bring in a legitimate QB caoch/Mentor. As I've mentioned it before, I'd love to see Ron Jaworski or someone like him, come in and mentor/coach him the whole year.

#3 - Bring in a legit back-up QB.. Bring in Pennington as a back-up but make it an open competition in Training camp/ Pre-season. Make TJ earn the starter job, don't just hand it off to him.

Those 3 things would help TJ as a QB.

Adding a Veteran WR would help the team also.

 

[baldgriff]

After watching him most of the year, I believe he actually has the potential to be a pretty decent QB. When he has time to throw, he sure can make some nice passes (see Denver 4th Quarter). However, when he is pressured he tends to try to do too much with the ball. This is a typical young QB problem. Some of the passes he tried were almost fade away jump shots more than football passes. So if he gets smarter about that, he will improve greatly.

Included in his development is the need for pass blocking. Yes the Vikings can run, but they dont pass block very effectively, which has forced the bad decisions. In addition, as has been pointed out, he needs another quality WR to throw to.

There were times this year where he was awful, but there where times when it appeared the game had slowed down for him and in those times he looked real good.

I am hoping that those real good looks continue to occur. I think you have to give him another year to see how he has developed. The team went 8-8 and I believe under Tarvaris actually had a winning record, so there is definitely something to work with there.

 

[kflo]

Skipping to the bottom of this thread. From the 3 games I saw of the Vikings this year. I was not impressed with Jackson at all. Terrible Mechinces. Bad deicsions. Just nto impressed. I know qb's take time to "get it" ala Eli but I just dont see it in the cards for Jackson. Maybe he needs a really true weapson to throw to. Rice seems to be the fit at #2/#1A but that is all he has. I am not sure what is o ut there on the FA market TE wise but a top 10 TE would help him greatly. Look at the Campbell/Cooley connection. He nees a TE then a true #1 WR

I'm guilty myself of perhaps judging Jackson too prematurely. As a Peterson dynasty owner, I made it clear to whomever would listen that I wanted Minnesota to go out and get a "real QB" who could take some heat off of the running game and get all those defenders out of the box.

Then I took a peek at the numbers.

In '99, McNabb started 12 games for the Eagles. His first full year starting.

In '07, Jackson started 12 games for the Vikings. His first full year starting.

McNabb is the perfect measuring stick for Jackson. They are both big, strapping, athletic QBs. McNabb is 6'2", 236. Jackson is 6'2", 226. In '99, McNabb's offensive coordinator was Brad Childress in the West Coast Offense. In '07, Jackson played for the same man running largely the same scheme.

McNabb's legendary crew of WRs was made up of Torrance Small, Charles Johnson, Luther Broughton & Na Brown.

Jackson's murderer's row of wideouts consisted of Sidney Rice, Troy Williamson, Bobby Wade & Robert Ferguson.

Passing totals

McNabb '99 - 106/216, (49.1%), 948 yards, 8 TD / 7 INT

Jackson '07 - 171/294, (58.2%), 1911 yards, 9TD / 12 INT

Rushing totals

McNabb '99 - 47 rushes for 313 yards & 0 TDs

Jackson '07 - 54 rushes for 260 yards & 3 TDs

So what does all this mean? Maybe nothing... maybe everything. At the very least, I believe it means the kid deserves to be under center for at least one more year. All indications point to that indeed being the case. Childress seems committed to him. But I hear more and more people talking about how "the experiment is over" and the Vikes should draft one of the stud QBs, or grab an established veteran via trade or free agency. McNabb himself has been mentioned as possibly being Minnesota's next starting QB.

Using the above numbers to compare their neophyte campaigns, Jackson has better stats than McNabb with the exception of the YPC and interception categories. Donovan's numbers after his first season were not earth-shattering. If he had been benched after that season, the Eagles would not have gone to all of those NFC championship games. I'm guessing that folks cut McNabb a little more slack because he was the 2nd overall pick in the draft. You aren't just going to discard a player who was drafted that highly. Jackson, selected 64th overall, doesn't get the same benefit of the doubt. But maybe he should.

A breakout season from T-Jax in 2008 would not surprise me.

 

[redman]

He's probably a pretty good play-action QB with whom you can roll the pocket, etc., but I think he's going to be somewhat limited. I agree that he should continue to develop, and they have the luxury in MN of a good line and excellent RB's to take pressure off of him. They could use a go-to WR though.