Anatomy of a prospect: LSU DE Tyson Jackson

[cowboyjoe]

I think he will be gone before we draft

Anatomy of a prospect: LSU DE Tyson Jackson
11:00 AM Thu, Apr 16, 2009 | Permalink
Rick Gosselin E-mail News tips

There are a dozen NFL teams that figure to play a 3-4 defensive scheme in 2009. That drives the stock up of the bulkier ends who have to square up against those 330-pound offensive tackles. Speed may be an edge premium in a 4-3 scheme, but it's all about power and might in a 3-4. LSU's Tyson Jackson is the best 3-4 defensive end in this draft.

Jackson goes 6-4, 296 pounds and is arguably the best defensive end regardless of the scheme on a 2009 draft board that has so little size at the end position. Some 4-3 teams are even projecting him as a defensive tackle. He's a three-year starter at left end for the Tigers and a two-time second team All-SEC selection. He had 8 1/2-sacks in 2006, 3 1/2 in 1007 and 4 1/2 in 2008.

I've had NFL talent evaluators compare him to both Richard Seymour and Ty Warren, the starting ends in New England's 3-4 defensive scheme. He also has the credibility of the LSU program and the history of success of Tiger defensive linemen in the NFL in his favor on draft day.

"If you draft a defensive lineman from LSU, you can pretty much bank on getting a player who is a hard worker, who is dedicated to his job, a guy who has a passion for football," Jackson said. "Size and speed is the best combination for a defensive lineman, and we've got a lot of guys with size and speed. We're solid with our technique, so everything else takes care of itself."