Could Darius Jackson = Reggie Bush?

[_sturt_]

If the circumstances were different, I might actually agree a bit more but here is why I think the Cowboys will keep in at RB. McFadden's contract. It is done after this season and I don't see it being extended. If you figure this into the equation, it might determine Jackson's roster spot. If he shows that he can contribute to Special Teams and if he shows that he can pick up the offense and give good production in the Offensive snaps he gets, the team could decide to keep him in favor of McFadden or Morris or Dunbar. All big if's but it's the Off Season.

;-)

I can see that happening, but again, don't see a conflict with that and evaluating him as an occasional receiving weapon in certain packages. What we're really talking about here is not a full-time switch to WR from RB, at least from my perspective. That's not where I was going. I'm saying he might get on the field and help you more as the 5th or 6th receiver option than he would as the 3rd or 4th RB option. And why not see if he can add to his versatility. Again... Alvin Harper like hops... Tony Hill like speed... how bout seeing and evaluating, then, if he has anything barely close to our #4 receiver's hands, and it seems we're ahead of the game, no?

 

[DeaconMoss]

Just look at the draft with Reggie Bush in 2006.

1. Mario Williams
2. Reggie Bush
3. Vince Young
4. D'Brickashaw Ferguson
5. A.J. Hawk
6. Vernon Davis
7. Michael Huff
8. Donte Whitner
9. Ernie Sims
10. Matt Leinart

How many of those 10 guys were worthy of the top ten?

7

 

[reddyuta]

He has to make the team first and thats not a given especially since garrett loves Dunbar so much.

 

[erod]

7

Not really. He was pretty bad in Oakland.

Ferguson was top-ten worthy. Davis and Whitner were first-round worthy.

 

[ghst187]

I'd be happier if he was more Darren sproles than Reggie bush

 

[Chuck 54]

Reggie Bush was one of the best backs ever....at what he did well. He had the speed; more importantly, he broke ankles in the open field. Seldom did one guy stop him in the second level, and he was as good a receiver as some wideouts. The problem is that while Bush was a super star receiver and punt/kick returner, he can't be the every down back in the NFL. I'd put him right up there with Faulk and Sproils in their primes as a receiver, open field runner, or returner.

However, his draft position and subsequent contracts made him too expensive for the role of change of pace/3rd down back/returner. So everyone expected too much of him. If he'd been drafted latter half of the round, and if his status made it reasonable to keep him in a situation like in N.O., where he was paired with a front line grinder, I think he'd have been healthier and been held in extremely high regard.

And Jackson isn't even a poor man's Reggie...lol. Speed is one thing, but he didn't exactly tear it up in college, and he's not known as shifty. I hope he makes it, but I think he and Gathers are the two long shots among our draftees.

 

[_sturt_]

To my memory of what he was at USC versus the games I ever saw Bush play in the NFL, he was never truly used in WR role like he was in college.

And again, it's that role that, for my part, I'm getting at... admittedly, I could have been more precise in how I wrote the header.

I'm more interested in this guy's speed and his leaping ability as a down-field threat, not as some shifty 3rd down back that I don't think he really is to begin with. We've got Dunbar anyhow, for that role. I'm saying we currently have no one on the receiving corp that is that stretch-the-field, speed demon deep threat, and here's a guy who has what might be... might be... the transferable skills to fill a role within a specific package for maybe 5-10 offensive downs per game.

 

[BoysWin]

Some people were disappointed we didn't pick a WR. But I wonder if we did and we just don't realize it yet.

A lot of talk about this guy's measurables being freakish... how about Jackson in a combo WR/RB/KR role in the Reggie Bush vein (... ie, the one at USC, not nearly so much in the pros)?

He has the speed.

He appears to have hops that threaten Alvin Harper territory. In fact, compared to the other top receivers in this draft, he would have been the only one to show up in the top 3 for both the 40 yard dash and the vertical jump stats.

Good info on Eastern Michigan players is hard to come by, but at least he appears to have some reputation as a good receiver (albeit out of the backfield).

When you're looking for ways to be efficient with your 53 man, it sure does help to have a weapon that you can deploy in more than one role.

Of course, I doubt anyone credibly can offer any informed endorsement of this idea, or for that matter, any informed criticism, but I just have to throw it out there as a reasonable option.

We have a lot of UDFA and FA talent on this roster. Chris Brown, Andy Jones, Ed Eagan, Vince Mayle. This is gonna be stiff competition this summer.

 

[_sturt_]

We have a lot of UDFA and FA talent on this roster. Chris Brown, Andy Jones, Ed Eagan, Vince Mayle. This is gonna be stiff competition this summer.

As far as I've read, Brown and Jones are the only two of those considered to have a shot, but sure, conventional wisdom has been wrong before. I keep hearing really optimistic things about Brown, in particular, though Jones is the one who they paid a little more to acquire. And/but... neither of those two have the exceptional down-field speed that I for one am hoping to see us add.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I can see that happening, but again, don't see a conflict with that and evaluating him as an occasional receiving weapon in certain packages. What we're really talking about here is not a full-time switch to WR from RB, at least from my perspective. That's not where I was going. I'm saying he might get on the field and help you more as the 5th or 6th receiver option than he would as the 3rd or 4th RB option. And why not see if he can add to his versatility. Again... Alvin Harper like hops... Tony Hill like speed... how bout seeing and evaluating, then, if he has anything barely close to our #4 receiver's hands, and it seems we're ahead of the game, no?

If he can do that, it probably assures him of a spot on the roster.

 

[Aven8]

I would actually love to see Reggie Bush here in Dallas in th Dunbar role.

Just get rid of him whenever Dunbar is healthy again.. Let him do some of the receiving stuff, PR, KR duties.

I know they'll want to use Whitehead more but I'd like to see Bush here.

Come on Catch, Bush makes Dunbar seem durable! That ship has sailed....

 

[CATCH17]

Come on Catch, Bush makes Dunbar seem durable! That ship has sailed....

Fair enough. I'd really just like Dunbar to stay healthy.

 

[DallasBlockersClub]

He wasn't as good as people projected him to be in the NFL but he was still productive and teams had to account for him. The combo NO had with him and Ingram was pretty good if memory serves me right.

He is/was essientially a better Dunbar IMO.

He was excellent before his injury in New Orleans. Was leading the NFL in yards from scrimmage.

 

[JoeKing]

We have too much talent at the RB position now. We need to trade some of it for a good WR or pass rush guy. I'm all for making McFadden that trade bait guy. This way we develop our young talent and reap their benefits for a longer period of time.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

Not really. He was pretty bad in Oakland.

Ferguson was top-ten worthy. Davis and Whitner were first-round worthy.

Mario was as well.

 

[TheMarathonContinues]

We have too much talent at the RB position now. We need to trade some of it for a good WR or pass rush guy. I'm all for making McFadden that trade bait guy. This way we develop our young talent and reap their benefits for a longer period of time.

Nobody values running back enough to trade for any of ours.

 

[erod]

Mario was as well.

Then why did Houston let him go without a fight?

 

[Bullflop]

IF Dunbar is able to return to good health, he'll have some stiff competition to make the roster. In the event he's relegated to the practice squad, it's a good bet he won't linger there long before he's snatched up by another team. We'll probably be obliged to see him in action before we'll have an obvious clue whether he'll be capable of making the roster or not. He's quite raw and should require a thorough testing in TC to gauge his skills.

 

[JoeKing]

Nobody values running back enough to trade for any of ours.

That could be true but the word needs to be put on the trading block that DMC is available for the right offer. Making room for Darius to play a bigger role seems to be appropriate. These things tend to work themselves out. A preseason injury to one of the RBs could have some sway on the roster.

 

[_sturt_]

That could be true but the word needs to be put on the trading block that DMC is available for the right offer. Making room for Darius to play a bigger role seems to be appropriate. These things tend to work themselves out. A preseason injury to one of the RBs could have some sway on the roster.

Yes, I'm one of those who think it's generally smarter to look first to what you can do internally to resolve your roster issues.... which is one of the premises of the OP.

You look for an edge anywhere you can get it. This guy possesses both a fifth gear that most don't, and he can jump like few can. Take a look at him at RB, but don't limit yourself to just that. If it turns out you find in pre-season that he doesn't have the hands for it, okay... but at least you assessed your options.