Read the opposing arguments from Babe Ruthless and Bleacher Fan.
When first discussing this topic for the Web site, and after explaining to Loyal Homer which type of “bust” we were going to write about, I decided that there are two angles to take on this debate. First is the obvious angle that counters every heap of criticism Bleacher Fan has poured on the head of Tim Tebow thus far (seriously, fellas, get a room). That angle is controversy. Or I could take a more studious approach and do a careful analysis of the players and the various team needs and determine which player is most likely to struggle when the pressure and expectations are ratcheted up under the furious pace of the regular season.
Yep, you guessed it. Sports Geek chose the option with “studious” in it.
The draft is always interesting because the farther down the draft board a player is, the more likely they are not the desired impact player teams seek out. Even if a player is drafted late in the first round, they are no longer the game-changing player that every team entering the draft wants. Instead, they are forecast as solid contributors and probable starters.
So, with those relatively reasonable expectations in mind, it is clear to me that the supposed jewel of the Houston Texas abysmal draft – first round pick and 20th overall, defensive back Kareem Jackson out of Alabama – will be the under the radar bust from the 2010 NFL Draft.
The Texans did have a need at corner with the departure of Dunta Robinson. But, the pressure and expectations that accompany playing cornerback in a division where teams must face the Colts and Peyton Manning twice a season is a great deal to expect of a raw rookie. The raw nature to Jackson’s game is unavoidable. He hails from Alabama, a good team that played few pass happy teams. In short, he simply has not played enough teams against great – or even good – receivers to develop his coverage skills. Plus he entered the draft as a junior. Some may look at that fact as a positive, meaning he has more time to develop. That’s fine, except the NFL is professional football. It’s not a developmental league, it’s a professional league. Learning is for the arena league. The standard for a first round pick must be higher.
Here is an excerpt from the first paragraph of the scouting report on Kareen Jackson:
Jackson isn’t compact or balanced in his drop when asked to play up close to the line of scrimmage. He has a tendency to get too overextended in his base and struggles keeping his feet under him when asked to open his hips and run. He lacks a great first step out of his transition and will allow receivers to get behind him vertically. He isn’t overly physical when asked to press off the line and likes to get his hands on receivers downfield but isn’t a guy who will consistently reroute off the line.
Well, that is not exactly a ringing endorsement for a first round draft pick.
I am not a coach for the Houston Texans, and I cannot presume to understand the reasons why the Texans would grab a player like Jackson at 20 when a guy like Kyle Wilson was still available at 29 to the New York Jets. Here is an excerpt from Wilson’s scouting report, a player who I believe will not be a bust:
Wilson showcases good flexibility and balance in press coverage and has the confidence to play up near the line and to get in the faces of receivers. He looks fluid when asked to turn his hips and run with his man. Wilson does a nice job of staying with receivers and forcing them to widen their downfield patterns toward the sideline.
That’s more like it. Neither player is perfect. Both have flaws. But Jackson is a work in progress at a high pay grade. His draft position and the expectations on him playing against Peyton Manning twice a season will doom him to obscure bust status.
