Vincent Jackson at the Combine and Pro Day

[jrandom42]

In his own words, from The Rocky Mountain News March 11, 2005

A Prospect's Diary: Training pays off with a successful showing at the combine

By Vincent Jackson, Special to the News

March 11, 2005

University of Northern Colorado receiver Vincent Jackson is on the clock. His countdown to the NFL draft started the day his senior season finished at Greeley. And as the Colorado Springs native prepares for the April 23-24 talent grab - he already has made stops in January at Mobile, Ala., for the Senior Bowl and in February at Indianapolis for the league's scouting combine - he will keep a diary for the Rocky Mountain News of the places he goes, the people he sees.

Part 3: The big sigh

When (the combine) was over, I got on the plane and it was just like wooo, such a great feeling to come back here and know a weight was just lifted off your shoulders. It was the biggest test you're going to have before the draft.

I mean, this whole process is about the combine. And to go there and do well and be happy with my results, I was really excited when it was over.

Definitely a relief. Six weeks, eight weeks of training for something that didn't take more than a couple hours. It was definitely a big relief to get it done and I'm glad it turned out well.

I believe I convinced some people I can play wide receiver. Some of the scouts talked to my agent (Jonathan Feinsod) and asked, "Did you get him a receivers coach or something? Has he been working with a receivers coach because his routes are so good?"

[Note: Kay Dalton, the HC at UNC, was receivers coach for the Broncos, Bills, Oilers and Chiefs from 1974 to 1986]

We laugh about it a little now because before the workouts, some people thought I was too big to be a wide receiver, that I'd be a tight end or an H-back or something.

And I think some of those people even thought I'd go (to Indianapolis) and run a 4.7, a 4.8 (seconds in the 40-yard dash), something like that. But when I ran, the time I was shown was a hand-timed 4.46, 4.47, then electronically 4.49 and 4.50. I think they decided to average me out to 4.48.

I'm very pleased with that, definitely. I thought all along if I ran in the low 4.5s, because of my size, it would help me. So I just wanted to be around that area. I knew it would be good.

Outside of the workouts, I also met with a lot of teams, got in front of coaches, general managers. I think by the time it was done, there were only a couple of teams that I had not talked to.

And most of them, almost every team, said when they watch my film, as big as I am, that I just played fast. That was the biggest thing. (Kansas City Chiefs coach) Dick Vermeil told me that and a couple of other coaches told me that, too.

They were like, "We look at you on film and you don't look like you're 6-5, 240 pounds," which I think was probably the biggest compliment I got. Just to hear that from coaches - that they wouldn't think I was so big the way I control my body.

But I felt very comfortable. I've tried to prepare myself for all of that. The coaches were really nice and they just want to get to know you - your background - just have a conversation with them.

I was relaxed. I had a great time with it. A great time.

I think that's one of my biggest assets, my intelligence and my personality. Just to be able to sit down and talk to receivers coaches, talk about my experiences and my goals, my knowledge of the game. I think that really helps you.

They see how you play on the film, but they want to see what's underneath the helmet as well and (the interviews) helped me out, too, as well as testing out well.

I'm not enrolled in classes right now, so I have some free time over the next few weeks. My pro day here is coming up and it's just time to get prepared for the next step.

I've got to get my stuff ready to move out. To where, I don't know yet, but it's time to be ready for what comes next.

Results from Pro Day 3/23/05

Height 6' 4.5"

Weight 239 lbs

4.00 Short Shuttle

23 reps @225lbs

[walshfan]

Jackson is ranked somewhere around 12 of alll the wideouts in the draft.. Its not all due to his playing at a lower level as the others....Looks to be a third rounder..

[HairOnFire]

With the exception of a few highlite plays I've never seen Jackson play a lick....so take the following remarks with the proverbial grain o' salt. That said, in my opinion there wasn't a player featured during the NFL Networks televised combine coverage who passed the so-called "eye test" as impressively as Jackson. His size is impressive enough to get your attention even when standing still, but it's the combination of size, speed, and pass receiving skills that really sticks with you. He really moves well. Very smooth release, absolutely no wasted movement, as gracefull as a freaking deer....and he catches the ball!! In fact, I can't recall seeing him drop a single ball during any of the drills, including one thrown so poorly that Jackson had to twist and reach back even as he was attempting to execute the tap drill just before going out of bounds. And that throw and catch were even more impressive because the previous throw was also so poor that Jackson had to break stride and adjust before making the catch.

All things considered, a very impressive display of athleticism for a plus sized wideout. However, as with Mike Williams, I have to wonder if Jackson has the top speed and extra gear the Bengals are said to be looking for at WR or the blocking skills needed to be an option at TE.

[walshfan]

Good post Hair... I agree alot of intangibles need to be addressed before we make this guy out to be the next TO in the NFL..

[jrandom42]

After seeing Vincent on tape and talking to those who have seen him play in person, here's what I've come up with:

1) At 6' 4.5" and 241 lbs, he's only 20 lbs lighter than DE Bill Swancutt, about the same size as Brian Simmons and Kevin Hardy, bigger than Nate Webster, Landon Johnson, Caleb Miller and Khalid Abdullah, noticibly bigger than Tory James, Deltha O'Neal and Keiwan Ratliff, and WAY bigger than Reggie Myles and Terrell Roberts.

2) Concerns about his speed are unwarranted. He ran a range of 4.46 to 4.50 at the Combine. He looks to be one of those fluid athletes who don't look fast, until you see on tape that everyone pursuing him appears to be running backwards.

3) By doing 23 reps at 225 lbs, he's shown that he could probably bench press 90% of the CBs and Safeties and maybe 35% of the LBs who would be trying to cover him.

4) Watching him go up for a high pass made me think of Kevin Garnett going up for an offensive rebound.

5) In his junior year, he was Northern Colorado's starting point guard, averaging 13.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg and 3.5 apg. Granted, they went 6-22 that year, but he was good enough to hold his own.

6) Those who have talked to him have said that he is a intelligent, serious, hard working, reliable, humble, disciplined kid who responds well to coaching and is well liked and respected by his teammates, despite his celebrity. I think, working with a good receivers coach and an imaginitive offensive coordinator, he could be starting some time in his rookie year.

7) No one other than Northern Colorado and Colorado School of Mines recruited him out of high school. IF he went to Colorado and played in the Big 12, I believe they'd be talking about him in the same breath as Mark Clayton.

8) When Northern Colorado went to see him play, they said he had a good game, scoring 15 pts and grabbing 10 rebounds.

9) One player at Montana called him a "freak of nature", after shredding No. 7 Ranked Montana's pass defense for 227 yds. Said, "There's no way anyone this big and strong could be this fast, quick and agile, unless he's a freak of nature or a mutant".

10) At every level of increased competition, he's delivered.

11) "I coached in the NFL for a long time," says head coach Kay Dalton, who worked for the Denver Broncos, Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs and Houston Oilers over two decades, "and he's as good a wideout as I ever coached. I had some pretty good wideouts, and he can be better than them."

This includes guys like Cliff Branch, Haven Moses, JD Hill, Bob Chandler, Charlie Joiner and Andre Reed.

12) Personally, I have never seen a combination of size, hands, strength, speed and agility like this since Kellen Winslow Sr and Harold Carmichael.

[chrishcovga]

I think the thing that stands out about his athleticism is the short shuttle time. 4'seconds flat, that's impressive for any athlete, considering how few players come in under that time in their drills. As a matter of fact very few ever do, with the exception of elite cornerbacks or this year with David Pollacks' incredible 3.90. Jonathan Babineaux 6'2 280? ran a very similiar 4.10 which is impressive for a player his size with a rod in his leg from two prior breaks.

But as to Jackson, there's no doubt he has 2nd round talent and first rate athleticism, but level of competition is a grading point for these athletes, so he'll go 2nd round, but wouldn't be surprised if he hits top of third or gets drafted after Chris Henry 6'5 4.4 speed from West Virginia.