Rams' DeSean Jackson can see how his connection with Matthew Stafford will be the bomb

Rams' DeSean Jackson can see how his connection with Matthew Stafford will be the bomb

DeSean Jackson has been in a Sean McVay offense before, so once he gets acclimated with quarterback Matthew Stafford he is certain the Rams offense is going to be great.

www.latimes.com

Rams' DeSean Jackson can see how his connection with Matthew Stafford will be the bomb​

It’s not that complicated, according to DeSean Jackson.

During offseason workouts, the new Rams receiver has worked to get a feel for new quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Jackson has been one of the NFL’s top deep-ball threats since he entered the league in 2008. Stafford, a 13th-year pro, has one of the league’s strongest arms.

Jackson said Tuesday that establishing a connection and timing ultimately comes down to communicating and understanding what each player does best. Instructions for both apparently are simple.

“You continue to be great and just throw the ball, and I’m going to continue to be great and just run past everybody and use my speed,” Jackson said, chuckling, during a videoconference with reporters. “I think that’s the good niche about us, we’re just going to be dialed in and just continuously just learn the plays — and once the season starts, we’ll be in rare … form.”

Jackson, 34, is regarded as the deep threat who can help coach Sean McVay return the Rams offense to its high-powered form of the 2018 season, when the Rams advanced to the Super Bowl.

The offense was devoid of a deep threat last season, when the Rams lost in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs. In January, general manager Les Snead traded quarterback Jared Goff and two first-round draft picks to the Detroit Lions for Stafford. Then he signed Jackson, the former Long Beach Poly High star who played in a McVay-designed offense in Washington during the 2014 to 2016 seasons.

Jackson said McVay was smart when he was the offensive coordinator in Washington, and that he has only grown smarter since. The Rams offense is similar in many ways to the one Jackson executed in Washington — but also different.

“He’s always adding twists and schemes into his offense to keep the defenses off guard,” Jackson said of McVay. “So I’m still diving into it and trying to gather all the information and still learn, but it’s been a great process so far working with the new guys on the team and just having a lot of fun doing it.”

After his stint in Washington, Jackson played two seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and two injury-plagued seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles before the Rams signed him to a one-year contract that includes $2.75 million in guarantees, according to overthecap.com.

Some of the play-call verbiage has changed since he last coached Jackson, but McVay said the receiver’s transition has been smooth.

“He’s so smart,” McVay said, “he picks things up quickly.”

Jackson said he has enjoyed sharing information with and learning from Rams veterans Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp, and mentoring young receivers such as Van Jefferson and rookie Tutu Atwell.

The receivers, along with tight end Tyler Higbee and running back Cam Akers and others, should provide Stafford with multiple weapons.

“It’s going to be definitely a scary group for defenses and defenders,” Jackson said, “because Sean McVay, one thing about it, he’s going to figure out how to get people open.

“So we just look forward to having a lot of fun doing it.”

Jackson, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, has amassed 612 catches, 56 for touchdowns, while averaging 17.4 yards per catch. He acknowledged that statistics and accolades were important to his younger self, but after watching teams such as the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers annually contend and win titles with proven systems, he wants a championship.

“I’ve accomplished a lot of great things in my career,” he said, “but for me I haven’t held up that trophy.”

Jackson was limited to eight games the last two seasons because of abdominal, hamstring and ankle injuries. He appeared to be practicing without limitations Tuesday and said he would spend time between the end of minicamp Thursday and the start of training camp in late July preparing his body for what will be the NFL’s first 17-game season.

“I know what I need to do to get right,” he said.

 

[CGI_Ram]

DeSean Jackson receives strong signals about Rams’ potential

The veteran receiver sees accountability that starts at the top with Coach Sean McVay and the star players. … Aaron Donald, with an excused absence, is the only player missing as the team ope…

www.ocregister.com

DeSean Jackson receives strong signals about Rams’ potential​

THOUSAND OAKS — In 13 NFL seasons, DeSean Jackson has caught passes for very good teams and very bad teams.

Knowing what makes certain teams championship contenders, he already sees the 2021 Rams in that class.

“First day I came here, man, I could see there was something different about this team. The camaraderie, the mentality, you could tell it’s something special,” Jackson, the L.A. native and former Long Beach Poly star who signed with the Rams in March, said Tuesday after the first practice of a three-day minicamp.

“I’ve been on teams where certain individuals had contract issues or personal issues or had a situation with the GM or (another) player. When you come here, you don’t feel none of that. You feel like everybody’s on the same page, everybody has one common goal. All the personal stuff, the outside world, none of that matters.”

Jackson sees it starting at the top with the coach and star players.

“(It’s) Sean McVay setting the tone, and having guys like Jalen Ramsey, Aaron Donald, Matthew Stafford, Robert Woods, Coop (Cooper Kupp), I could go on and on. The energy is great here,” Jackson said of his head coach and new teammates.

He compared these Rams to the team he joined as a second-round draft pick from Cal. Those were the 2008 Eagles coached by Andy Reid and led by Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook and Brian Dawkins. They went to the NFC championship game, only to be upset by Arizona.

“They had a demeanor,” Jackson said of the veterans. “Those guys held accountability for every player from top to bottom.”

One test of the all-for-one culture Jackson sees could come in the wide receiver group, which has more hands competing for touches since Jackson, 34, and second-round draft pick Tutu Atwell joined Kupp, Woods and Van Jefferson. (Josh Reynolds departed.)

Jackson calls it a “scary group,” and is counting on the maturity of the receivers to embrace their roles as McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford decide who gets the ball.

“In the NFL, there’s always other great guys. It’s not me, me, me,” Jackson said. “As you get older, you understand the Patriots of the world, the Steelers. They have a system, and once you understand that system, it’s kind of interchangeable. Every guy can be the next man up.”

Jackson’s comfort with the Rams is enhanced by his familiarity with the playbook, since McVay was Washington’s offensive coordinator when Jackson was there.

Said McVay of Jackson: “He’s always been a really smart player. And fortunately, because of our pre-existing relationship, if I’ve changed the vernacular or verbiage on some things, (I can) say, ‘Hey, what you knew as ‘NASCAR’ is now ‘spear.’”

Said Jackson of McVay: “The only thing I can say has changed about him is he’s got a lot more smarter. And he already was smart.”

Jackson hopes the team spirit he has seen so far continues from June to January.

“It’s all pieces to the puzzle,” he said, “and if everybody plays their part, you have something special.”

 

[Merlin]

It certainly won't hurt to have a guy like DJax fully bought-in. No idea if he can give us a full season but for now the competition in that wideout room is something. Have to think we will benefit big time from it to.

Compare this to last year with Reynolds having no real threat to his playing time. Or defenses just focusing in on Kupp and Woody. This year it's a whole different animal.

 

[CGI_Ram]

DeSean Jackson receives strong signals about Rams’ potential

The veteran receiver sees accountability that starts at the top with Coach Sean McVay and the star players. … Aaron Donald, with an excused absence, is the only player missing as the team ope…

www.ocregister.com

DeSean Jackson receives strong signals about Rams’ potential​

THOUSAND OAKS — In 13 NFL seasons, DeSean Jackson has caught passes for very good teams and very bad teams.

Knowing what makes certain teams championship contenders, he already sees the 2021 Rams in that class.

“First day I came here, man, I could see there was something different about this team. The camaraderie, the mentality, you could tell it’s something special,” Jackson, the L.A. native and former Long Beach Poly star who signed with the Rams in March, said Tuesday after the first practice of a three-day minicamp.

“I’ve been on teams where certain individuals had contract issues or personal issues or had a situation with the GM or (another) player. When you come here, you don’t feel none of that. You feel like everybody’s on the same page, everybody has one common goal. All the personal stuff, the outside world, none of that matters.”

Jackson sees it starting at the top with the coach and star players.

“(It’s) Sean McVay setting the tone, and having guys like Jalen Ramsey, Aaron Donald, Matthew Stafford, Robert Woods, Coop (Cooper Kupp), I could go on and on. The energy is great here,” Jackson said of his head coach and new teammates.

He compared these Rams to the team he joined as a second-round draft pick from Cal. Those were the 2008 Eagles coached by Andy Reid and led by Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook and Brian Dawkins. They went to the NFC championship game, only to be upset by Arizona.

“They had a demeanor,” Jackson said of the veterans. “Those guys held accountability for every player from top to bottom.”

One test of the all-for-one culture Jackson sees could come in the wide receiver group, which has more hands competing for touches since Jackson, 34, and second-round draft pick Tutu Atwell joined Kupp, Woods and Van Jefferson. (Josh Reynolds departed.)

Jackson calls it a “scary group,” and is counting on the maturity of the receivers to embrace their roles as McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford decide who gets the ball.

“In the NFL, there’s always other great guys. It’s not me, me, me,” Jackson said. “As you get older, you understand the Patriots of the world, the Steelers. They have a system, and once you understand that system, it’s kind of interchangeable. Every guy can be the next man up.”

Jackson’s comfort with the Rams is enhanced by his familiarity with the playbook, since McVay was Washington’s offensive coordinator when Jackson was there.

Said McVay of Jackson: “He’s always been a really smart player. And fortunately, because of our pre-existing relationship, if I’ve changed the vernacular or verbiage on some things, (I can) say, ‘Hey, what you knew as ‘NASCAR’ is now ‘spear.’”

Said Jackson of McVay: “The only thing I can say has changed about him is he’s got a lot more smarter. And he already was smart.”

Jackson hopes the team spirit he has seen so far continues from June to January.

“It’s all pieces to the puzzle,” he said, “and if everybody plays their part, you have something special.”

^That is a good read. Jackson fills in around this offense perfectly. His familiarity with the O and ability to move around the field…

Moderate/lesser snaps should be well receive by Jackson at this age. To celebrate those final seconds of the Superbowl on the field you need to be healthy at that point in the season.

 

[FarNorth]

DeSean Jackson receives strong signals about Rams’ potential

The veteran receiver sees accountability that starts at the top with Coach Sean McVay and the star players. … Aaron Donald, with an excused absence, is the only player missing as the team ope…

www.ocregister.com

DeSean Jackson receives strong signals about Rams’ potential​

THOUSAND OAKS — In 13 NFL seasons, DeSean Jackson has caught passes for very good teams and very bad teams.

Knowing what makes certain teams championship contenders, he already sees the 2021 Rams in that class.

“First day I came here, man, I could see there was something different about this team. The camaraderie, the mentality, you could tell it’s something special,” Jackson, the L.A. native and former Long Beach Poly star who signed with the Rams in March, said Tuesday after the first practice of a three-day minicamp.

“I’ve been on teams where certain individuals had contract issues or personal issues or had a situation with the GM or (another) player. When you come here, you don’t feel none of that. You feel like everybody’s on the same page, everybody has one common goal. All the personal stuff, the outside world, none of that matters.”

Jackson sees it starting at the top with the coach and star players.

“(It’s) Sean McVay setting the tone, and having guys like Jalen Ramsey, Aaron Donald, Matthew Stafford, Robert Woods, Coop (Cooper Kupp), I could go on and on. The energy is great here,” Jackson said of his head coach and new teammates.

He compared these Rams to the team he joined as a second-round draft pick from Cal. Those were the 2008 Eagles coached by Andy Reid and led by Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook and Brian Dawkins. They went to the NFC championship game, only to be upset by Arizona.

“They had a demeanor,” Jackson said of the veterans. “Those guys held accountability for every player from top to bottom.”

One test of the all-for-one culture Jackson sees could come in the wide receiver group, which has more hands competing for touches since Jackson, 34, and second-round draft pick Tutu Atwell joined Kupp, Woods and Van Jefferson. (Josh Reynolds departed.)

Jackson calls it a “scary group,” and is counting on the maturity of the receivers to embrace their roles as McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford decide who gets the ball.

“In the NFL, there’s always other great guys. It’s not me, me, me,” Jackson said. “As you get older, you understand the Patriots of the world, the Steelers. They have a system, and once you understand that system, it’s kind of interchangeable. Every guy can be the next man up.”

Jackson’s comfort with the Rams is enhanced by his familiarity with the playbook, since McVay was Washington’s offensive coordinator when Jackson was there.

Said McVay of Jackson: “He’s always been a really smart player. And fortunately, because of our pre-existing relationship, if I’ve changed the vernacular or verbiage on some things, (I can) say, ‘Hey, what you knew as ‘NASCAR’ is now ‘spear.’”

Said Jackson of McVay: “The only thing I can say has changed about him is he’s got a lot more smarter. And he already was smart.”

Jackson hopes the team spirit he has seen so far continues from June to January.

“It’s all pieces to the puzzle,” he said, “and if everybody plays their part, you have something special.”

Love DSJ's attitude and confidence.

Understands what it takes for the team to win. That no one guy is the center of the universe. But also knows he can still get it done. Especially with McVay, Stafford and the talent around him. Brings that connection with McVay both personally and in terms of already understanding what the offense is all about.

DSJ also brings some swagger. Swagger in the best sense and in a way that should be very good for the team. A bit like Ramsay. And like Ramsay, DSJ may hopefully surprise and win over doubters.

 

[oldnotdead]

I'm not the greatest fan of Jackson, but neither do I hate his acquisition. He looks like he will fit in with the locker room culture. Like Whit, Stafford now DJack, these guys on the back end of their career want that legit shot at a Lombardi. That hunger is going to drive them. That is not a bad thing. This is a good lesson to pass on to the young guys like Tutu and Jefferson.

He acknowledged that statistics and accolades were important to his younger self, but after watching teams such as the New England Patriots and Pittsburgh Steelers annually contend and win titles with proven systems, he wants a championship.

“I’ve accomplished a lot of great things in my career,” he said, “but for me I haven’t held up that trophy.”

His acceptance of his role in the offense makes him a good fit on this team. He understands his success is the team's success and the success of the others is his as well as it all leads to his goal of being a champion. It's that attitude that I see on this team is why I see them really becoming another dynasty time of franchise.

I’ve been on teams where certain individuals had contract issues or personal issues or had a situation with the GM or (another) player. When you come here, you don’t feel none of that. You feel like everybody’s on the same page, everybody has one common goal. All the personal stuff, the outside world, none of that matters.”

That is exactly what it takes to be a championship team. I'm glad he understands that and I have no doubts anymore that he will be successful. My only concern with him is his health issues. That said with Tutu and Jackson rotating out of the slot WTFO NFL.

With Harris and Funk McVay now has unprecedented speed at his disposal. He can not just take the top off he can blow the whole damn roof away. I can see later in the season playing Tutu in the slot, Jackson at Z, Jefferson at X, Harris at TE and Funk at RB. All this with Stafford with a huge grin on his face knowing someone is going to be open for a deep shot. Teams will have to be basically in a prevent with that kind of speed facing them.

The OL I feel will be fine as they simply won't have to hold the rush off as long. Matt is decisive and will get those throws off on time. Yeah, Jackson is totally correct, when he talked about a scary group.

“It’s going to be definitely a scary group for defenses and defenders,” Jackson said, “because Sean McVay, one thing about it, he’s going to figure out how to get people open.

 

[Ram65]

No idea if he can give us a full season but for now the competition in that wideout room is something. Have to think we will benefit big time from it to.

Moderate/lesser snaps should be well receive by Jackson at this age. To celebrate those final seconds of the Superbowl on the field you need to be healthy at that point in the season.

I see Jackson coming in with a better team attitude this year as he mentioned. With that I see him being in great shape and putting in the effort to stay healthy. He is a game-changer and will help TuTu get on the field as well. McVay will keep him fresh. He knows the clock is ticking for a chance at getting a championship and his career.

 

[Shuie3225]

I watched his presser yesterday and was very impressed. He has matured a lot and his respect and love for McVay is so clear. He talks about the culture and why it just feels different around this team. Having everyone on the same page, focused on one goal, just worried about winning and getting better everyday. Similar to the maturity we heard from Ramsey when he came over 2 years ago. I think McVay and the culture he's created just does a great job of dialing people in.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NDjyTmfQWw

 

[Memento]

Let's just hope he stays healthy. If healthy, I have no doubt that Jackson can make a positive impact on the field.