The highlights I’m seeing austin jackson looks much more fluid an athletic than prior. Getting off the ball well.
I’m optimistic. He looks like a tackle
Really hopeful for Jackson. Beyond the need/importance for the team, it makes sense that he'd look and play better for an offensive staff with a clear vision, and one that will utilize his athleticism. Of course, another year is also big for a player with the physical tools to play OT but who needed a lot of refinement coming out of USC and who is young relative to his experience and who had his progress temporarily stunted by a bone-marrow transplant.
I had a Top 40 grade on him, because I thought he had the tools and makeup to develop into a plus starter. I didn't have him Top 20, because I thought he'd need time and the right situation to develop. Prior to 2022, you would have a hard time finding a worse situation to develop. It seems that's changing.
It looks like Igbinoghene is gonna be a miss. I hope he turns it around, but that pick bothered me more than the Jackson pick. If you're going to go for a toolsy CB (which you usually should imo), don't go for pretty good athletes, go for guys with real tools. Eric Stokes is a great example of a guy who had a lot of the same criticisms coming out as Igbinoghene. Stokes was already better imo, but the big difference is that Stokes runs in the low 4.3's/high 4.2's and has plus length. There's just a lot more margin for error with those kinds of tools.
But, my point is that the 2020 class looks sooo much better if Tua and Jackson hit. Combined with the 2021 class (looking at early picks): Tua, Jackson, Igbinoghene, Hunt, Waddle, Phillips, Holland, and Eichenberg, you have a nice mix of guys who have All Pro potential and solid players who fill important roles (3/5 of the OL).
