What Lies Ahead For Brandon Jackson?

by Brandon on Jul 21, 2011 3:00 PM CDT in Green Bay Packers Free Agency

I can't imagine the Green Bay Packers will make any effort to bring back RB Brandon Jackson. It's a crowded backfield with RB Ryan Grant returning from injury and RB Alex Green arriving from Hawaii, so there's no obvious roster spot for him. While Mike McCarthy has spoken highly of Jackson in the past, they played RB James Starks ahead of him during the playoffs, and his playing time declined as the season went along. For as little impact as he provided last season, it always surprises me that he was their leading rusher.

Pro Football Focus was discussing the NFC West's free agency needs and mentioned his name in connection with the Rams. With the miles piling up on RB Steven Jackson's legs, they might need more depth in their backfield. Brandon Jackson is someone I had high hopes for when the Packers drafted him back in 2007 and I'd certainly like to see him succeed.

His defensive running style, he always focused on protecting the ball before fighting through a tackle, will never make him a great runner, but I thought he showed promise as a receiver. The Packers offense never did much to feature their backs as receivers, but maybe the Rams could use him as a third down back and take advantage of his receiving skills. Playing half his games indoors would certainly increase his receiving opportunities too. If nothing else, he'll do a sound job protecting Sam Bradford as a blocker.

Turf Show Times says the Rams should be thinking about adding another running back without specifically mentioning Brandon Jackson, but did suggest other third down back options.

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Bringing back Jackson.

I don’t quite understand why nodody thinks the Packers won’t try to keep him. I think they’ll talk to him about returning in his role as a 3rd down RB and also as a ST player and make an offer to him to try to get him back. Green may have been drafted to fill Jackson’s role eventually, but it took at least a year before Jackson was really good at it. Green will likely take at least a year too. Jackson is light years ahead of him in blitz pickup and blocking and is probably more elusive in the open field than Green. Rodgers in just important to trust his health w/ a rookie in blitz pickup, IMO!

I don’t see Jackson finding a team that will give him regular carries from the LOS. So for all other teams, he would still be a 3rd down RB, just like in GB.

Also Thompson likes to keep the most talent regardless of position. Who’s more talented Jackson or Q. Johnson? Kuhn and the TE’s can give enough blocking to make keeping Johnso redundant. Jackson is better, has a more defined role on offense and can play ST too. I think the Packers go w/ 4 RB, 1 FB, and 4 TE’s.

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Jul 21, 2011 4:09 PM CDT reply actions

Agree.

But I would argue that teams splitting carries between running backs would find Jackson suits their purposes well. It’s also a matter of whether the Packers want him or not and while we would agree he should stay, what difference does our opinion make? If he winds up with the same job no matter where, perhaps he’d rather be with whomever offers more $$$! Tampa Bay’s got some room beneath that cap – lots even, I think. If they decide not to keep Cadillac Williams, Brandon Jackson might be just the ticket.

There’s a lot of teams off the top of my head that are likely searching RB talent, just not very loudly… yet.

And I guess that’s what the issue is with Jackson and Kuhn both! Great for the team, I’m sure they’d be a welcome re-sign, but if competing offers come in, that’s probably all she wrote!

"Show me a good loser, and I'll show you a loser." - Vince Lombardi

by AdamA on Jul 21, 2011 4:43 PM CDT up reply actions

Give them both good offers

Say 2 or 3M a season for each. That should be enough to keep one of them if not both… I know we’re a little tight against the cap, but dealing w/ Tuascher and Barnett will clear almost 9M. Even w/ the draft picks, we should be able to keep one or both and Crosby too.

You've been Stroh'd™!!!

by Strohman on Jul 21, 2011 5:21 PM CDT up reply actions

The reason no one thinks it is cause Jackson doesn’t seem interested. He wants another chance to be more than a 3 down Back.

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Jul 26, 2011 9:54 AM CDT up reply actions

I don't know why we don't just....

make Quinn Johnson our feature RB and Raji our dedicated FB…. and cut Grant, Starks, Jackson, Kuhn and Hall.

In Every Climb and Place....

by PhoenicianPakFan on Jul 21, 2011 7:30 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

That's the beauty of it

Jackson, Kuhn & Hall are all FAs, so we don’t have to do anything with them. We’d just have to cut Starks & Grant.

13.

by Wiedmann on Jul 23, 2011 3:35 AM CDT up reply actions

Suddenly there’s lots of cap space! :-)

The Green Bay Packers...Putting bad coaches out of their misery since 2010

by TrevorR on Jul 26, 2011 9:54 AM CDT up reply actions

I love Jackson. Not much a running threat, but he picks up blitzes so well. He destroys at pass blocking. I feel real good when I see him in the backfield with Rodgers on 3rd down situations.

by CourtesyLaughs on Jul 21, 2011 9:17 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs