Buccaneers: DeSean Jackson Will Open the Offense at All Levels

We go inside the film room to look at DeSean Jackson and the depth of the talent he brings to the Buccaneers.

The Buccaneers have been busy since the season ended. They may have just missed the playoffs, but Jason Licht understood that the team had holes and has been working hard to fill them. In doing so, he made one of the biggest splashes of the free agent market. We have talked about him at length. You know his name by now. It’s of course, DeSean Jackson.

Mike Evans needed the help on the opposite side. As we have previously mentioned, he was targeted a league-high 173 times (per Sporting Charts), four more than draft classmate Odell Beckham Jr. Jameis Winston needed a guy that he can look to besides Evans, to take the pressure off of him. He needed someone who can take the top off of the defense. Jackson led the league in yards per reception (17.9), the third time in his career he has led the league in that statistic.

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However, going deep is not the only dance on Jackson’s card. He doesn’t have to go over the top to open up the offense. Because of his ability to go deep, Jackson is given a lot of respect. With that, he gets all kinds of room to make plays underneath. When he gets the ball in space, watch out!

This morning, the “Eye in the Sky” is up early watching some film on Jackson. For anyone who doesn’t remember, the Eye breaks down the film and shows us the inside story.

Today we break down three different plays by Jackson from early in the 2016 season. We look at a short, medium, and long play to show just what type of weapon he really is.

And how dynamic he will be with the Bucs.

All screenshots courtesy of NFL Game Pass (subscription required).

Jackson for Nine:

We start in week one against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Redskins are lined up on their own 44 yard line. Kirk Cousins is in the shotgun and Jackson is lined up wide to the outside.

Take a look at the cushion that William Gay is giving Jackson here. He is on his own 48 yard line, making the cushion eight yards. See the respect that he is giving Jackson? Gay is so concerned about the threat over the top, he is giving Jackson nearly ten yards.

Jackson is going to run a curl route, running Gay hard and then stopping on a dime to look back for the ball.

As we move ahead, we see Jackson is turning back for the ball as Cousins is getting ready to release it. Do you see how deep Gay is? Not only is he giving a significant cushion, he is also still moving down field. His momentum is taking him out of the play, leaving him no chance to make a play on “D-Jax”.

Jackson makes the play with a lot of room to spare…

Nine yards down the field Jackson is pushed out of bounds.

You might be wondering why I am singling out a simple curl route that gained nine yards. It shows one of the many ways Jackson opens up the offense. Because he is such a threat to go deep, that play will be open almost every time they run it.

It takes pressure off of Mike Evans to have a guy on the outside that garners that kind of respect.

Let’s take a look at a play where Jackson uses his blazing speed to turn a short pass into a big gain.

Jackson Runs Away on a Cross:

This play comes from the next week against the Dallas Cowboys. Jackson is lined up in the slot on the left. This time, the defender is giving him a seven yard cushion, again concerned about the deep ball.

Jackson is going to come across the middle as indicated by the red arrow. Let’s move ahead and see how Jackson uses his speed and agility.

He makes the catch approximately six yards down field. However, Jackson doesn’t settle for a short gain. He is took quick and agile for that. Take a look inside the circle. Do you notice the matchup? What the Redskins have done here is gotten Jackson in space, matched up with a linebacker.

Now, how do we think that is going to turn out?

It didn’t work out very well. Jackson made a jump cut on the linebacker, taking him down to the ground.

28 yards later it’s a first down for the Redskins.

This is a prime example of how DeSean Jackson can stretch the defense without going deep. The defense gives him so much respect that he can pick up large chunks of yardage on underneath plays.

But, it is pretty exciting when he goes for the long ball. Turn the page.

Jackson Goes Deep:

The following week, the Redskins headed up to New Jersey to take on the Giants. The Redskins are set up at the Giants 44 yard line. Kirk Cousins is in the shotgun with Jackson lined up to the right. For the Giants, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is set up to the outside.

Jackson is going to run a “double move”, starting towards the corner and breaking to the post. Notice the cushion that “DRC” is giving Jackson here. Let’s move ahead and see if it helps.

Down the field they go. Take a look in the circle. Jackson is taking a big stride to the corner, but then he will break for the post. The safety is looking the wrong way, so it’s all on Rodgers-Cromartie. Can he close the gap on Jackson and stop the long ball? He’s facing right at him and can see the move he is making.

It doesn’t look good for the cornerback at this point. Despite the fact that he was facing him, Jackson has gone right past him, and has perfect position. Rodgers-Cromartie really has no chance to make a play without interfering with Jackson.

It’s a long touchdown for the Redskins. Despite the fact that the defensive back was ready for the deep ball, he couldn’t stay with Jackson. That’s how quick he really is.

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Look at all of the different ways that DeSean Jackson can beat you. His speed can take a guy deep, and the defense is so concerned it allows Jackson to win on the short and intermediate routes as well.

Who’s excited to see this guy play alongside Mike Evans? It will be great.