DeSean Jackson says Chip Kelly plans to use him like De'Anthony Thomas
Want to know how Chip Kelly intends to use DeSean Jackson? Hop on YouTube and type in the name "De'Anthony Thomas."
DeSean Jackson says Chip Kelly plans to use him like De'Anthony Thomas
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
NEW ORLEANS – Want to know how Chip Kelly intends to use DeSean Jackson?
Hop on YouTube and type in the name “De'Anthony Thomas.”
Jackson, at the Super Bowl Media Center on Friday being whisked from one Radio Row interview to another, said that the new Eagles coach gave him an idea of how he plans to utilize him in his offense when they spoke a few weeks ago.
“Kind of similar to what DeAnthony Thomas was doing at Oregon. He’s like a little brother to me. I actually talked to him," Jackson said of Thomas. "He was passing on information to me, like I’m going to be pumped up and psyched to be in that offense. It just keeps defenses off guard any time you go in motion, fake play-action, go down the field. There’s just so many things you can do.”
Thomas is listed as a running back, but the Ducks junior-to-be is too versatile to be defined by one position. With Kelly as his coach for two seasons, he did it all – rushing, receiving, and returning, and already has 2,235 all-purpose yards.
Jackson and Thomas have much in common. They’re both fast, they’re both small (Jackson is listed 5-foot-10, 175 pounds; Thomas is a thicker 5-9, 173) and they’re both from Los Angeles. Jackson said Kelly told him to be prepared to have the ball in his hands more than usual, but other than that provided little detail.
“He called me and was very excited. I could tell in his voice,” Jackson said. “He was like, ‘Let me know when you’re back in Philly so we can just talk fact to face.’ I actually talked to Pat Shurmur. He was my coach when I first got to Philly. He’s excited, as well.”
The Eagles have not yet confirmed the hiring, but Shurmur will be the Eagles’ new offensive coordinator. Jackson said he had no idea if it would be Michael Vick, Nick Foles or some quarterback to be named throwing him passes next season.
“I think Vick is still capable of doing some great things, especially with Chip Kelly having that spread offense,” Jackson said. “We’ll see.”
Jackson’s Radio Row interviews were among the first ones he’s done since fracturing his ribs in late November against the Panthers. The receiver was placed on Injured Reserve and missed the final five games of the season.
Jackson, who said his ribs were “98 percent” healthy, said that it was difficult not playing out the season even though the losing continued and Andy Reid would end up being fired a day after the season ended.
“It was tough, but I just supported them the best I could throughout the situation,” Jackson said. “It was tough on everybody. I’m just looking forward to going out there this year and erasing everything.”
Can we bid or something for De'Anthony Thomas now or in the draft? Along with DeSean, Eagles should be an awesome threat in the NFL. But again with the right QB. People, do I have something to look forward to or what?
Talented player who is a selfish 'me first' guy and a punk. I still have a hard time rooting for him.— PhillyGuy77- Without protection up front, this all amounts to wishful thinking. Luke Joecke is the obvious pick at 4 if he's on the board and if not bringing in the best available player has to be the priority. But at some point we are going to have to being in a horse or two that we can hitch to the protection team up front and that is based on Peters returning at full strength.
— Dexter - DeSean is becoming more and more Freddy Mitchell— Issac
- The kid is a NOTHING more than a "me first", glorified punt returner!
Way overhyped.
Too light to fight.
Too thin to win.
Too frail to wale.— somertonspartan - Wow, what a "breakthrough". Andy Reid already used Desean on multiple rushing plays, with gimmicky stuff to the outside. That worked wonders in producint a superbowl. Its a brilliant idea to take a 170 pound guy with concussion and effort problems and expect to use him as a running back in the NFL. If Desean is taking it up the middle like Deanthony Thomas did in Oregon this offense is going to be a disaster. It will pretty much be RG3 getting his knee destroyed by that Ravens big DT. Because THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS TO SMALL FAST GIMMICKY GARBAGE AT THE NFL LEVEL, YOU GET INJURED AND WIN NOTHING. NO SUPERBOWLS NO AWARDS FOR MOST YARDS OR POINTS OR ANY OTHER GIMMICK. DUMBEST ORGANZAITON IN THE ENTIRE NFL. JOKE STANDARD.— CharlieGarner25
- Draft 2 OL , 2Dl , a QB, and one tall tall DB. Or both DeJean, Foles, whoever will get smeared all over the field.— Koons
- Need to draft an OL, P, and all the rest of the picks on D (except if a good QB prospect is the highest pick on their board in the 3rd).
It'll take 2 drafts to fix this D (& possibly to get a good QB prospect), so just stick to picking the best ones on the board.— yobill626 - DJax doesn't go over the middle, doesn't block, doesn't run his routes out, doesn't go up & make catches, pouts when he doesn't get the ball and "turtles" at contact. In short, he's the ultimate "me" player. He would make a good punt returner, 3-set WR, scat back, IF he cleans up his attitude. Let's hope Kelly can define his role and find us a big, strong, 3-down WR to replace him.— TruthTeller01
- Just keep showing #10 the Ridley hit in open field. Action Jackson hasn't been the same since he had his lights turned off in the Atlanta game.
— frank castle - This is great news. The head coach 'has a plan' for one of his top receivers.
Now I can sleep at night.— Bradley85 - @friend do you mean like get hurt from a lookout pass like the one kevin klob threw that almost got him killed vs. atl. if eagles have a qb that can run the pistol or spread offense this shouldn't be an issue. that was all vick ran at va. tech. however, andy and marty didn't know how to use their personnel on this roster. just like he was a poor in-game manager with poor play calling, poor clock management and outdated offensive scheme AR was behind the times on the innovations coming out of college ball that are going to be incorporated in to nfl offenses that, with the these watered down rules, favor the offense and are tailor made for the ji. harbaugh's (stanford/9ers) and chip kelly's to excel in. even flacco, getting out of the pocket and making/keeping plays alive to make deep throws, shows that the days of the strict pocket passer are over and going the way of the dodo bird. the 9ers had their shot and lost because they didn't roll out kaepernick or give him a run pass option in the red zone. i.e. harbaugh went away from what the kid best and got them to the SB and returned to a coventional offensive strategy that failed. if kelly speeds up the offense and puts his playmakers in positions to have more touches he'll succeed. antithesis of this is the reason why andy and marty failed this year.— ihatenewyorkers
