Jarrett finally arrives
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Jarrett finally arrives
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Remember when Andy Reid compared Jaiquawn Jarrett to Brian Dawkins?
It’s true; he did, just after the Eagles selected the Temple safety in the draft last year.
Well, Jarrett may still be a long way from the former Eagles great; heck, he may be a long way from ever starting in the NFL. But the second-year safety brought a little of the nastiness that Reid said he would bring during Sunday’s physical and physically-demanding afternoon practice.
“Coach [Todd] Bowles said the other day that during the live periods none of us were trying to hit,” Jarrett said. “Today we wanted to come … and be physical.”
Jarrett set the tone by delivering a blow to LeSean McCoy after the running back had already gained 15-plus yards. Jarrett led with his helmet, a questionable decision against the Eagles’ Pro Bowl tailback, but he later stood fullback Stanley Havili straight up with a textbook tackle.
In between the hits, Jarrett went in to tackle McCoy on another run and as he wrapped up the running back he knocked the ball loose for a fumble. McCoy fumbled only once all of last season. He’s had two fumbles in the last two practices.
“You attack the ball-carrier as well as the ball,” Jarrett said. “Just going in for a strip attempt.”
Jarrett, who struggled as a rookie following the lockout and still hasn’t cracked the starting lineup despite being a second-round pick, needed a strong practice. While Eagles coaches have urged caution with Jarrett, it’s been a chore to find a sign from one that he could turn into something special.
He’s already been labeled a bust by some skeptics even though he’s played only one season – a season without an offseason to learn the system.
“I don’t really pay attention to what people say,” Jarrett said. “I’m just staying focused and continue to look forward.”
Looking ahead, Jarrett is still pegged to be a backup. Nate Allen and Kurt Coleman have started together at safety since last season and haven’t done anything early in camp to suggest either is in jeopardy of losing his job. The Eagles added veteran O.J. Atogwe in June. Right now he and Jarrett are the second team safeties.
The Eagles may carry only three of the above on the 53-man roster if special teams ace Colt Anderson returns from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in time for the season opener. The Eagles generally give their early round draft selections some leeway if it comes down to him and Atogwe.
Dawkins needed a season to get his feet under him after the Eagles selected him in the second round of the 1996 draft. It’s not fair to compare the two. Of course, Reid did it first.
“It’s not fair to compare him to Brian Dawkins, but they’re the same stature; size, same speed and they both will torch you,” Reid said in April, 2011. “[They’re] different personalities, different guys, but I don’t think you want to run over the middle on either one of them. They’ll both blow you up.”
Second coming of Ernie Sims and just as stupid.— tpizza
I TOLD U GUYS ,ONCE THE HITTING STARTS THATS JJs GAME!!!!!— eaglhitz- That's a big investment you have in McCoy. Some nobody blows him up with a head-shot. Not smart. Not smart at all. Lindros and Keith Primeau, and for who, for what?— mccloudmj
- Really — tpizza, so he lets up 15 yards, a 1st down, then DELIVERS a
blow to your all world RB, sounds just like Andy (anti-Bellichic) likeshis guys, DUMB and STUPID just like Sims!
He puts a hit on in a meaningless practice after Shady already
had a first down???? Now you see why Bellichic has 5 SB appearances
and 3 rings in less of a tenure than Reid????
Same thing with letting Juan use Namdhi just like last year,
because that TURNED OUT SO WELL??? Andy should change his name
to Andy Groundhog Day, the guy never learns a history lesson?— mikey48 - Nice job of tackling after he gained 15 yards and McCoy probably gave up his guard knowing it was only practice. If he tackled McCoy after he scored a touchdown and the extra point was kicked, Reid would probably boast about how hard he hit him. Andy just doesn't want to admit he made a mistake.He made an even bigger one when he compared him to Dawkins when he never even stepped foot on a pro field.— Geno D
- I was there today, this report is waaaaaay over stating his impact. He was torched by Lesean, not Desean, but Lesean, on some one on ones. He also seems lost on other plays. All of our defense looked a step behind, which is a little scary, but there was nothing to sow that J.J. Can be a quality starter— Stillnotrpohy
- I'm trying to figure out how JJ led with his helmet after Shady was already 15 plus yards downfield on a run, unless JJ was playing abut 35 yards back. I mean Shady would be past the defense at that point.— watsonmr
- If he can't beat out Coleman and Allen by first few games or mid season at best then he probably won't make any squad (except the Redskins). I hope I am wrong but personally Allen has shown me next to nothing as seems late to the ball and often took really poor angles last season. Maybe 3rd season is a charm for him and 2nd season for J.J.— connorjr
- Think about it. No OTA's, being a rookie, and with a new defensive coordinater I think he will be fine. When Dawk came into the league he didn't set the world on fire. Give the kid a chance. They say that Brian Dawkins hit hard.... does anybody remember Wes Hopkins? Now he hit harder than any db the Eagles had . Of course my opinion. Look at the footage no.48— RICKY101
- Jarrett was a reach, not a bust. Allen is the bust.— coloradoeagle
- Good point. And by good point, I mean wtf are you talkin about? They were both 2nd Rd picks.— marley66
- Finally arrives with one bonehead play???
@Ricky, the whole defense had a new coordinator and the entire league had no OTAs. That excuse is old and lame— Luriesucks - To be clear, Dawkins did not need a year to get his feet under him. He took the starting job away in his rookie year. He made it obvious he was something different in his rookie season. I had season tickets at that time, and made it clear many times that this guy is going to be good to all my friends, which was kinda like stating the obvious. The changing of reality of Dawkins rookie year to validate the option and the perception of Jarrett's rookie year and the article is not good writing.
People are gonna give him a change becuase it's his second year, don't go and actaully say something like a rookie starter like Dawkins also wasn't what we expected, so don't give up on Jarrett. The fact was Dawkins was more then was expected in his rookie year, and the fact is no one is outright giving up on Jarrett. Let it play out, and actaully know some history.
— diggy2 - we had our saftey earl thomas, he was on the board as the best player available, and we screwed up— chalton harley
