The Washington Redskins have had a very quiet offseason, almost to the point of being boring. Of the minimal amount of drama there has been, much came about as a result of a few videos of the Redskins’ wide outs in drills making plays on newly-signed cornerback, Josh Norman. One theory circulating out there is that Norman isn’t as good as originally thought and that, because of reports of some of the trash-talking that has been going on between the two, he and receiver DeSean Jackson have a less-than-amicable relationship.
Neither of these theories is correct although with the way fans are used to drama surrounding the team it’s easy to see how they got momentum. But a couple of things must be kept in mind when analyzing what went on in the .gif files that have been circulating:
- The receiver-defensive backs drills are designed to favor the wide outs,
- The receiver that Norman was covering when he was “burned” was Jackson… only one of the few
receivers in the league that is going to burn even the best cornerbacks - The two men have trashed-talked to each other about as much or as little as any other two players on opposite sides of the ball during a grueling training camp.
Jackson said that he and Norman had a “very friendly, very competitive” relationship today and it was no surprise to hear. But he also said a few things that confirm something I’ve been thinking since the beginning of this training camp which is that DeSean Jackson has become a real leader on this team.
The man doesn’t say much to the media and so perhaps has not been seen as a typical team leader. But he certainly talks to his teammates and to anyone watching, it’s clear that he just goes about his business and leads the team in the process.
For instance, during the morning walk through, the former Philadelphia Eagle was seen talking and fist-bumping with CBs Bashaud Breeland and Deshawn Phillips as other guys returned kicks. While it was impossible to hear what was being said, Jackson was the one doing the talking and the two younger players were clearly listening as they nodded to the wide out. When a scene like this unfolds, it makes it easy to believe that his relationship with Norman is friendly. Especially when considering Norman’s personality.
“You know, it’s practice,” Jackson said about facing the CB during drills. “That’s what we’re out here for… to get better and to challenge each other. It’s not like he’s going against a guy that’s not capable of winning matchups and one-on-ones. I really look at [the WR/CB drills are] for wide receivers. It’s really for a wide receiver to win. But I mean, of course, he’s getting paid. He’s known to be a top corner in this league so everybody is supposedly like, ‘He’s supposed to stop whoever it is that’s coming out there.’ But it’s challenging on both sides. But as far as his intangibles; his length, his arms… he’s got some great intangibles with his game. I think right now [going up against me is] just only helping him. He’s in a new environment; he’s trying to figure out what it is, how he’s going to play certain things. So it’s just part of practice, part of training camp. But I definitely think going into the season… going against me and Pierre [Garçon], I think he will be ready for the season. He will be ready to go versus whoever he has to match up against.”
The leadership part of Jackson is interesting because so much of the time, he seems to march to the beat of a different drummer. But that just goes to show that things aren’t always as they appear. What he said about gaining weight shows that he realizes his responsibility to his team and that goes against everything that he was criticized for in the offseason when he missed OTAs.
“I’ve been in this league eight years,” Jackson commented Thursday, “and played eight years besides maybe one or two years getting hurt here and there with small, little injuries and things like that. Nothing — knock on wood — nothing too drastic. I just felt, I’m 29 now, getting up there a little bit but at the same time, just wanted to have a little more physicality to me and just really go out there and be that guy that plays throughout the whole season. Just expect nothing greatness from me. I’m trying to push myself, trying to challenge myself to go out there and so things like that. That’s kind of really what it was… nothing else behind it.”
It will not be a surprise if in 2016; DeSean Jackson becomes one of the core leaders in the locker room. I suspect he will be much more than just “that guy that plays throughout the whole season.”