Special-teams coordinator Ted Daisher talked about this yesterday, but when asked about putting Jackson up with the great returners of this era, Daisher said Jackson would have to continue his excellence a few years longer.
Will Jackson, the Birds' top offensive weapon, get that chance? Daisher said he will.
"I think his role here is already defined," Daisher said. "He is our playmaker. He makes plays on offense. I think to take the ball out of his hands as a punt returner would be a mistake, because he creates plays for our team, creates field position, he creates big plays for us, gives us an opportunity to be successful, and I'm sure he'll be in this role for quite a while."
With Westbrook, the issue was limiting his touches, trying not to overburden him. Jackson is a wideout, not a running back, and the Birds are looking for ways to get him the ball more often. Daisher was asked what impressed him the most, watching the tape of that 72-yard touchdown return against the Giants.
"His patience," Daisher said. "He was trapped. It was a great punt by [Jeff] Feagles. He had him over to the boundary, just what you want to do, he tried to [move toward the middle of the] field, they cut him off to the field, and he was patient enough to move around a little bit and create a little space. He saw the seam down the sideline and he has the explosiveness to get through the seam when it's there, and he has the speed to finish it for a touchdown."
