Counterpoint: Despite injury, Jackson’s an upgrade for 49ers

By Paul Eide  |   Thursday, May 10, 2007  |  Comments( 17 )

San Francisco 49ers
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans!
No matter how you slice it, the San Francisco 49ers' draft-day trade for ex-Seahawks wide receiver Darrell Jackson in exchange for a fourth-round pick was a steal. Not only did the Niners bolster their receiving corps, but they did it at the expense of division rival Seattle, which is has won the NFC West for three consecutive years.

Detractors of the trade have been quick to say that Jackson is past his prime and has lost a step. Even so, his acquisition gives the Niners a proven, go-to target that the team has lacked since Terrell Owens was dealt after the 2003 season. Since then, the most productive individual season by a 49er wideout was delivered by Brandon Lloyd in 2005, when he turned in a 48-reception, 733-yard, five-touchdown performance.

"San Francisco used to be known as a receiver's paradise with guys like [Jerry] Rice and [John] Taylor," said Jackson. "But the last couple of years, with Frank Gore running the ball the way he has, they became a one-dimensional team.

By me coming here, Ashley Lelie coming here, the core guys we already had, we want to take some of pressure off the running game."

One area of concern for the 49ers regarding Jackson is his injury history. In the last two years, Jackson has played in only 19 of a possible 32 games, and he wasn't healthy enough to participate in the team's first mini-camp last weekend. However, in the 19 games the 5-foot-11, 201-pounder was healthy, he scored 13 TDs and had 17 receptions of over 20 yards, which is largely why the 49ers traded for him.

San Francisco does anticipate the newly acquired wideout to be 100 percent by the start of training camp; the 28-year-old Jackson is still recovering from the same injury that cost him the final three games of the '06 season.

"When they put eight men in the box, that's going to create more opportunities for us to have big plays," said Jackson regarding his role in the offense. "We'll stretch the defense and maybe get another 1,000-yard receiver here."

"From our standpoint, it was certainly a good value," head coach Mike Nolan said. "If we were picking someone at No. 124 overall, which is what we gave them, I don't know that we would have gotten a Darrell Jackson."

Questions? Comments? E mail the author at peide@realfootball365.com.
Got something to say?

Log In above and share your thoughts on this topic with other fans! (17)

Article Tools Share!   |  RSS  |  Bleacher Report About Bleacher Report
CommentsComments: 17  |  Sign Up  View all comments
No.1
jeremy		04:46 AM
05/10/2007
i like the pick up and it is still early i;m not going to worry right now about the injury he said he should be ready for...
No.2
Robby		07:10 AM
05/10/2007
If you really look at what the 9ers have done in aquiring D.Jackson, I don't understand why some people are making such a huge,...
No.3
jeremy		09:47 AM
05/10/2007
yo Robby i agree with you 100% i do i like the pick up of D Jackson i think with the weaopons we have we are going to be ok at...
Team News  |  View All 49ers Content
MNF Pick: 49ers at Cardinals...
San Francisco -1 at ARIZONA CARDINALS Well here’s an ugly game that m...
1 year, 2 months ago   |   MNF Pick: 49ers at Cardinals ( 0 )
49ers won without Michael Cr...
The 49ers 20-16 victory over the Cardinals was impressive despite the...
2 years, 4 months ago   |   49ers won without Michael Crabtree ( 2 )
Stickin’ It To Candlestick...
With one more week til the real football starts there are many questio...
2 years, 5 months ago   |   Stickin’ It To Candlestick ( 0 )
Relax 49ers fans, it’s just...
The NFL preseason acts sort of like a month-long pregame show for the...
2 years, 5 months ago   |   Relax 49ers fans, it’s just the preseason ( 0 )
Quick Thoughts on the 49er’s...
Friday’s game against the Broncos gives 49er fans some promising thing...
2 years, 5 months ago   |   Quick Thoughts on the 49er’s Defense ( 0 )