Spring Football Q & A with Rashawn Jackson

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Spring Football Q/A Rashawn Jackson

Senior fullback Rashawn Jackson has proven to be a versatile player for the Cavalier offense. He handles the traditional duties associated with his position as well as being a threat as a ball carrier and pass catcher. Jackson and the Cavaliers will play their annual Spring Game this Saturday at 2 p.m. at Scott Stadium. Fan activities start at noon. The game, and parking, are free.

Question. How have spring practices gone this year?
Jackson: I think guys have applied themselves, at least on the offensive side. I can’t really speak for the defensive side, but playing against those guys, it seems like they are very focused. We’re all excited for the spring game and to see what it all looks like.

Question: What are your impressions of the new spread offense?
Jackson: When you first hear about a spread offense, there are always going to be some questions. For me, being a fullback, I wonder how much I’ll play, what role I’ll play and how will I get on the field. The new coordinator (Gregg Brandon) has done a good job of getting a lot of guys onto the field and giving everyone an even chance. It all comes down to how you perform and if you know the plays. Our guys are on board and have bought into the program and the new system.

Question: What do you see your role as in the offense?
Jackson: His (Brandon) philosophy is to get the best guys on the field because ultimately the best guys are going to lead to a win. I have always just wanted to go out and test myself and prove what I can do, especially in this new offense. When you have fullback beside your name on the roster, people want to label you as one thing and cancel out the versatility aspects that can come with your game. It’s a prove it’ thing for me. I want to go out there and do whatever the coaches ask to help the team win.

Question: What is that stereotype and how do you see yourself different from it?
Jackson: Well, when most people think of a fullback, they think of the big guys with the neck rolls and they run up the middle of a hole and hit people. Traditionally, that’s what the fullback stood for. Now, we’ve evolved. We can be like a Greg Jones (Jacksonville Jaguars) and run the ball, or be a Charles Way (N.Y. Giants) and catch out of the backfield. Shoot, Jerome Bettis didn’t play fullback, but he looked like one back there running the ball. One of the more positive things about my game is that I can spread out and catch a couple of passes. I’m no Terrell Owens, but I think I can run a five-yard out.

Question: Who were the football teams and players you liked as a kid?
Jackson: Even though we’re not doing well right now, I’m still a San Francisco 49ers fan, so some of my favorite players were Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens when he was still with the 49ers. Merten Hanks because he was that safety that used to do the headless chicken dance that was so funny. I liked Deion (Sanders) before he became a Cowboy. I was always the eight-year-old kid who was playing sports with the guys who were 13 or 14, so I had to up my game. Those players were big and fast and guys who could move. They gave me hope I could be like them eventually.

Question: What do you try to get out of the spring football practices?
Jackson: I remember I had a conversation with coach Groh about two years ago. He asked me, Rashawn, what are you going to try to do today? What are you going to get better at?’ I gave him a list of things and he gave me this analogy about golf. He said, Tiger Woods doesn’t go out there and hit long balls and putt every day. He goes out there and one day he may practice putting for three hours and one day he might work on his drives for three hours. The point is, you never go out and try and perfect your entire game. Every day, pick a specific part of your game and build on it.’

In the spring, I take things day-by-day. Whatever I messed up on the previous practice, I evaluate that and then go out there the following practice and try to become better where I messed up. The last practice I didn’t block too well on a particular pass route, so my goal at the next practice is to work on that. No matter how many times you run a play, just jump up and be the best player at running that play. By the time camp comes, everything gels. When the season comes you are in full tilt.

Question: What are the challenges that come from this new offense?
Jackson: The biggest challenge is to get all of this in just 15 practices. We’re all smart guys, so it is not only in our best interests to learn it, most of us want to learn it because we want to win. There are a lot of signals from the sidelines, but the coaches go over all of that in our meetings. If you mess up, but you are going full speed, they don’t seem to mind as much. We watch the film and correct it and go out there the next day and get better at it.

Question: How do you like the pace of a no huddle offense? Does that make it tougher on a defense?
Jackson: Of course. I feel like the defense is always on their heels. What I mean by that is they are stuck in the ground and they don’t know where to go. You don’t know if it is going to be a pass or a run. Every play has a whole bunch of options. We may not hit a home run every play, but three plays of four yards gets you a first down. That’s all that matters.

Question: Who are some of the younger players who will impress Cavalier fans next fall?
Jackson: I would have to say Kris Burd or Javaris Brown. Both of those guys are really good athletes and they make some plays that I don’t know how they make. They just know how to get open. They know how to run routes and become a threat. I feel like with the backs we have, we are going to be able to open some things up for those guys. I think they can exploit a defense. I think they are really good players. They are buying into the system.

Question: What is it like have Jameel Sewell back out on the field at practice?
Jackson: I’ve known him since first year because we came in with the same class. We’ve always hit it off and been really, really close and connected. It is good to have somebody you connect with off the field on the field with you. Things just mean a little bit more for you when you are playing. It was unfortunate that he did not play last year. This season he’ll have a different level of hunger that will drive him even more and make the team better.