Seahawks rookie Lawrence Jackson making impressive push

By TIM BOOTH | The Associated Press • Published August 19, 2008

RENTON (AP) — It’s not rookie Lawrence Jackson’s speed off the corner, or his ability to adapt to playing a couple of positions for the Seattle Seahawks that impresses Pro Bowler Patrick Kerney the most.

It’s Jackson’s mind. Namely, his thought process.

“This is going to sound weird, but I like his mind-set the most,” Kerney said Tuesday. “He has a very open mind to learning. He’s very intelligent and that’s something that is rarely talked about with pass rushers in this league.”

Jackson’s talent is also creating a bit of a log jam at defensive end, opposite Kerney.

With Kerney returning to practice on Monday, fully recovered from a strained calf that bothered him in the early stages of training camp, the focus on Seattle’s defensive line now has turned to the competition between Jackson and Darryl Tapp for the other defensive end spot.

Jackson will get the nod for the second consecutive week next Monday night when Seattle plays its third preseason game, at San Diego.

“We’re looking for him to do even more. He did some good, natural things in the pass rush. But now we want to see him sack the passer. Things like that,” Seattle defensive coordinator John Marshall said of Jackson’s performance against Chicago last Saturday. “But he’s come a long ways; he really has. Now we’ve got to give him the opportunity to raise his level of production.”

Seattle drafted Jackson because of his smarts and his versatility. He has the speed and technique to take on offensive linemen coming off the corner, but also showed an ability at USC to play defensive tackles and be a rusher up the middle in passing situations.

While his physical talents have impressed many during training camp, it’s Jackson’s smarts that caught the attention of his mentor.

“Rushing the passer, it’s a chess game. If you can’t think, if you’re just a tall, fast, strong guy, you’re not going to get to the quarterback,” Kerney said. “There’s a chess game to it, so much that goes into it, and Lawrence has that, I think.”