Jacobs Hopes For a Breakthrough Season

[WshSkins22]

Jacobs Hopes For a Breakthrough Season
By Gary Fitzgerald
Redskins.com
June 30, 2005



Most veterans departed Redskins Park on June 19 to begin a six-week vacation, but there was Taylor Jacobs last Friday, still working out in preparation for training camp. Jacobs was a solitary figure on the primary Redskins Park practice field. The third-year wide receiver was perfecting his route-running skills--first a curl, then a deep route, then another curl.
Since he joined the Redskins as a second-round draft pick in 2003, Jacobs has always been one of the hardest-working players on the team. He is consistently among the last players off the field after practice.


Taylor Jacobs
The coming season is a big one for Jacobs and his NFL career. The Redskins revamped their wide receivers this offseason, emphasizing speed. The team acquired Santana Moss in a trade and signed a pair of veteran free agents in David Patten and Kevin Dyson. Darnerien McCants and James Thrash are also in the mix.

Where does Jacobs fit in?

For the first time in his NFL career, Jacobs could be a legitimate contender for a starting job at wide receiver.

"Taylor has come back and looks as good as I've ever seen him," head coach Joe Gibbs said during the June mini-camp.

Asked who would be the starting wide receivers this season, Gibbs replied: "We haven't designated a starter. I'd say David and Santana have been lining up with the first group, but we haven't designated a starter. We're letting [wide receivers coach] Stan Hixon work with the guys and rotate them around a little bit."

For his part, Jacobs senses the opportunity before him. But he's not taking anything for granted. In two NFL seasons, Jacobs has a modest 19 receptions for 215 yards and one touchdown. From 1999-2002, he was a standout at the University of Florida, where he ranks eighth all-time with 133 career receptions and ninth with 2,097 career receiving yards.

"Laveranues Coles was the main go-to guy the last few years here," Jacobs said. "We still have some go-to guys here, but I feel like this is my third year and I'm getting better. So I think I can push for a starting job better than I have in years past.

"I feel like I'm just as talented as anybody out here. I just need a break. When coaches say it's my turn, it's my turn. Hopefully when I get that break, I'll run with it."

Jacobs' first NFL season 2003 was plagued with injuries and his 2004 season got off to an ominous start when he was slowed by an abdominal injury during training camp. He was a solid special teams performer early in the season, but he rarely saw action on offense. He didn't get down on himself, though.



"At that point, I just said, 'Look, I'm not going to tuck in my tail and run into corner. I've got to come out fighting,'" Jacobs said. "I'm just going to go out and work hard every day. Do my best. I'm not going to worry about anything that's out of my control."

Jacobs has already impressed a competitor for one of the starting wide receiver job. Patten, a nine-year veteran and three-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, said he was surprised that Jacobs had not yet emerged as a big-time receiver in the NFL.

"He has all the tools," Patten said. "I was talking to him [during mini-camp] and I asked him, 'Why are you not a starter?' I really think the best is yet to come for him."

http://www.redskins.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=7768

[ejay183]

I hope for that big year out of him too

[washington53]

i love taylor jacobs i use him a lot in madden. even though that has nothing to do with is.But i still think he has great skill and rise to the occassion and play some ball

[SKINZ_DOMIN8]

We are starting to get good depth at some key positions. I.M.O.

[hatsOFF2gibbs]

This is the year to make it or break it for both PRamsey and TJacobs. Its a shame Taylor had to go through that injury which ended his season but he really needs to prove to the organization that he's worth keeping now.

[Jeff Rhodes]

Taylor Jacobs stepping up and claiming a starting job would positivey impact this offense as much as anything I can think of.

One reason people tend to discount the Redskin receiving corps is because we're projecting David Patten -- who was the No. 3 guy in New England -- as our No. 1 or 2 starter, backed up by total question marks in McCants, Dyson, Thrash and Jacobs.

Having Jacobs establish himself as a legitimate and productive starter -- and he has the talent to do so -- drops Patten to the No. 3 slot, which changes the whole complexion of this group.

[SkinsJock]

We have seen in the past (with Gibbs) that the expression #1 WR is a position not a claim for being talented or more talented than a #2 WR. Gibbs will use his players in a team concept and not as more talented players in his scheme.

The same can be said of Greg who made AP look like an unbelievable MLB to all the other teams. I think AP was always talented BUT he just looked better last year because of the fit!

To these coaches everyone has talent and it is more important to the coaches that the players play their positions as the scheme is designed. These coaches do not want all stars they just want the talent that they have to be applied to the scheme they are playing in.

A lot of us forget that to be successful with these coaches it only requires that you play in the scheme as it is designed. The more "you buy into it" the better you appear indidually but also as a team. This is not a team that most all pro players would fit into. Greg and Joe complement each other in this regard with the way they both "run" defensive and offensive game planning and utilise their players' skills.

[redskindave]

Taylor Jacobs is a hard worker, I look for him to have a good season.

[runbillo]

Greetings from NYC! Everything I have heard about Taylor Jacobs has been positive and has come from a great source (His Teamates). Looking forward to a major improvement in the passing game this year.

[SkinsFanInHawai'i]

I hope TJ is the next Walker(Packers). But hopefully Ramsey doesn't just huck'm up there like Favra. Lets go TJ.

Go Skins!

[Fo_Block]

taylor jacobs = yet another reason snyder should stay away from ALL football related decisions.

[SKINZ_DOMIN8]

taylor jacobs = yet another reason snyder should stay away from ALL football related decisions.

And so we should have an owner that just doesn't give an f about his team that he owns?

Yeah, I'm sure you could do a lot better.

[Fo_Block]

taylor jacobs = yet another reason snyder should stay away from ALL football related decisions.

And so we should have an owner that just doesn't give an f about his team that he owns?

Yeah, I'm sure you could do a lot better.

i could leave football decisions to people that have some concept of the game - maybe a GM w/a proven track record. best move snyder could make would be to heap a huge pile of cash at Scott Pioli when his contract expires next spring.

if you think about how much $ snder threw away on lousy players, he could give pioli $10M/year and still make out ahead.

[SkinsFanInHawai'i]

taylor jacobs = yet another reason snyder should stay away from ALL football related decisions.

And so we should have an owner that just doesn't give an f about his team that he owns?

Yeah, I'm sure you could do a lot better.

i could leave football decisions to people that have some concept of the game - maybe a GM w/a proven track record. best move snyder could make would be to heap a huge pile of cash at Scott Pioli when his contract expires next spring.

if you think about how much $ snder threw away on lousy players, he could give pioli $10M/year and still make out ahead.

Synder did not through away any money. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe the skins make more money then any other franchise.

Just proves we have, by far, the best fans.

[1niksder]

i could leave football decisions to people that have some concept of the game - maybe a GM w/a proven track record. best move snyder could make would be to heap a huge pile of cash at Scott Pioli when his contract expires next spring.

if you think about how much $ snder threw away on lousy players, he could give pioli $10M/year and still make out ahead.

I agree you should leave Football decisions to people that have some concept of the game, or you could gain some and apply for the job.

Hint: Scott Pioli is a dumb Idea....
(1) Pioli's contract expires in April 2006, after the draft; (2) Pioli has said that he will honor his contract

"the Danny" has brought in Joe Gibbs as President of football operations, this means you can no longer blame a owner with no football background as the problem in the future. In the past have have felt the same as you do but I gave it a rest with Gibbs return.

[Fo_Block]

"the Danny" has brought in Joe Gibbs as President of football operations, this means you can no longer blame a owner with no football background as the problem in the future. In the past have have felt the same as you do but I gave it a rest with Gibbs return.

how is that mark brunnel signing working out? how about the Coles option payment?

Gibbs may be a great coach and talent evaluator but as a cap manager he leaves something to be desired. you can say the same thing about Parcells, great coach doesn't do well with the cap.

there are other available GM's outside of Pioli - the point being that with Snyder's willingness to throw $ around he has yet to bring in a good GM.

[Fo_Block]

Synder did not through away any money. Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe the skins make more money then any other franchise.

Just proves we have, by far, the best fans.

don't know about the best fans - but definitely some of the most loyal die-hard fans out there.

Snyder also had the higherst payroll in the NFL which equalled 6 wins. nothing to brag about there.

[1niksder]

"the Danny" has brought in Joe Gibbs as President of football operations, this means you can no longer blame a owner with no football background as the problem in the future. In the past have have felt the same as you do but I gave it a rest with Gibbs return.

how is that mark brunnel signing working out? how about the Coles option payment?

Gibbs may be a great coach and talent evaluator but as a cap manager he leaves something to be desired. you can say the same thing about Parcells, great coach doesn't do well with the cap.

there are other available GM's outside of Pioli - the point being that with Snyder's willingness to throw $ around he has yet to bring in a good GM.

You need to let that go too, it dosen't hold water anymore. The mistake has been corrected ($8 mil SB wasn't going to kill the cap) and Gibbs figured he had a starting quality QB, he was wrong.
BTW how are the Washington,Salave'a,Griffin, and Harris signings working out or are you only prevy to the negativity of the press. What was the damage these guys did to the cap.

As far has Coles goes well he's gone (he's a Jet!) any cap problems were dealt with prior to the move being made, but since you asked I'm loving $6.857 million that he would have counted against the cap next year being wiped out.

[MarcusBeNimble]

Taylor Jacobs, how id love to see him juuuuuust break out of his shell.

[Buzz Dog]

Fo has some points here. Gibbs's time away from the game and his dubious talent evaluation during the Beathard years would dictate that an experienced, autonomous GM is not such a bad idea.

Don't kid yourself into thinking that Danny isn't involved in the player decisions. Remember, he has anointed himself the "tiebreaker" in the personnel decision tree.

And don't even get me started on that yes-man buffoon Cerrato...

[hailskins666]

Don't kid yourself into thinking that Danny isn't involved in the player decisions. Remember, he has anointed himself the "tiebreaker" in the personnel decision tree.
Cerrato...

i think that was during the spurrier era. he made the tie breaking desicion on danny awful. but i don't think that would float with gibbs & co.

[redskincity]

Jacobs Hopes For a Breakthrough Season
By Gary Fitzgerald
Redskins.com
June 30, 2005



Most veterans departed Redskins Park on June 19 to begin a six-week vacation, but there was Taylor Jacobs last Friday, still working out in preparation for training camp. Jacobs was a solitary figure on the primary Redskins Park practice field. The third-year wide receiver was perfecting his route-running skills--first a curl, then a deep route, then another curl.
Since he joined the Redskins as a second-round draft pick in 2003, Jacobs has always been one of the hardest-working players on the team. He is consistently among the last players off the field after practice.


Taylor Jacobs
The coming season is a big one for Jacobs and his NFL career. The Redskins revamped their wide receivers this offseason, emphasizing speed. The team acquired Santana Moss in a trade and signed a pair of veteran free agents in David Patten and Kevin Dyson. Darnerien McCants and James Thrash are also in the mix.

Where does Jacobs fit in?

For the first time in his NFL career, Jacobs could be a legitimate contender for a starting job at wide receiver.

"Taylor has come back and looks as good as I've ever seen him," head coach Joe Gibbs said during the June mini-camp.

Asked who would be the starting wide receivers this season, Gibbs replied: "We haven't designated a starter. I'd say David and Santana have been lining up with the first group, but we haven't designated a starter. We're letting [wide receivers coach] Stan Hixon work with the guys and rotate them around a little bit."

For his part, Jacobs senses the opportunity before him. But he's not taking anything for granted. In two NFL seasons, Jacobs has a modest 19 receptions for 215 yards and one touchdown. From 1999-2002, he was a standout at the University of Florida, where he ranks eighth all-time with 133 career receptions and ninth with 2,097 career receiving yards.

"Laveranues Coles was the main go-to guy the last few years here," Jacobs said. "We still have some go-to guys here, but I feel like this is my third year and I'm getting better. So I think I can push for a starting job better than I have in years past.

"I feel like I'm just as talented as anybody out here. I just need a break. When coaches say it's my turn, it's my turn. Hopefully when I get that break, I'll run with it."

Jacobs' first NFL season 2003 was plagued with injuries and his 2004 season got off to an ominous start when he was slowed by an abdominal injury during training camp. He was a solid special teams performer early in the season, but he rarely saw action on offense. He didn't get down on himself, though.



"At that point, I just said, 'Look, I'm not going to tuck in my tail and run into corner. I've got to come out fighting,'" Jacobs said. "I'm just going to go out and work hard every day. Do my best. I'm not going to worry about anything that's out of my control."

Jacobs has already impressed a competitor for one of the starting wide receiver job. Patten, a nine-year veteran and three-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, said he was surprised that Jacobs had not yet emerged as a big-time receiver in the NFL.

"He has all the tools," Patten said. "I was talking to him [during mini-camp] and I asked him, 'Why are you not a starter?' I really think the best is yet to come for him."

http://www.redskins.com/news/newsDetail.jsp?id=7768

Its like the movie "Ground Hog day," I keep seeing the same article about the same person every year.

[Fo_Block]

As far has Coles goes well he's gone (he's a Jet!) any cap problems were dealt with prior to the move being made

are you sure about this statement? doesn't coles count 9M against the '05 cap?

[welch]

Fo wrote

are you sure about this statement? doesn't coles count 9M against the '05 cap?

So what? Coles is gone, which improves the Redskins. When you have a mistake, you fix it and move on. Coles thought he was a better coach than Joe Gibbs. Coles is a fool. It's worth the money.

Will Herman Edwards tolerate Coles? Who will control the Jets? A dingbat wide receiver, or a hired coach?

Is there any persuasive reason why the Redskins should have kept Coles on the team? Someone else might have kept him to avoid humilating the front office people who paid to bring Coles to Washington, sure.

Gibbs never acted that way in his first tour; he hasn't changed. Yes, he's tough: play like a winner, or leave. Winning counts more to him. He quietly admits mistakes, drops the players who can't win, and moves on. Coles was one of them.

No, it was no different in 1987. Money was still money. The totals are different now, but the proportions are the same. Remember Jay Schroeder? NFC pro-bowler, and then traded for an offensive lineman. By contrast, how long did Richard Todd quarterback the Jets? Remember Johnny Lam Jones?

I live in New York, so I read about the Giants and Jets every day. I well remember that Coles soiled his pants during his first interviews with the New York press because they asked: Mr Coles, if you couldn't get along with Joe Gibbs, what makes you think you can get along with Herman Edwards? An unfair question, yes, but Coles choked.