07-30-2007, 08:34 PM
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#1 (permalink)
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Both of them
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 10,225
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Jackson slims down for more speed
The Cincinnati Post - Jackson slims down for more speed
Quote:
Dexter Jackson was named the MVP of Super Bowl XXXVII after returning two interceptions for touchdowns in the first half of Tampa Bay's 48-21 win against Oakland. The safety can obviously handle the duties of covering receivers in pass defense. He just didn't like how he handled those duties last season in his first year with the Bengals.
Jackson wants that part of his game to improve in his second season so he's dropped his weight to 208 pounds, down from the 216 pounds he played at last season, with that goal in mind.
"I want to play smaller this year so I can be faster and quicker at the point of attack," said Jackson. "I'm still in attack mode. That's my job. It will help the quickness in my feet. When I got here last year I had to cover a lot more in my role than I thought I would. It was more receivers.
"Tight ends are fine but there were a lot of receivers and if I'm going to cover receivers I needed to lose a couple of pounds to get me back to my fast weight."
Jackson was third on the team among defensive backs last season with 63 tackles, trailing Madieu Williams (77) and Johnathan Joseph (63). He broke up seven passes and had one interception, which he returned 46 yards at Denver, in 12 games. He has 15 career interceptions, not including his Super Bowl thefts, and 50 pass breakups in eight seasons.
"I think Dexter has shown us good coverage skills but it's good that he recognizes it," said head coach Marvin Lewis. "Any time a guy comes new to your team the things that he is asked to do there is an adjustment from Year 1 to Year 2. He's done a good job with that. We know about his toughness but we still need to capitalize on his ability to lead, his ability to ignite everyone around him. Him and Madieu. We're asking them to evolve into leaders all of the time."
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Jackson slims down for more speed
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