my bad, here is an article that shows how much childress likes Jackson
http://www.realcities.com/mld/twinci...ities_football
Childress confident in QB Jackson
BY DON SEEHOLZER AND SEAN JENSEN
Pioneer Press
The Vikings surprised some NFL observers Saturday when they drafted Alabama State quarterback Tarvaris Jackson with the last pick of the second round, but coach Brad Childress said he never gave it a second thought.
"I think you judge quarterbacks a little bit differently," Childress said Sunday. "When you see what you want at the quarterback position, you need to go get it. And that's exactly what I see with Tarvaris Jackson is a guy that's a piece of clay, that has all the skills in terms of, No. 1, what's he look like throwing the football?... He's got a great throwing motion; he's athletic. He has all those things that we're looking for, and he's wired right. That's important for a quarterback. I think he's a flatline guy. I think he's a sponge. You're talking about a guy that never had a coach there as a quarterback coach. So what can he do with coaching?"
The Vikings traded both their third-round picks to Pittsburgh to move up and get Jackson, who passed for 7,839 yards in three seasons at Division I-AA Alabama State after transferring from Arkansas.
With starter Brad Johnson turning 38 this season, the Vikings could need their quarterback of the future to develop sooner rather than later, but Childress wouldn't say how soon Jackson might be ready.
"You always hate to saddle anybody with that," Childress said. "We always said with Donovan McNabb it was a five-year deal... . You end up surrounding him with enough talent, then you've got a chance to have his God-given athletic abilities come out. But I think you make a mistake when you take him and throw him to the wolves. I think you've got to bring a guy along and bib feed him, and then kind of kick him out of the nest."
Jackson, who checked in at Winter Park on Sunday with the Vikings' other first-day picks, said he is confident in his ability to throw the ball and make plays outside the pocket.
Asked what he expects his biggest adjustment to be, he said: "Probably learning the NFL game and coverages. There's a big learning curve coming to the NFL from college, anyway."
Jackson admitted Saturday that he was surprised when the Vikings selected him and that he didn't expect to go so high, but that doesn't mean he lacks confidence in his ability.
"I feel I can adjust to any offense," he said. "Just put me in and tell me what to do. I feel I'll learn it and be OK."
Jackson gives the Vikings four quarterbacks on the roster, including Mike McMahon and J.T. O'Sullivan.
Greenway checks in: No. 1 draft choice Chad Greenway, a linebacker from Iowa, also visited Winter Park and said he isn't ready to join those who already have him penciled in as the Vikings' opening-day starter at weak-side linebacker.
"I'm not making any expectations like that," Greenway said. "I'm going to try to go in there, learn the system, go into minicamp with an open mind and try to learn as fast as I can."
Asked if he expects the transition from college to the NFL to be as great as the one from nine-man high school football to Iowa, Greenway said: "I think we'll be able to tell the first day of minicamp... . The physical difference is very tiny in this league, but the mental difference is huge. That's where you can make up a lot of ground, so that's the kind of approach I'm going to take."
Small world: Second-round pick Ryan Cook, a center from New Mexico, is the Lobos' highest-drafted player since Chicago took linebacker Brian Urlacher in the first round in 2000. They talk regularly.
Cook said Urlacher phoned Saturday to congratulate him on being drafted.
Asked what it would be like to face his buddy on the field some day, Cook said: "That's all right. We'll have our friendly battles, I guess."
Wilf reflects: Vikings owner Zygi Wilf said he was proud of the players the Vikings acquired this weekend, especially in terms of character. Wilf said the team had a protocol that flagged players for character concerns as well as injuries and other considerations.
"The tendency is not to take chances," Wilf said.
Wilf will spend today in Willmar, Minn., as a guest of Sen. Dean Johnson, before flying to New Jersey.
Free agents: Former Gophers linebacker Kyle McKenzie weighed offers from a few teams. But he was one of 16 players who signed a rookie free agent contract with the Vikings.
McKenzie hopes to compete for a spot at middle linebacker.
The Vikings also added John Torp of Colorado, whom ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. rated as the top rookie punter. Projected as a possible second-day pick, Torp had some poor offseason workouts.
Incumbent Chris Kluwe won't be able to punt until training camp, after having offseason surgery to repair his anterior cruciate ligament.
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