Subscribe to our newsletter

Is Asa Jackson’s Time Limited?

Share
Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Reading Time: 3 minutes

The Ravens offense broke the huddle on their first 11-on-11 drill of training camp on Thursday, and strolled to the line of scrimmage. Quarterback Joe Flacco called out his snap count and before you knew it Steve Smith Sr. was on the receiving end of a long pass play, after shaking cornerback Asa Jackson with ease.

That scenario has played it self out repeatedly over the last three days (and perhaps even a fourth day pending the results of today’s 4 p.m. practice).

While it’s early still and a lot of practices remain before the Ravens take the field Week 1 against Denver, one has to wonder if Asa Jackson will be with the team on that trip.

Last season, Jackson saw significant action in the Ravens secondary after the team found themselves decimated by injury at the cornerback position. He started six games and played in seven before a knee injury ended his season, recording 22 total tackles and three passes defensed.

The organization knew it had to do something this offseason to upgrade the depth behind starters Jimmy Smith and Lardarius Webb. After seeing their season come to an abrupt end after blowing two 14-point leads in the AFC Divisional Round of the playoffs against New England, there was no question that the secondary must improve.

With Smith, Webb back healthy (for now), and with the free agent signings of Kyle Arrington and Cassius Vaughn, Jackson finds himself in the middle of some stiff competition between rookie Tray Walker, Quinton Pointer, Rashaan Melvin, Tramain Jacobs and Chris Greenwood.

Jackson has seen reps over the first few days of camp with the first, second and even third team defenses and has struggled, particularly with the ones and twos.

On Friday, defensive backs coach Chris Hewitt didn’t exactly stop the presses when asked about what Jackson and fellow cornerback Rashaad Melvin needed to do this summer.

“I’m just looking for them to play well every week,” Hewitt said. “That’s all I’m looking for.”

Not exactly a ringing endorsement.

Outside of Arrington, there hasn’t been much separation as of yet between Jackson and others vying for a roster spot. Walker is raw and has to work on his technique, but has size (6-1) and a giant wingspan. Vaughn, Melvin and Jacobs have had ups and downs while Greenwood and Pointer have fared better than Jackson and the others on occasion.

None though have been torched like Jackson has on a daily basis.

While the battle is an uphill one for now, Jackson does offer something to the roster that his competition doesn’t: Kick and punt return ability.

Special teams/Associate head coach Jerry Rosburg said the Ravens haven’t made any decisions as to who will handle those duties yet but did acknowledge it would have to be someone who has other duties elsewhere.

“That’s a really good question, because it depends on the makeup of your team,” Rosburg explained. “I would prefer to have a great returner on both phases. Sometimes it’s not the same guy. If it’s not the same guy, they have to have a big role in some other way.

“You can’t have a punt returner that’s not playing and a kick returner that’s not playing. If they’re both playing on their side of the ball and their particular position, then it’s fine; it’s not a big deal. I don’t prefer one or the other. But if it’s going to be one guy, then he probably doesn’t have to have as big of a role on offense or defense. That’s the way I look at it. We like football players. A returner needs to be a returner but also a football player in other areas.”

Jackson has even seen his time limited during special team drills with Michael Campanaro, DeAndre Carter, Smith Sr. and Webb seeing reps as well.

There is time for Asa but it’s ticking fast. He will need to start stacking quality days during training camp and make an impact in the preseason, because the competition isn’t resting.

Will Asa Jackson make the final cut?

 

Follow me on Twitter @sportguyRSR

Don’t Miss Anything at RSR. Subscribe Here!
Latest posts
Join our newsletter and get 20% discount
Promotion nulla vitae elit libero a pharetra augue