The selection of Tyson Jackson third overall in the 2009 NFL Draft surprised quite a few folks (except those of you who had been reading Arrowhead Pride prior to the draft). It was considered a "reach" by just about everyone out there.
Now, the "reach" part of that selection has been dubbed The Tyson Jackson Effect by Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rose Press Democrat.
Maiocco had a conversation with former NFL scout Daniel Jeremiah. We pick up with them talking about Jared Odrick, the Penn State defensive end projected in the second half of the first round.
Q: Would he [Penn State DE Jared Odrick] be a reach at this point for the 49ers at 16 or 17?
DJ: "I thought he'd be a really good 3-4 end, and I know when you get a defensive lineman that's clean - in other words, he has desired height, weight, speed and that stuff, along with being a good player - I don't think you can take those guys too early. Most people might have him in the bottom half of the first round. But I don't think you can reach if you really believe in a D-lineman."
Q: In other words, the Tyson Jackson effect?
DJ: "Taking a guy in the top-three that maybe should've gone in the 20s is different. I graded them both and I think Odrick is a better player coming out than Jackson. And now we're talking about taking a guy at 16, as opposed to 3. I don't think that's too much of a reach?"
While on the topic of defensive linemen, Jeremiah also talked about Brian Price, the big defensive tackle out of UCLA. He sounds intriguing (but not necessarily for our purposes).
"Price is one of my favorite players in this draft. I think he's a prototypical 4-3 player. I think he fits that a little better. He can get upfield. He's got inside pass rush and can penetrate. I think 4-3 teams are going to fall in love with him. He could be a 3-4 guy, but that's limiting what he does best, which is not sit there and clog but get around blocks and get upfield."