Eagles Sign Seven To Practice Squad

[Rome]

SEVEN SIGNED TO PRACTICE SQUAD 


September 5, 2005

By CHRIS McPHERSON


The Eagles signed seven players to their practice squad Monday morning. Six of the seven players were with the team during training camp.

Those six players were wide receiver Michael Gasperson, center Jamaal Jackson, defensive tackle Keyonta Marshall, cornerback/wide receiver Robert Redd, tight end Andy Thorn and guard Scott Young.

The lone person signed to the practice squad that was not with the team was defensive end Alonzo Jackson. The 6-4, 268-pound Jackson played in nine games over the last two seasons after being drafted by Pittsburgh in the second round in 2003.

Before playing in Pittsburgh, Jackson, a native of Americus, Ga., had 23 sacks during his college career at Florida State.

The practice squad allows players who did not make the 53-man roster to practice and participate in the meetings to develop their skills. Any player on the practice squad is technically a free agent and can be signed by another team at any other time.

Fullback Josh Parry and linebackers Jason Short and Mike Labinjo are former practice squad players who have moved up to the 53-man active roster.

Woot!

[Beermonkey]

No real surprises but I was hoping to see them keep Martin Patterson on the PS. He was raw but looked like he could have some potential.

[Rome]

Maybe he was claimed or is in the process of being signed by another team?

[bobbyinlondon]

Does anyone know the rules on PS eligibility? I'm suprised that a 2003 2nd round pick would have PS eligibility remaining. In another surprise, no QB.

[shorebird]

Bye Bye Bruce

I hope he clears waivers, and can get on the practice squad, but I have the feeling someones gonna' pick him up. He had a good pre-season, except for the one fumble he was pretty productive.

Now I have to find another player to sponsor.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

I don't see Bruce Perry having a problem getting through waivers.  He's really not that good.

Alonzo Jackson is an interesting pick-up.  No problems with them taking a "flyer" on him.

[shorebird]

Other than injuries, what have you seen that makes you think that?

[Larry]

To Steeler fans, Alonzo Jackson was to them what Simoneau is to many of us.   

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

One team's Simoneau is another team's Nate Wayne.

[General_Failure]

Yeah, but Nate Wayne actually got cut this year.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Yeah, but Nate Wayne actually got cut this year.

Simoneau will be there by the time he's Wayne's age, too.

[General_Failure]

Who knows how long that'll take.

[MURP]

some Alonzo Jackson info:

link

Biography:
2004 - Pittsburgh:
2003: Jackson was active for only the first two regular season games. Many will be watching him at 2004 summer camp to see if the former college defensive end has made the transition to outside linebacker for his second year with the Steelers.

With their second pick of the 2003 draft, the Steelers decided to improve their pass rush as well as bring in a new 3-4 'tweener to groom for the OLB position, so they drafted Florida State's Alonzo Jackson. The Steelers liked Jackson's quickness on the field, speed rushing the edge, and vertical-leap ability and long arms to block passes.

At Florida State, Alonzo was a 2-year starter who earned a second team All-Conference selection his senior year with 42 tackles (18.5 for loss) and 13 sacks. His 23 sacks rank fifth on the school's career list. Only Darnell Dockett (47, 2000-02) and Ron Simmons (44, 1977-80) had more tackles for losses in FSU annals.

2003 - Pittsburgh:
With their second pick of the 2003 draft, the Steelers decided to improve their pass rush as well as bring in a new 3-4 'tweener to groom for the OLB position, so they drafted Florida State's Alonzo Jackson. The Steelers liked Jackson's quickness on the field, speed rushing the edge, and vertical-leap ability and long arms to block passes.

At Florida State, Alonzo was a 2-year starter who earned a second team All-Conference selection his senior year with 42 tackles (18.5 for loss) and 13 sacks. His 23 sacks rank fifth on the school's career list. Only Darnell Dockett (47, 2000-02) and Ron Simmons (44, 1977-80) had more tackles for losses in FSU annals.

2002 - Florida State:
Quick, explosive and a little undersized; the main characteristics of a Florida State defensive end and just what Alonzo Jackson is. Though he still has a ways to go before being considered a complete lineman Jackson has the penchant for making plays behind the line of scrimmage, which teams covet come draft day.

(2002) At Florida State: Enters his senior campaign as the most effective pass rusher at defensive end and one of the team leaders... will start at left defensive end for the second-straight season and is one of four returning starters along the defensive front... led the team last season in sacks with five despite missing two games... had an outstanding spring highlighted by recording six tackles and three sacks in the Garnet and Gold game... earned the Hinesman Award as the most dominant player in the spring and was named the most dependable defensive end by the coaches.

High School: A standout defensive line prospect from the state of Georgia... a USA Today Honorable Mention All-American... selected as a SuperPrep All-American after playing both offense and defense in high school... a first-team Class 2A all-state selection... ranked the No. 24 defensive lineman in the nation by SuperPrep and the No. 25 prospect by Dixie... rated the No. 110 player in the Southeast by Tom Lemming... member of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Super Southern 100 and Top 50 in Georgia... recorded 116 tackles, 16 sacks and three blocked kicks as a senior... selected FSU over Georgia and Florida.

Personal: Majoring in sociology... born September 15, 1980.

link

Pro Career

2003: Jackson made the transition from defensive end to outside linebacker in the Steelers' 3-4 defense...showed flashes of excellence during the latter part of the preseason...was inactive for the final 14 games of the season after dressing for the first two.


College Career

Played defensive end in college...Tall, with a lean and solid build...Shows a good burst and power off the snap to put pressure on the quarterback...Quick to read and react to the plays...Has above average hand usage, doing a very nice job to pull, jerk and keep blockers off his body... Shows good rip moves and the lateral agility to work his way down the line...Chases hard from the backside and extends his arms properly to wrap and secure the ball carrier...Has a wide leg base which allows him to maintain proper balance...Plays with an explosive burst coming off the edge...Displays the top-end speed to get upfield instantly and string the plays wide...Emerged as one of the best edge rushers in college football the last two years...Wreaked havoc in the opposing backfield on a weekly basis...Recorded 125 tackles (72 solos) with 23 quarterback sacks and 33 stops behind the line of scrimmage during his career...His 23 sacks rank fifth on the school's career-record list...Only Darnell Dockett (47, 2000-02) and Ron Simmons (44, 1977-80) had more tackles for losses in FSU annals.

Personal Bio

Attended Americus (Ga.) High...A standout defensive line prospect and USA Today honorable mention All-American...Super Prep All-American after playing both offense and defense...First-team Class 2A All-State selection...Ranked the No. 24 defensive lineman in the nation by SuperPrep and the No. 25 prospect by Dixie...Rated the No. 110 player in the Southeast by Tom Lemming...Member of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Super Southern 100 and Top 50 in Georgia...Recorded 116 tackles, 16 sacks and three blocked kicks as a senior. Sociology major...Born 9/15/80...Resides in Americus, Georgia.

SI predraft scout crap

ALONZO JACKSON
Position: DE
Class: Sr
School: Florida St.
Conference: ACC
Ht., Wt.: 6'4, 266
40 Time: 4.83
Grade: 3.52

Selected by Pittsburgh Steelers
Round 2, pick 27 (59 overall)
BIO: Two-year starter and second team All-Conference selection as a senior after posting 42 tackles and leading the team with 18 1/2 tackles for loss and 13 sacks. Also intercepted 1 pass and broke up three more. All ACC Honorable Mention as a junior after 33-8-5.

POSITIVES: Athletic, fluid defender who may be best standing up over tackle. Breaks down well, plays with leverage and rarely off his feet. Rushes the edge with speed, displays good body lean and keeps his feet driving up the field. Smooth changing direction, slides off blocks laterally and displays a good inside move.

NEGATIVES: Lacks strength at the point of attack, handled by a single blocker and not effective defending the run. Performed woefully on the bench-press at the Combine.

ANALYSIS: Probably best at outside linebacker in a 3-4 alignment but with the recent history of undersized Seminole ends non-performing in the NFL, his potential at the next level is worrisome.   

PROJECTION: Early Fifth Round

[Larry]

S'more......

11. Alonzo Jackson, Florida State (6-4, 266)

Had a complete workout at the Combine with a 37-inch vertical jump,
9-foot-6 long jump, 14 reps on the bench, and ran the 40 in 4.83 and
4.87.

Played on the offensive and defensive line in high school in the town of
Americus, Ga. — Falcons coach Dan Reeves' hometown. Played as a true
freshman in 1999 at FSU, started four games in 2000, then became the
regular starter for every game his junior and senior years as a rush
end.

I think he could be a good player in a 3-4 system. An above-average
athlete and team captain, he has good toughness and quickness. Whenever
you convert a down lineman into a linebacker, there is a risk in it, but
this is a risk worth taking.

[MURP]

Reid in press conference said they really liked Alonzo Jackson coming out of college.