McCants Re-Signed; Jason Jefferson Signed To PS

[PhillyPhreak54]

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The Eagles made some roster moves on Tuesday, placing veteran defensive tackle Paul Grasmanis on the Injured Reserve list and re-signing receiver Darnerien McCants. The team also added defensive tackle DT Jason Jefferson to the practice squad.

[4and26]

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The Eagles made some roster moves on Tuesday, placing veteran defensive tackle Paul Grasmanis on the Injured Reserve list and re-signing receiver Darnerien McCants. The team also added defensive tackle DT Jason Jefferson to the practice squad.

Jason Jefferson

[PhillyPhreak54]

6th round pick from the Saints...spent time on the Bears PS.

[rjs246]

6th round pick from the Saints...spent time on the Bears PS.

That's one hell of a resume.

[ice grillin you]

Jason Jefferson  Grade: 3.55 
Position: DT
Class: Sr
School: Wisconsin
Conference: Big Ten
Ht., Wt.: 6-1.5, 310
40 Time: 5.18
Selected by: New Orleans Saints
Round 6, pick 19 (193 overall)  Grading System

BIO: Three-year starter who posted 25/4.5/3 as a senior.

POSITIVES: Well-built run stuffer who plugs the middle of the field. Explosive off the snap with a great first step, can change direction and relentless in pursuit of the play. Gets underneath opponents wedging through blocks, collapses outside defending the run, and plays with both balance and body control. Tenacious, works hard and displays good hand technique getting off blocks. Good closing burst of speed.

NEGATIVES: Lacks height, handled at the point by a single blocker or engulfed by opponents. Not light on his feet and limited skills rushing the passer.

ANALYSIS: A defensive lineman whose quickness gives him a decided advantage against opponents, Jefferson is a competitor always working to make the play. Has growth limitations, yet would be effective as a three-technique lineman or in a system that places him next to a wide-bodied tackle. Will slide into the draft's second day, but could very well turn out to be one of the better bargains this April.

PROJECTION: Late Third Round




Prospect Profiles   


Jason Jefferson
Position: Defensive Tackle/Nose Guard   
College: Wisconsin
Height: 6-1
Weight: 306
Hometown: Chicago, Ill.

Analysis | Injury Report | Agility | High School | Personal


OVERVIEW
Jason Jefferson is an unheralded athlete who teamed with Anttaj Hawthorne to give the Badgers one of the most formidable defensive tackle tandems in college football. A mainstay on the right side, the three-year starter could shift to nose guard at the next level and take advantage of his impressive lower-body power.

Jefferson was a three-time offensive MVP at Leo (Chicago, Ill.) High, where he played on both sides of the ball. He recorded 310 tackles with 43 sacks as a defensive tackle and averaged five knockdowns per game as an offensive lineman. He also excelled in the shot put, winning the 1998 state title (he made the state finals three times).

Jefferson redshirted in 2000 at Wisconsin and saw limited action in three games in 2001, but did not record any tackles. The following year, Jefferson amassed 45 tackles (22 solo) with a sack, two stops for losses and three pressures while starting 12 games at right defensive tackle in 2002. The following year, Jefferson added 30 tackles (eight solo), a sack, and a pair of stops behind the line of scrimmage in 14 games. He again started every game as a senior, registering 25 tackles (14 solo) with a career-high three sacks, five stops for loss and a forced fumble.

He closed out his 41-game collegiate career with 100 tackles (44 solo), five sacks for minus-22 yards, nine stops for losses of 30 yards, four quarterback pressures, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.


ANALYSIS
Jefferson is a stout player with very big thighs and excellent lower body strength. He carries a big gut and needs to improve his upper-body power. He displays good balance, quickness and has above average agility with adequate change-of-direction skills. Jefferson is a tough competitor who gives a consistent effort and plays with solid intensity along with good playing strength. He is instinctive and is quick to recognize blocking schemes, reacting quickly and with strength.

Jefferson struggles to split double teams due to marginal hand usage and shorter-than-ideal arms that prevent him from getting a good extension into the blocker. He works well in run containment, using his size to get a good lean and push when plugging the rush lanes. Against the run, he shows good strength to hold the point, but really struggles to shed and work across blocks.

He shows some explosion off the snap, but is not really considered someone who can generate a sudden burst consistently. Jefferson will flash good explosion along with ability to snatch and remove along with real good pursuit effort and decent production. When he stays low in his pads, he shows enough lower-body power to stack and defeat the one-on-one blocks. There is no question that he plays with good effort and desire, but outside of the short area, his lack of speed prevents him from making plays in long pursuit.

Jefferson is very alert, doing a nice job of reading schemes and reacting in the 5-yard short territory. He has some quickness to gain penetration, but with four pressures in 42 games, he is not the type that would cause a quarterback to have bad dreams. He has decent initial quickness off the ball with the lateral quickness and ability to work over trash, but still lacks good separation or a sudden closing burst to get more pressure. He has good upper-body bulk, but does not generate enough force to neutralize and make the play in pursuit.

Jefferson uses his hands mostly to get a push and is slow to recoil and gain inside position on the blocker. He lacks the solid rip, swim, and under-arm action necessary to be effective as a pass rusher, having gotten to the quarterback only five times during his career. His struggles to shed hurt him in the pass rush, but he shows some ability to bull rush. When he tackles, he shows good arm extension to wrap and secure. Jefferson is best when utilized in run containment. He needs to add some additional bulk, but also must trim the excessive baggage he carries on his belly. In a 3-4 system, he can be an adequate reserve nose guard.


INJURY REPORT
Injury report not available, but missed the 2003 Michigan State game with an undisclosed injury.


AGILITY
5.2 in the 40-yard dash ... 380-pound bench press ... 615-pound squat ... 345-pound power clean ... 29½-inch vertical jump ... 32 1/8-inch arm length ... 9 5/8-inch hands.


HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Leo (Chicago, Ill.) High, playing football for coach Mike Holmes ... Three-time team offensive line MVP ... Lined up at offensive guard and defensive tackle ... Was team captain in both football and track ... Won the 1998 state title in the shot put (qualified for the state finals three times) ... Recorded 310 career tackles, including 43 sacks ... Averaged five pancake blocks per game as a senior ... Academic all-state choice and included in the All-America Scholar's Directory.


PERSONAL
Sociology major ... Son of Barbara Jefferson ... Born Dec. 20, 1981 ... Resides in Chicago, Ill.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Keyonta will be promoted and likely on the inactive list if Akers goes on IR, I suppose.  Only 8 defensive linemen on the 53-man roster right now.  That's quite thin.

[MURP]

secret weapon

[PhillyPhreak54]

Keyonta will be promoted and likely on the inactive list if Akers goes on IR, I suppose.  Only 8 defensive linemen on the 53-man roster right now.  That's quite thin.

They're going to need to cut someone when McDougle comes back too.

I guess thst is when we'll see them take a shot at exposing Thornburg to other teams and then sign him to the PS if he's not claimed.

[rjs246]

Seriously, who the farg cares about Thornburg? And what team would want a 195 lb. safety? Christ.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Obviously they think that he's a player and he'd be scooped up fast if he's not on the 53. Or else he would've been cut and put on the PS by now.

Maybe they think a team like SF or TEN would grab him.

[MURP]

Thornburg is a stud. 

[rjs246]

Good! Let them have him. I can't think of one reason to keep him on the team when we're thin at D-Line which is far more important than the illustrious 'random-skinny-white-safety-feel-good-story' position. Oh yeah, and cut Reno.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Thornburg's such a difference-maker that he wasn't even activated while Considine was injured.

I mean... come on.

[ice grillin you]

Obviously they think that he's a player and he'd be scooped up fast if he's not on the 53. Or else he would've been cut and put on the PS by now.

Maybe they think a team like SF or TEN would grab him

thats funnier than the ohio st offense with art schlicter in the 2nd half of a blowout

[Wingspan]

Thornburg is a stud. 

thats why he's playing so much