Let’s hear it for LA Rams UDFA LT AJ Jackson’s solid debut

A bit raw? Perfect NFL prospect

While some NFL organizations prefer to select polished plug-n-play offensive linemen, the LA Rams have adopted a strategy of bringing in raw but talented offensive linemen. After all, a majority of NFL analysis is to compare a player to his contemporaries and to assess how he does in the face of competition.

For an NFL prospect, it’s not easy to give a perfect assessment because he all too frequently outclassed his opponent. But when he arrived at the Senior Bowl, he had gotten into some lazy techniques that simply did not show up well against the best of NCAA football. In short, he was raw and needed to be coached up. Thankfully, he fit the ideal prospect for the LA Rams, who were all too eager to sign him.

Now don’t reach the wrong conclusion. Even with imperfect technique, Jackson was outstanding at his position. He was strong enough to absorb even the most determined pass rush. And when he was tasked with run blocking, he paved the road like a diesel-power bulldozer.

So now the task for the Rams organization was simply to improve his footwork, build his strength, and work on his handwork. Did I say that he may have peaked in his development with the Iowa Hawkeyes by outclassing his competition? Well, every day at the LA Rams practice he faces Leonard Floyd, Aaron Donald, and now Von Miller. You can bet that won’t be a problem any longer.