FanPost

Pat Williams: #4 until Tarvaris Jackson works more

Pat Williams is quoted in this article from Fox Sports which seems to jive perfectly with my impressions after reading this article from the Star Tribune: Tarvaris Jackson is a 2nd QB in the NFL who is training for a 2nd career in MMA.

I'm aware that the MMA article specifically states that Jackson is not training for a second career.  The article mentions Jared Allen's transformation from stiff white guy to one who can move, so I can't argue that training JA in MMA was anything less than a great move.  However, I do not understand how MMA could help Jackson's low completion percentage and accuracy or improve his ability to read defenses and look off defenders or fumble less often or hone his scrambling instincts and pocket presence.  His hip work cannot have been the #1 problem that has been holding him back against opponents not named the Cardinals or Falcons who played their starters against Jackson and actually managed to win at least 1 game in a given season.  Show me one other QB in the history of the game whose accuracy, consistency, production, and efficiency all improved because he worked out his hips in the offseason, and then I'll consider changing my mind.

Nor will MMA, ballet, or other gimmicky exercises win over his teammates.  I doubt this is the kind of work that Pat Williams had in mind when he dished about preferring Brett Favre over Tarvaris Jackson recently:

Williams said he recently sent a text message to Brett Favre telling the quarterback that he would be welcome in Minnesota if he decides to come out of retirement. "I told him if he comes we will open our arms to you and if you don't we understand," Williams said. "He's a Hall of Famer and no one can take that from him. He's still one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play." Williams also offered an interesting take on Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, who is trying to stave off Sage Rosenfels and keep his starting job. "I talk to Tarvaris all the time (and) tell him you have to put in the time," Williams said. "This ain't college no more. This is the NFL. You have to put in more time than you are used to putting in. If you are putting in four hours, you have to put in eight. You have to put in more time than what he's doing. I think if he puts the right time in, he will be a great quarterback in the league."

An extensive Google search found many instances of Tarvaris talking about how hard he works and occasionally receiving extra reps assigned by Childress, but perhaps Pat Williams was referring to statements like this recent gem:

"...just confidence. If I mess up, I’m going to mess up – not just try not to mess up. That really prohibits me..."

Perhaps he could simplify things a bit and just try not to mess up instead?  And work on NFL stuff more and MMA less?

This FanPost was created by a registered user of The Daily Norseman, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the site. However, since this is a community, that view is no less important.