NFL Draft Countdown - Lawrence Jackson Interview

Lawrence Jackson Interview
February 14, 2008

Lawrence Jackson has been on the prospect map since very early in his college career and you'd be hard-pressed to find a defensive end who was more productive over the past four years. Now Jackson is ready to take that next step and he is arguably one of the top all-around players at his position this year. Lawrence was recently kind enough to talk with Draft Countdown's Scott Wright.

Scott Wright: You weighed in at 6-4^3/8 and 261 lbs. at the Senior Bowl. Is that the weight you’re hoping to play at?

Lawrence Jackson: That’s the weight that I played at this past year. It was my goal weight going into the year and I focused on that. From the point post-Michigan (Rose Bowl) I decided that I wanted to drop a few pounds just for my own reasons. I can effectively manage anywhere between 260 and 275 pounds but this is the weight I personally wanted to play at this year. I’ve shown throughout my career that I have been able to play at different weights, from the high-250’s to the mid to high-270’s. I think I can handle any type of weight.

Scott Wright: What is your accurate forty time? Do you plan to work out at the Scouting Combine?

Lawrence Jackson: I am planning to workout. I am just going to leave it where they have me projected, running at 4.9 or 4.95, and hopefully I go out there and run the way I know how and people will know I’m a little bit faster than that.

Scott Wright: It seems like the perception is that you aren’t necessarily going to be an elite pass rusher at the next level and are more of a well-rounded defensive end. What kind of player do you think you are and what do you think your best role will be in the NFL in terms of position and scheme?

Lawrence Jackson: I’m an every-down defensive end. I’m an effective pass rusher if you turn on the tape and I play the run equally well. I think I have the athletic ability to stand up and I dropped back in coverage a few times at USC. I also have the ability to go down and be productive at the 3-technique spot. I think that my versatility to play across the line at any position and the ability to stand up is something that teams like, especially with how the Giants use Justin Tuck this past season. I see myself in the same light as a Michael Strahan. You know when you think of pass rushers I’m pretty sure that a lot of people think of the Dwight Freeney’s and the Osi Umenyiora’s, the guys who have that blazing speed, but that’s not all that’s required to get to the quarterback. A lot of the great pass rushers weren’t burners so there’s a lot more to the game. But I’m not saying I lack speed.

Scott Wright: You were very productive throughout your college career but a lot of that seemed to come in bunches. What do you attribute that inconsistency to and what, if anything, have you done to improve there?

Lawrence Jackson: I feel that throughout my career my play has been consistent. When you look at the film from last year you’ll see how effective I was and how I’d get to the quarterback. Just because you don’t get a sack doesn’t mean you weren’t effective or productive. If you look at Dwight Freeney from the year before during their Super Bowl run he was in single-digits in sacks but was he effective? Yes he was. It’s the same scenario. Also, the type of offensive schemes we see in the Pac-10, particularly those run against us, it doesn’t allow for guys to get a consistent bead on the quarterback so when we get there we have to make the most of it.

Scott Wright: What would you say is your greatest strength as a football player and what area do you need to work on?

Lawrence Jackson: I think that I can work on refining my technique. I’m pretty comfortable with the type of player that I am and I’m confident in my ability and what I have to offer as a defensive end. I’m a natural pass rusher, very good against the run and I’m the type of player who can do it all. Going back to Justin Tuck and guys like Michael Strahan and Aaron Kampman these are guys who, again, weren’t 4.5 guys but they all have proven they can get to the quarterback. I think I have an uncanny ability to play the game of football.

Scott Wright: What is your greatest football moment to date?

Lawrence Jackson: It would have to be my first year against Stanford, my redshirt freshman year, when I got my first sack in a real close game.

Scott Wright: Who is the best player you have faced during your career?

Lawrence Jackson: I’d have to say Jamaal Brown, the tackle from Oklahoma. That’s from the other team. I consistently see Sam Baker and he’s a great player.

Scott Wright: Everyone knows how loaded the Trojans are when it comes to talent but is there one guy on either offense or defense that made you say “Wow, he is unbelievable”?

Lawrence Jackson: You have to say Reggie Bush. That’s a no-brainer. He’s not in the same class as Michael Jordan but he has the ability to make that type of impact on a team and in the game of football.

Scott Wright: Is there one younger player at USC that you see developing into a star, either at the college or pro level?

Lawrence Jackson: Kevin Ellison is our strong safety and a lot of people don’t know about him as much as they should. His brother (Keith Ellison) is a starting linebacker for the Buffalo Bills and he’s a natural football player. He plays the game the way coaches want to see it played, the way they draw it up on the board and want it executed.

Scott Wright: Who was your favorite college or pro team growing up? Did you have a favorite player?

Lawrence Jackson: My favorite team was the Miami Dolphins, starting from the 3rd or 4th grade. My favorite player has always been Michael Strahan ever since I started playing football and realized what position I’d be playing I always looked up to him and the impact he had on the game both on and off the field.

Scott Wright: What current pro are you most looking forward to going up against in the NFL?

Lawrence Jackson: I don’t think there is any one particular person. I’m just excited to have the opportunity to play up there and show everybody what type of player I am.

Scott Wright: At what point did you realize that you might have a future in football beyond college?

Lawrence Jackson: Oh, in Pop Warner. I played for one year and I had this feeling inside of me. It was almost overpowering. I got too big to play that second year but I couldn’t wait to get to high school because without weight restrictions I thought I’d be a really good football player. I knew that I had something special, it was just a matter of getting more involved with the game and getting the coaching to get better.

Scott Wright: What do you plan to do once your playing career is over?

Lawrence Jackson: It’s hard to say right now. Everybody has lofty expectations but I think I want to open up some kind of business. I also want to do some community work and give all the information and support to kids who are in the position I was in. I really didn’t have a lot of guys from the NFL and positions like that to come back and show me how to do. I think that will be critical for me to share my knowledge and what I’ve overcome to get to this point.

Scott Wright: When you get your first professional paycheck what is the first thing you will buy?

Lawrence Jackson: Ha, it’s hard to say man. You know everybody says they’re going to get their Mom a house but my parents have an understanding of how quick the money goes. They told me to take my time and they’re not ready to change their lifestyles at the moment. I think essentially the first thing I’m going to do is take it to the bank.

Scott Wright: Do you have any goals in mind when it comes to the NFL Draft (i.e. Round 1 Top 2 Rounds, etc.)?

Lawrence Jackson: I want to go as high as I can. I’d have to be fooling myself if I said I didn’t want to be a first round pick. That’s what I always dreamt of as a kid. It’s not up to me though and somebody out there is going to like me, whether it’s first round, second round or whatever. It’s come to the point where it doesn’t matter what round you go in it’s how productive you are and what you bring. Just because you go in the first round doesn’t mean you’re going to be a great football player. It doesn’t mean that you’re going to have a career in the NFL and it doesn’t mean you’re going to be what they thought you’d be. It just means that you have a little bit more money than somebody else. I am more excited about the opportunity to play than worried about what round I get drafted in.

Scott Wright: It’s obviously still early but is there one or two teams in particular that you’ve noticed paying more attention to you?

Lawrence Jackson: Ah, you know as you said it’s early and hard to say. I don’t have any communication with the teams. At the Senior Bowl they interview everybody they can get their hands on so it’s hard to say who has a strong interest and who doesn’t. People who know football, like most of these teams do, they know what type of player I am and what I have the capability of doing.

Scott Wright: Is there a team that you think you would fit in well with?

Lawrence Jackson: I think I can play in the majority of the schemes in the NFL, whether it’s end or a 3-4 outside linebacker, which a couple of teams are interested in me as. I’m just anxious for this opportunity that I have coming up to be a football player and run out there as a professional.

Scott Wright: Thanks for the time and good luck!

Links

Scouting Report Southern Cal Bio