Boulder – As the weeks have progressed, and the improvement of Colorado quarterback Bernard Jackson is analyzed, it has almost become sport for coaches, media and fans to blame the previous coaching staff for not developing the junior full-time as a signal-caller.
Jackson was recruited from Santiago High School in Corona, Calif., to be a quarterback. But he spent only his redshirt season practicing the position full-time. In subsequent years, he played as a punt returner, a kick returner, a tailback and a wide receiver.
Former CU offensive coordinator Shawn Watson was one of the coaches responsible for those decisions. Now the tight ends coach and recruiting coordinator at Nebraska, Watson explained why.
“Some of that was based on need,” Watson said. “First off, let’s put it like this: It began with where he was in his quarterback development in the system. Secondly, it came down to a need and Bernard wanting to play. He wanted to get on the field, and (the coaches wanted) to get him on the field.”
Critics say the position switches have stunted Jackson’s growth at quarterback. Jackson said he has felt like a freshman – having to learn the ins and outs of the position as well as the offense.
First-year Buffs coach Dan Hawkins generally avoids the subject, but asked a few weeks ago why Jackson wasn’t more well-versed in how to be a quarterback, he paused, smiled wryly and said, “Joel Klatt took almost every rep for them.”
Klatt was the regular starter from 2003-05. He finished with school records in career passing yards (7,375), completions (666) and passing touchdowns (44).
Watson says the staff led by Gary Barnett had begun researching spread offenses to best take advantage of Jackson’s skills.
“Last year, I told him I thought his future was at quarterback,” Watson said. “I didn’t really see him as a receiver. His skills were geared more toward him being a quarterback.
“I think one of the things that you’re seeing today is more people tailoring offenses more toward the spread, more toward quarterbacks who are multifaceted guys. We started experimenting with (that), and actually started researching through spring drills a spring ago (2005), knowing that his development was around the corner once Joel left, and we had to make some decisions as to which direction we went offensively.”
Jackson, though, said his hope for playing quarterback had all but faded under the previous staff.
“I was ready to just say, ‘I don’t even want to play quarterback anymore,’ you know?” Jackson said.
Watson said he had always believed in Jackson’s skills, both running and throwing.
“His explosiveness was as a runner as people looked at him as a high school player,” Watson said. “But you know what, we felt like he could throw the ball. We felt he had equally as impressive an arm.”
Watson said that had the previous staff stayed, Jackson would have been in the mix at quarterback. Barnett, however, asked about former CU quarterback Brian White’s transfer on Sept. 17, said his staff had projected White to be the starter this season.
“I think (Jackson) would have battled,” Watson said. “It would have been kind of what you’ve seen play out. It would have been the same battle. His best ball is ahead of him. And I think a lot of it, just knowing B-Jack’s personality, is his confidence. It sounds like he’s really getting comfortable in what he’s doing. And with that comes confidence. That’s when you get yourself a guy that breaks out. He’ll break out.”
EYE ON … The Red Raiders
TEXAS TECH AT COLORADO: 1:30 p.m. Saturday
For the record: Texas Tech is 4-2, 1-1 in the Big 12
Streaking: Tech isn’t streaking, but it is streaky. The Red Raiders are 2-2 in their past four games.
Who’s hot: Wide receiver Joel Filani has six touchdowns this season.
Who’s not: Quarterback Graham Harrell committed four turnovers in Tech’s 38-21 loss to Missouri.
Key stat: Since 1996, Texas Tech is 31-16 against teams from the Big 12 North.
FYI: Tech is 0-3 against Colorado in Boulder.
Injury update: Texas Tech does not specify injuries that aren’t season-ending.
Coachspeak: “I do think we are a team that is a bit distracted. I think there is a mentality with our group that, and I think it starts with us as coaches, worries about what might happen instead of what we are going to make happen. It leads to a level of inconsistency because we have these brilliant spurts, then we have bad ones.” – Texas Tech coach Mike Leach
Chris Dempsey can be reached at 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com.
