Big Game for Jackson
Darryl Hammill
Friday June 29, 2001
In the midst of the "doom and gloom" of their loss, the Cobras and Coach Kay did have something positive to focus on: the outstanding play by WR/LB Kevin Jackson. It was a high point in an otherwise successive string of low points on June 22nd. Jackson`s highlight of the evening had to be his catch and run for a touchdown during the third quarter, tying a Cobra`s record of 45 yards. He eluded would-be tacklers, and did an excellent job of using his downfield blocking.
Coach Kay said, "Kevin`s been playing well for us; he has meant an awful lot to the team." When asked if he felt that Houston mistakenly focused on Aaron Bailey and Corny White, opening up Jackson for his big night, he said, "Kevin`s a capable receiver to go to if something`s happening to the other two.” Kevin caught nine balls for 107 yards and one touchdown.
Later, I caught up with QB Fred McNair, who said of Jackson, "He stepped up tonight… he was ready to catch and run. They (Houston) jammed the motion man and stopped him from catching the ball, so I had to come off of him and go to the other people (like Jackson).”
When I asked Jackson if it was part of the game plan to have more balls come his way, he replied, "Yeah, we talked about that earlier in the week, and Coach let us know how to be prepared just in case they fell off. I had an opportunity to make a few plays. I did not make enough though.”
There is little doubt that Kevin is a team player when he continued, "It doesn`t mean anything playing well. It`s all about the win in this league." When asked about his play with McNair that evening, he said, “We played together in Florida and hooked up a lot there. It was just a matter of wait my turn I guess. Like I said, Aaron (Bailey) had a good game last week (vs. Buffalo) and they tried to take him out so it gave me a chance to make some plays.”
So now Toronto has three passing threats to worry about - White, Bailey, and Jackson. There has to be a limit to the number of potential threats the Cobras can field but it doesn’t seem they’ve reached that point just yet.
Darryl Hammill was a writer for ArenaFan Online during the 2001 season.
