Even at 30 years of age with 126 NFL games to his credit, Tyson Jackson’s not exactly a graybeard yet, but he’s taken on the role of mentor with the Falcons. It’s just another part of his versatility.
While playing in 50 consecutive games since signing with the Falcons in 2014, he’s played outside and inside along the defensive line, and he doesn’t seem to prefer end over tackle, although he started outside six times this season and twice at tackle, including the Falcons’ playoff opener against Seattle.
“Whatever they ask me to do, I’m going to put my all into it,” the eight-year veteran from LSU said.
Jackson banked his first sack of the season Sunday, when the 6-foot4, 296-pound native of Edgard, La., outside of New Orleans, engulfed Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the fourth quarter.
He’s done some of that — with 10 career sacks including that one — and more for the Chiefs and Falcons. Drafted in the third round by Kansas City in 2009, a couple of years after helping the Tigers win a national championship, he spent five seasons in the heartland before coming to the Falcons as a free agent.
“At the time, the Falcons were just switching over to a 3-4 defense, and my entire career in Kansas City I was in a 3-4, so I was more familiar with it,” Jackson said. “I just felt like this was the right opportunity for me. I felt like the team was together; the coaching staff at the time was a good fit for me.”
The Falcons play chiefly 4-3 under coach Dan Quinn and defensive coordinator Richard Smith, when they’re not in nickel, yet he’s been around long enough that a new system isn’t causing him problems.
“Now, with the defensive scheme that we play since coach Q has been here, it’s a lot different from the scheme that was here previously,” Jackson said. “It’s a lot more attacking involved now, so production-wise you tend to see numbers improving.”
Jackson was in on 16 tackles in the regular season, and much of his role on the field is to set up teammates. He need not be on the field, to lend a hand.
He’s sees what’s going on, and can help others.
Jackson cannot be considered the elder Birdman among the defensive line, of course, because the best he can do on a unit that includes 15-year veteran defensive end Dwight Freeney (230 NFL games) and 12-year tackle Jonathan Babineaux (192) is say he’s a member of the team’s council of wizards.
But Junior knows a few things, too.
Lockered next to second-year outside linebacker/defensive end Vic Beasley Jr., and not far from second-year defensive tackle Grady Jarrett, Jackson has something to offer the Falcons’ younger thunder.
“I just try to be out there and be a motivation for guys,” he said. “I’ve been around a couple years, been around some good players, and I just try to pass information along that I’ve learned.”
Sometimes, they call No. 94 “Big Tyse.”
“He’s a wonderful teammate,” Jarrett said. “He comes to work every day, and we all get along good. We go to battle together. He gets excited for his brothers as we do for him when he has success. We’re just a tight-knit group in the D-line room, all part of a collective unit.”
Jackson’s happy to help in any way he can.
“Like coach says,” he explains, “whatever we can do to make each other better, I’ll do it.”
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