Few players get Raiders HC Hue Jackson as excited as wide receiver Jacoby Ford. His eyes widen, he smiles and cuts loose with a string of superlatives whenever someone brings up Ford.
That’s understandable, given Ford’s immense success his rookie season last year. He scored touchdowns on kick returns, receiving and running.
This season, Jackson said he wouldn’t be surprised if Ford catches 75-80 passes. The fact Ford is only 5-feet-9 and 185 pounds doesn’t limit what Ford can do, Jackson added.
“I don’t subscribe to that theory,” Jackson said. “If he can score touchdowns, I’m going to give it to him. He likes the ball in his hands, we like to put it in his hands. He’s a good player. We need to go and turn this guy loose. He has some special ability, and I’m looking forward to watching him play.”
While 75+ catches seems like a big stretch for a high YPC guy like Ford, it's nice to hear Jackson gush about his upside. Ford owners shouldn't worry about underutilization, though the Raiders offense doesn't always feature a guy like it should.
