Louisville QB Jackson tests boundaries of freedom while challenging his opponents

Louisville As a freshman last season, quarterback Lamar Jackson’s improvisational skills confounded opponents and thrilled Louisville football fans. But heading into this season, U of L Coach Bobby Petrino wants it known there can be too much of this good thing.

Petrino made that point clear when asked at Louisville’s Media Day about the freedom he gave — and will give — Jackson.

“We don’t really use the term ‘freedom,’” Petrino told reporters. “You know, he gets the freedom to do exactly what we tell him.”

That line got a big laugh. But Petrino wasn’t kidding.

Louisville expects a more controlled, less adventurous Jackson in 2016. Greater knowledge of how to play quarterback should lead to a more prudent approach.

“A year ago at this time, he didn’t really know the play,” Petrino said. “You’d give him a play and he would drop back (the coach’s voice trailed off). Now, you give him a play and he pictures it in his mind. He knows exactly where the receivers are going to be. To me, that’s the No. 1 thing for a quarterback.”

Jackson said he had a sense of the play called last year. But if the play broke down, he was unsure of how to create something out of nothing within the offensive framework.

“I was like, ‘Man, I don’t know what I’m doing,’” he said.

Even at the starting point of development as a college quarterback, Jackson excited Petrino with what he might become. At U of L’s Media Day last year, the mention of Jackson brought noticeable enthusiasm to Petrino’s tone of voice.

By late September of last season, Jackson had settled Louisville’s muddled quarterback situation. For the season, he threw for 1,840 yards and ran for a school record (for a quarterback) 960 yards. In his last two games, he ran for 190 yards at Kentucky and then 226 yards against Texas A&M in the Music City Bowl.

Petrino used the 2016 spring game to reinforce his wish for a less-is-more philosophy about quarterbacks on the run. He told Jackson stay in the pocket no matter what. The coaches wanted to learn — and wanted Jackson to learn — the passes he could and could not throw.

“It didn’t frustrate me at all,” Jackson said. “He wanted to let everyone know I can throw, that I knew my check-downs and my progressions.”

Jackson’s spring game statistics hardly suggested a constrained quarterback: 24 completions in 29 attempts and eight TD passes.

“We’re working hard on him being a passer,” Petrino said. “He’s got to be able to keep his focus going downfield. Go through progressions. Know where the check-down is.

“But he’s got great instincts.”

Much seems to be riding on Jackson successfully blending pocket passing and eye-catching individualism. In its season preview, Lindy’s said of Louisville’s outlook, “Everything is built around Jackson.”

He’s also mentioned as a possible all-Atlantic Coast Conference quarterback.

Jackson shrugs at this hype. “Well, I’m the quarterback, and that’s going to come with it,” he said.

Petrino welcomed great expectations. Players should aspire to be the best, he said. He recalled Elvis Dumervil making good on his aim to be a special pass rusher. Meeting expectations — your own or others’ — requires a disciplined effort to improve each day, the U of L coach said.

“They have to keep it all in perspective,” Petrino said. “Talk is cheap. It’s a show-me world. Show me!”

This story was originally published August 28, 2016 at 8:00 AM with the headline "Louisville QB Jackson tests boundaries of freedom while challenging his opponents."