Why Tarvaris Jackson Just Isn't the Answer for Seattle Seahawks

Tarvaris Jackson spent five seasons playing for the Minnesota Vikings, two of those as a backup to Brett Favre.  You would think that Jackson would have taken something from the experience, like Matt Cassel learning under Tom Brady.  

There were big expectations for Jackson upon his arrival in Seattle to be the Seahawks' replacement for Matt Hasselbeck under offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.  

In the Seahawks' first two preseason games, Jackson has easily been shown up by backup QB Charlie Whitehurst.  

He Wasn't in Minnesota

Jackson went to Minnesota where they thought he could be the answer to all of their problems.  Before the 2006 draft, Brad Childress said that he wanted to find a "diamond in the rough"—someone he could work with and teach the system, similar to A.J. Feeley and Donovan McNabb. 

It took Jackson until the end of his third season with the Vikings to do something worthy when he beat the Cardinals in 2008.  He isn't the one who got the Vikings the NFC North title that season, that was thanks to Gus Frerotte, but he was the one who ended the playoff run.

The next two seasons, Jackson was at Minnesota he was the second QB behind Brett Favre—a situation where he should have improved his game.  So far that has not seemed to be the case. 

His Skill Set

While he has good mobility, Tarvaris Jackson has poor pocket presence and a mediocre arm.  Those aren't exactly qualities that you look for in a starting quarterback. 

Charlie Whitehurst is about the same level talent-wise as Jackson, so the Seahawks don't really have much choice in whom they give the starting position to. 

Seattle will have an interesting season bouncing between these two quarterbacks.  Lucky for them, Jackson only has a one-year contract and they can hopefully get someone in the draft who will actually solve their problems.