Rookie LB Jackson earns acclaim

The second-round draft pick enjoyed a breakout game against the Cowboys.
By MATT BIXENSTINE
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
PITTSBURGH -- The biggest defensive play of the Pittsburgh Steelers preseason thus far belongs to a linebacker.
It does not, however, belong to Joey Porter, Jason Gildon or Kendrell Bell.
No, fellow linebacker Alonzo Jackson, a rookie slated at third-string in the depth chart, was responsible for his team's first takeaway of the preseason, a forced fumble Thursday night that sealed his team's 15-14 win over the Dallas Cowboys.
With his team clinging to its one-point lead late in the fourth quarter and Dallas possessing the ball at its own 49-yard-line, Jackson blitzed on fourth down.
The second-round pick out of Florida State sacked Dallas quarterback Clint Stoerner, jarring the ball loose for teammate Clint Kriewaldt to recover.
Coming-out party
For Jackson, still adjusting to NFL offensive linemen and quick passing games, it was a coming-out party of sorts.
For the Pittsburgh defense, it was its first caused turnover in 12 preseason quarters.
"After each game, you look at it as a stepping stone," Jackson said. "I was getting more comfortable in practice. Those two-a-days up in Latrobe ... those were big with helping me and I'm able to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The fog is clearing."
The fog seemed to have lifted completely for Jackson against the Cowboys. He recorded two sacks, two forced fumbles and tied Porter for the team lead with four tackles.
He almost ended the defense's takeaway drought a quarter earlier when his sack of Dallas quarterback Chad Hutchinson also forced a fumble. That time, however, Hutchinson recovered.
Earlier in the week, Coach Bill Cowher had stressed a need for his defense to create turnovers to put the ball back in quarterback Tommy Maddox's hands.
Improvement needed
At the very least, he says he wants his defense to improve its play in the red zone.
"I'd like to see us hold them to field goals," Cowher said. "We're allowing teams down there and they're finishing with touchdowns."
Jackson said he still has a lot to learn about playing in the NFL, though his preseason performance has drawn some praise from Steeler coaches, including defensive coordinator Tim Lewis.
"I can throw my best move in college -- I can half-throw it, not even throw it that well, and [get to the quarterback]," Jackson said. "But here, if I throw it perfect, I still might get bumped. And if I don't get bumped, I might squeak by.
"I haven't earned my name yet, I'm still [number] 44," Jackson said. "But [Coach Lewis] told me, '44, you're getting it a little bit.' "
Jackson's on-field mentors, which include three all-pro linebackers Porter, Gildon and Bell, also had something to tell Jackson after his second sack.
"They were all over me [congratulating me] and then they quickly, quickly, told me about the sack I missed on the screen play," he said.
But thus is the life of a rookie in the NFL, and Jackson, for one, doesn't seem to mind.
"This was my first win [as a Steeler]," he said. "It's winning, baby, you've got to love it."
mbixenstine@vindy.com