Eagles still waiting for big plays from DeSean

The Eagles big-play specialist hasnt made any.

DeSean Jackson, the most feared big-play receiver in football, has only one touchdown so far this year and it went for six yards.

He had a 41-yard catch and a 26-yarder against the Rams in a 102-yard game on opening day, but in two games since, Jackson has caught just four passes for 51 yards, with a long gainer of 17 yards.

Not coincidentally, the Eagles lost both games.

Wheres DeSean? And when will we see all those electrifying touchdown passes from Michael Vick to Jackson again?

Its just part of football, Jackson said. Its not always going to go the way youd like it to go, so youve got to just keep working hard and hopefully itll get better. Its football, man. Im one of 11 players. Theyre not always going to be calling my number, and Ive just got to help out and do whatever I can to help my team win.

Jacksons 13 career touchdowns of 50 yards or more are third-most in NFL history by a player before his 25th birthday.

But hes off to the worst three-game startby farof his four-year career, with just 10 receptions for 153 yards and the one TD going into the Eagles game Sunday against the 49ers.

This is only the second time in his brilliant career that Jackson has had consecutive games with 30 or fewer yards. In his career, when he has 30 or fewer yards, the Eagles are 5-9. When he has more than 30, theyre 27-8-1.

Vick said teams are devoting more resources than ever to stopping Jackson and although thats opened things up for other guysJeremy Maclin is ninth among NFL receivers with 19 catches and LeSean McCoy leads the NFC with 345 rushing yardsthe Eagles are still missing their signature offensive weapon.

Teams are playing so far down the field you cant even see the free safety any more, Vick said. Man. Come on up. But if thats the way they going to play ... we've got to be surgeons and just chop our way down the field, understand that we have to be patient and let the big plays come. Its gonna benefit us.

Jackson led the NFL with 22.5 yards per reception last year, the seventh-highest mark in the last 20 years and a franchise record.

Now, defenses are doing everything possible to not let Jackson beat them deep.

Its respect, Jackson said after practice Thursday. I think a lot of defenses are not going to let us just run past them and do the things were great at doing. Weve just got to find a way to make plays somehow, some way underneath, and if every team is going to be 35 yards back deep, we just have to throw underneath and do other things and make them play high. During the week, when we watch film of these teams playing other teams, we dont see them playing like this.

Now its up to offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg to find ways to get the ball into Jacksons hands at the same time defenses are making stopping him their No. 1 priority.

People play him differently, Mornhinweg said. They just come in with a certain philosophy. Teams have been playing us very, very soft. Even some of the blitzing teams have done that. (Were) just not as dynamic as Id like to be.

When a team does that to you, you have to be like a surgeon. You have to play at a high level consistently, and then big plays will come naturally. Youve got to surgically dissect them, especially when theyre playing you like that.

In other words, defenses are trying to force the Eagles to drive 10 plays for a touchdown instead of doing it in one play.

But the more plays on a drive, the bigger the chance of something going wrong. And with Vick turning the ball over at an alarming rate, those things have gone wrong.

We need to pass and have some explosive plays but you can only get what the defense gives you, receiver Jason Avant said. I dont necessarily think that its something that DeSeans doing. Defenses are keying in on him.

Jackson is one of the leading big-play receivers in the record books. His 18.1 career receiving average is No. 28 in NFL history, and since 1980, only seven players have a higher average. Among current players, only Devery Hendersons 18.8 mark is higher.

But this year, Jackson is averaging just 15.3 yards per catchwhich ranks him 33rd in the league.

Thats just about me getting the ball to DeSean, Vick said. Putting him in the right situations. Hell get the ball. Well make it work.

Jackson said there are plenty of ways for him to make big plays without running a go route.

I think I do very well with the deep route, but I think over the past three years, if you watch film, there are other plays Ive done other than just running deep, he said. I caught balls underneath and took them the distance, as well. Kansas City (64-yard TD from Kevin Kolb). Last year I took a slant 50 yards (from Vick vs. the Lions). It really doesnt matter if its deep or short or whatever it is, Im capable of doing it all.

With Jackson, everything has to be taken in the context of his contract. Hes still on the final year of his four-year rookie deal, which pays him the NFL fourth-year minimum of 600,000 this year.

If its on his mind, hes not letting on.

I cant really worry about that, he said. Ive got to go out there and still make plays and be the receiver Im capable of being. Whether or not I have the ball in my hands or not, I feel like I already established myself in this league as one of the great receivers. I just have to go out there and just keep doing what I can do. Staying healthy is the biggest thing. As long as I can stay healthyregardless of where Im playingI think Ill be all right.

Thats No. 1 prioritystay healthy. I wouldnt be able to play the game if I werent able to stay healthy. So thats my No. 1 priority. As long as Im healthy and were winning, regardless of my numbers, I think Ill be very happy. As long as were successful, regardless of anything else, numbers or all that other stuff.

Jackson has been accused in some circles of not going all out on some plays and trying to protect himself from injury before he lands the massive contract hell wind up getting next year from somebody.

But Jackson said its impossible to play that way. Once you play to not get hurt, thats when you will get hurt.

He said he goes 100 percent every play.

Its what youve got to do, he said. I dont think you can go out on the field and say Im going to stop myself from getting hurt. I think you just go out there and leave it on the line and hopefully Ill be protected by the man above and things like that. Every time I step on the field, I leave it on the line. I never go out there and hold anything back because thats when you get hurt.
E-mail Reuben Frank at rfrank@comcastsportsnet.com.