Virginia fullback Rashawn Jackson and Virginia Tech cornerback Stephan Virgil practice yoga at the IMG Performance Institute to improve their flexibility, and they include Blog Blitz reporter Jenna Laine in one of their sessions.

His position may be considered a dying breed in the league, but if "true fullback" Rashawn Jackson performs as expected at the NFL Combine, teams looking for an explosive offensive weapon could turn to this former middle linebacker who played both sides of the ball at Virginia.

Recruited as a running back, Jackson was approached by Cavaliers then-head coach Al Groh in 2005 about playing defense.

“Well, I made that switch because we were basically short at linebacker and my high school resume indicated that I had experience in a 3-4 defense as a MIKE linebacker,” said Jackson, who hails from Jersey City.

“So when Coach Groh presented the opportunity to me, he also promised me that I’d be getting more playing time while being able to help the team, so I definitely accepted the challenge.”

He would return to the offense the following season, while continuing to back up the inside linebacker position.

Jackson is no stranger to meeting challenges. His goal for the bench press at the combine is 25 reps – an impressive mark for a running back.

While training at the IMG Performance Institute, he steps up to the platform and grabs the bar with his hands pronated inward, a movement known in the weight room as a "hammer grip," designed to recruit muscle fibers in the chest different than those used in a traditional bench press. When the primary muscles start to fatigue, the assisting muscles of the shoulders and triceps will come into play, allowing him to crank out more reps.

The 6-1, 239-pound Jackson easily maneuvers the bar from his chest overhead countless times, his powerful muscles firing away, just as they did when he broke free on a 34-yard run against ACC rival Miami this past season to score a touchdown. He said it was the most memorable moment of his college career.

And it was a productive career at that. He averaged 4.5 yards per carry during his career, but his increased production in the passing game is something something NFL scouts will key in on. Jackson caught 25 passes for 222 yards as a senior, which essentially doubled his production from the two previous seasons combined.

“Everyone wants the athletic fullback,” said one NFL scout who will be eyeing Jackson in Indy. “They



Jackson works the bench press at IMG Performance Institute in Bradenton and shares some of his secrets with Blog Blitz reporter Jenna Laine.

want the pass catcher out of the backfield, one that can actually run the ball at times.

“So true fullbacks are kind of dying out, but Rashawn is a good enough athlete to where he can maybe fit that role. I think he’s more of a true fullback, but I think he can fit that role as a receiver out of the backfield.”

In addition to his running, blocking and receiving abilities, Jackson is a seasoned performer on special teams, something that will factor in heavily on his success at the next level.

“I played kickoff coverage, kickoff return, field goal, punt and punt return,” said Jackson, who majored in sociology. “Actually, I think that’s the most important part of the game because one play can change the entire game either way.”

The scout agreed about the importance of Jackson’s special teams’ performance, particularly for NFL teams that don’t have a glaring need for his position.

“That’s the No. 1 thing he’s going to have to do to make a team," the scout said. "Because when you’re allotted to a 45-man roster, you have to have 11-12 guys that can play special teams, that’s their core thing.”

That shouldn’t be a problem for the highly-competitive Jackson who, off the field, challenges friends like IMG teammate Lonyae Miller to playing Madden.

“He lives right next door to me so we always end up playing each other. He’s a running back so we spent a lot of time together at the Senior Bowl too.”

He also practices yoga to prevent injuries, keep his hips loose and to relax. Not that he’ll have much time for that this weekend when he and the other 27 backs will be put through their paces. It's an experience he hopes to pass on one day as a coach.

When asked for what advice he’d give to the next generation of athletes hoping to follow in his footsteps, he said, “Set goals, chase them and be persistent. Persistence is always key.”

-- JENNA LAINE
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The Heisman Trophy running back, the mountainous nose tackle, the Butkus award-winning middle linebacker and the speedy corner blitzer –- the Crimson Tide’s national championship team was filled with superstars.

But somewhere lost in the shuffle was a quiet, dependable leader in DT/DE Lorenzo Washington, whose consistency and ability to juggle multiple positions has NFL scouts taking a closer look.

Originally recruited as a nose guard, the athletic defender was shifted to the outside a year after Nick Saban’s arrival in Tuscaloosa.

Playing next to juco standout Terrence Cody meant Washington would relinquish some attention, and some stats, but the 6-5, 288-pound Washington welcomed his new position –- and thrived.

“I like going everywhere, no matter what position it is,” said Washington, who won the Crimson Tide’s Billy Neighbors Defensive Lineman Award after making the switch, followed by the coveted Bart Starr Most Improved Player Award. “I just like playing defensive line.”

In 2008, one of his best plays came against No. 3 Georgia where he swarmed the pocket and pancaked Matthew Stafford for a 10-yard loss.

“He knew how to get from speed to power,” said Alabama defensive line coach Bo Davis. “He knew how to flip his hips to get around the guy, and get to the quarterback. He did a great job with that.

“He can play multiple positions –- that’s the thing about him. When I first got here, I played him at nose guard. And then, he played three-technique, he played five-technique, he played six-technique. I could move him anywhere I wanted to move him and he could play. You have to be smart to be able to do that because with these schemes, when you change positions, you’ve got to know the different techniques that you have to use, and that’s the thing that he brought to the table.”

And that translates into NFL interest.

“He’s played in a 3-4 defense and in a 4-3 defense, and I think that makes him attractive to all 32 teams,” one NFL scout said. “Players like Terrence Cody, his teammate at Alabama, only fit teams that use a true nose tackle. He wouldn’t fit a regular defense. Lorenzo has that type of ability.”

Washington also has ability on special teams, where his blocked punt against Arkansas this past



Lorenzo Washington works the bench press at the IMG Performance Institute in Bradenton, in preparation for the NFL Combine. Missouri State TE Clay Harbor encourages him, while Indiana OT Rodger Saffold congratulates him for a job well done.

season set up the team’s fourth touchdown in a 34-7 win.

Aside from his versatility, which many would consider his forte, Washington has earned praise for his leadership qualities, something he feels made him an asset to Alabama’s national championship program.

“He brought a lot to the room," Davis said. "He wasn’t an outspoken leader, but when he was on the field, he led by example. He was always dependable. You could always depend on him to do his job and that was the thing I enjoyed so much about Lorenzo.”

It’s the mark of a man who says each time he plays, it’s for his mother. “She’s my motivation. She’s why I do what I do,” said Washington, who grew up idolizing Bruce Smith.

It’s the mark of a man who moved around a lot growing up, witnessed his share of bullies and always leant a hand to younger teammates.

“Sometimes when I was younger, I wish somebody would have pulled me aside and helped me out or asked me something," he said. "So I try to do that. There are a lot of kids out there who need that these days.

“Just being the oldest out of all my sisters and being the oldest out of my cousins, I enjoy doing things like that. I’ve always been looked at as a ‘big brother.’”

In fact, if Washington does make it in the league, he hopes to start a charity to benefit some of the poorer neighborhoods outside of Atlanta, an area not too far from where he lives.

“I’ve seen bad places in Atlanta where people don’t want to go [to help] and it’s not fair because those people need people looking out for them too. Sometimes the places people don’t want to go are the places where the people need the most help.”

In an age where football prima donnas have invaded nearly every NFL locker room, Washington is a breath of fresh air.

He carries no baggage, doesn’t question his coaches, and comes to work each day with an open mind, making him the ideal candidate for any club looking to invest in its future.

“He is very bright and very coachable,” Davis said. “He tries to help everybody. Even people that were playing his position, he tried to help them … He was always supportive of Cody.”

Combine coachability with experience –- he played in 49 games in his college career, including starts in back-to-back seasons as one of the nation’s top-ranked defenses –- and Washington certainly demands a closer look from teams vying for depth up front.

“I think his skill can really take it to the next level and be a pretty solid pro,” said the NFL scout, who followed Washington throughout his college career. “He’s one of those guys that, coming to the next level, he’s not going to get drafted high. He’s going to be a late-round draft choice, but he’s the type of athlete that can stick and have a long career.”

-- JENNA LAINE
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If it wasn’t for his imposing 6-2, 315-pound frame, some would find it hard to believe that Arkansas guard Mitch Petrus battled his way through the SEC trenches. Petrus epitomizes the “Southern gentleman” persona.

The 22-year old Carlisle, Ark., native insists on calling me “ma’am,” even though I’m just a few years his senior, and is shocked to hear that there are places in the world where men do not hold doors for women.

“Mitch, you don’t have to call me ‘ma’am,’" I laughed. He responded in a rather serious tone, “Okay, I think I’m going to disagree with you on that.”

I’m not at all surprised he put his foot down on that one. After all, Petrus didn’t let many defensive ends in the SEC have their way to the quarterback, or to two-time Heisman runner-up Darren McFadden and All-American Felix Jones.

The athletic left guard routinely cut down defenders, allowing both running backs to rush for more than 1,000 yards in the same season -– a first at Arkansas. Says Petrus, on blocking for McFadden and Jones, “I was really fortunate. It was a great experience. I’m not going to lie.”

McFadden and Jones have both found homes in the NFL, and if Petrus delivers the same type of performance he did as a second-team All-SEC guard at Arkansas, he could soon be joining them.

The former fullback is explosive and can get to the second level very quickly, although his consistency has some scouts concerned. He’ll dominate a lineman on one play before losing leverage on the very next play.

Still his athleticism has garnered quite a bit of attention, along with his ability to learn from and bounce back from mistakes.

“You have to make sure that whatever drill you’re doing or whatever play that is called, you’re committed to that play,” he said. “You just have to focus on the task at hand. And if you make a mistake, then forget about it, correct it. You can’t let it hold you back.”

He isn’t just talking football. In 2008, Petrus was declared academically ineligible after switching majors and was forced to sit out the season.

“To be totally honest, having to sit out and watch guys [from the sideline] really gives you perspective on life and the game of football and how quickly it can be taken away,” he said.

“I realized that, ‘man I’ve really got to pick it up.’ I never thought that [this would happen] and now that it has, I’ve got to make sure that it doesn’t happen again.”

The former walk-on employed the same diligence he used on the football field and transferred it to the classroom.

“I really did pick my grades up after that. Actually I made the honor roll,” he said proudly, adding that school didn’t come easily for him, and that his family never thought he’d graduate.

When it was time to return to the field, Petrus had a new outlook: “I wasn’t going to waste anything or slack off. I wanted to make sure that I gave it full effort. You never know when it’s going to be your last play.”

He’ll take the field at Indy with that same outlook, something that served him well in his final season with the Razorbacks, and in his Combine prep at the IMG Performance Institute in Florida.

“I’m not going to get flustered," Petrus said. "If you make a mistake, you have to move on, and I’ve been able to adopt that throughout my career.”

Teams That Could Use Petrus
Indianapolis Colts – It’s no secret that the Colts are a pass-happy team, and rightfully so. But the team’s need to establish the run means it could be in the market for a physical guy up front to open up holes for Joseph Addai, Donald Brown and Mike Hart.

Houston Texans – The Texans need more depth on their offensive line. Creating traffic lanes for Steve Slaton should be a priority to balance their passing attack.

Cleveland Browns – With 11 draft picks and a whole lot of rebuilding on an offense that ranked 32nd in the league, they’re bound to pick up an offensive lineman somewhere in there.

Kansas City Chiefs – Another rebuilding team with the greatest need at the O-line.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Arron Sears was MIA last season for undisclosed personal reasons with Jeremy Zuttah starting in his place. But with only one game where a running back rushed for more than 100 yards, the Bucs could use some competition at this position.

Seattle Seahawks – Did you see the hits Matt Hasselbeck took last season? Expect the Seahawks to employ more zone-blocking schemes, something Petrus is best-suited for.

Washington Redskins – Another team employing the zone blocking that Petrus would excel in.

-- JENNA LAINE
NFL Blog Blitz powered by SportsFanLive.com

The NFL Scouting Combine gets underway Wednesday, but the preparation began months ago. Following their respective college bowl games, top NFL prospects across the country quickly packed their bags and headed off to begin the next phase of their development –- combine training.

A select number of athletes will stay and practice on their college campuses, but the majority of prospects will venture far away, where the only focus is on perfecting their craft in preparation for the next level.

To show what NFL Combine training entails, Blog Blitz will take you behind the scenes inside one of the world’s most renown athletic training facilities, the IMG Performance Institute in Bradenton, Florida.

You’ll meet some of the promising faces of this year’s NFL draft class and learn that it’s not just X’s and O’s for these talented 20-somethings. They undergo grueling mental and physical conditioning, along with a holistic approach to their training that may surprise you.

Their off-the-field curriculum is just as stringent, filled with mental conditioning sessions, vision training, individualized nutrition counseling, and even communication classes, where they develop interview skills for NFL GMs, scouts and the media.

And in this program, they learn from experts.

“So you want to improve your 40 time, kid?” In walks an Olympic gold-medal sprinter.

“Are you prepared to be grilled by every pro scouting department in the league?” In walks a former NFL GM, who flew out to the middle-of-nowhere Bradenton just to offer some pointers.

“And what about toughness? Are you sure you have what it takes to make it as a professional athlete?” In walks the NFL vets, week after week, along with a major league baseball player or two, and any other alum who just happens to be in the area.

With its sun-glistening Bermuda grass fields and resort style clubhouse with a pool, this place looks more like a vacation country club than it does an athletic facility.

But the idea behind IMG, originally founded in 1978 as the Nick Bollettieri Tennis Academy, is that if an athlete is going to be the best, he must have the best –- the best facilities, the best coaching and the best off-the-field resources available.

Combine that with the opportunity to focus solely on football, and it’s no wonder this program has produced 23 first-round picks alone.

Join us as we take you on this exclusive tour, and meet the hard-working young men who could be coming to an NFL city near you.

-- JENNA LAINE Follow her on Twitter @bucsblogblitz

Bucs fans, bear with me. I’m about to go on a rant. If you picked up a copy of the St. Pete Times this morning, you’ll understand my frustration.

According to Bucs beat writer Rick Stroud, general manager Mark Dominik says the team won’t be looking to add any free agents in the 2010 offseason, instead preferring to invest in the upcoming draft, in which the team has 10 picks.

Yes, you heard me. In an uncapped year, the Buccaneers’ front office has made no plans to acquire veteran free agents.

There’s two ways to look at this: Either the front office collectively has a gambling problem, or they’re frugal spenders who stock their employee bathroom with generic toilet paper and refuse to venture beyond the Wendy’s Dollar Menu.

They’re gamblers if they think they will get 10 draft picks that they can build a franchise around.

The Bucs’ front office has a knack for drafting underachieving, over-hyped college players like Michael Clayton, Kenyatta Walker (I believe he acquired over 5,000 penalty yards alone in his tenure in Tampa), Gaines Adams (I know, it hurts to say that, but Adams did not live up to his potential), Dewayne White (Who?), Chris Simms, Marquise Walker (Que?), and most recently, wide receiver Dexter Jackson (the second-rounder has since made a nice home for himself on Carolina’s practice squad).

This catch aside, Michael Clayton has been just one of several draft disappointments for the Bucs in recent years, yet GM Mark Dominik has said Tampa won't dip into the free agent pool, even in an uncapped year.

Granted, those selections were made under former GMs Bruce Allen and prior to that, Rich McKay, but if you ask me, this team has flubbed up too many times on Draft Day to put all their eggs in one basket. That’s a ludicrous, basket-case mentality!

Meanwhile, if you look at the NFC Champion New Orleans Saints, you’ll see that their aggressive mentality in free agency over the years worked in their favor.

Free safety Darren Sharper, tight end Jeremy Shockey, running back Pierre Thomas (undrafted free agent), cornerback Jabari Greer, linebacker Jonathan Vilma, and of course, quarterback Drew Brees were acquired in free agency. And you know what? Those guys are leaders.

And then you look at a team like the Vikings. Percy Harvin wouldn’t have won Offensive Rookie of the Year without the “Favre factor,” nor would the Vikings have made it to the NFC Championship game.

When the Bucs won the Super Bowl in 2002, the roster was stacked with free agents – quarterback Brad Johnson, wide receivers Keyshawn Johnson, Joe Jurevicius, and Keenan McCardell, running back Michael Pittman, tight end Ken Dilger, defensive end Simeon Rice, linebacker Shelton Quarles ... and the list goes on.

Yes acquiring them cost a lot of money and put the team in salary-cap hell for years to come, but I think all would agree that giving the Lombardi Trophy a home in Tampa was worth it.

For a team that suffered a real identity crisis this season, the Bucs desperately need leadership. You don’t get that kind of leadership from a couple of 21-year olds who have no NFL experience or life experience.

Sure, sometimes you get lucky in the draft. I thought Tanard Jackson and Sammie Stroughter were steals. But the last thing the Bucs need to do is take a gamble on unproven, young talent. I’ll take a battered veteran over that any day.

-- JENNA LAINE
Follow her on Twitter @bucsblogblitz