WR Jackson’s breakout game will affect way future foes game-plan

A LBUQUERQUE» Warren Jackson is back and better than ever.

After missing two consecutive games with an injured shoulder, the junior wideout returned in a big way Friday night — posting a career-best 214 receiving yards and two touchdowns off nine receptions in Colorado State’s 3521 victory against New Mexico.

The 6-foot-6 receiver was virtually unguardable while effortlessly dicing up New Mexico’s feeble secondary. Jackson 143 yards receiving in the first half and reeled in a “jump ball” near midfield that he turned into an 87-yard score.

Granted, New Mexico’s defensive back group is the least effective in the Mountain West.

And most of the teams on CSU’S remaining schedule will somehow come up with a plan to contain Jackson. It would be surprising if the junior didn’t compile similar outings moving forward, considering he has improving each game, and three of the Rams’ remaining contests are against teams with lessthan-stellar secondaries — Wyoming, UNLV and Fresno State.

Assuming Jackson stays healthy, Friday night was only the beginning. Beyond the statistics, his emergence is significant because when he is healthy, he brings CSU’S offense together.

Jackson improves the Rams’ chances of winning substantially. And Friday night indicated how much the team missed him when he was injured.

“If you just give him a chance, he’s going to go up there and make a play,” starting quarterback Patrick O’brien said. “Having him back this week definitely helped a lot.”

“I get really excited, and I think that is confidence for the whole team,” Jackson said. “When I’m feeling good, they feel good, and we play better.”

Supporting the point of how Jackson brings head coach Mike Bobo’s offense together, the wideout made O’brien look like original starting quarterback Collin Hill in his fourth career start after O’brien almost lost his job over the previous week.

Not to take any credit away from the Nebraska transfer and his career-best 420-yard night, but playing to the high level he did wouldn’t have occurred as naturally without Jackson’s expertise.

Though O’brien’s recent showing serves as a step in the right direction, he still requires grooming. As a natural playmaker who perhaps trusts his arm a little too much, the redshirt junior often attempts to manufacture something out of nothing rather than making the wise decision.

“(O’brien) just has to get more comfortable in the pocket,” Bobo said. “I think when we look at the film, we are going to see sometimes when he gets a little nervous back there; he starts trying to make some plays.”

O’brien executed well at Dreamstyle Stadium, and it amounted to a mistake-free, efficient night under center.

Jackson enables his quarterback to operate as a competent quarterback until Hill returns — ifheeverdoes.

“I’m like if you get any one-onone, just throw the ball to No. 9,” Bobo said of Jackson. “If you get it near him, he makes the catch. … Warren Jackson out there makes everybody look good.”

Bobo added: “I think he’s a special player because of his work ethic.”