Does Rob Jackson make Orakpo expendable?

[authentic]

I know some may kill me for this, others (the minority) may agree. But thats besides the point... But, since last season, up until Sunday's game, I've been wrestling with the thought that if Jackson continues to play like he did this past week vs Cincy, does it make Orakpo expendable. Thus a candidate for a possible trade in the offseason..

From what i understand Orakpo is due to be a FA after the 2013 season. And even after a padestrian 2011 and a short, injury plagued 2012 season, he may still look for top dollar for his position... Look i love Orakpo (Hence the sig ), but IMO he has been a bit overrated as one 2 best players on defense. Actually, he's our 3rd best LB with obviously Fletch, being #1 and Kerrigan quickly shooting up to #2. After Rak's rookie season, which he had 11 sacks, most of us thought that he was on his way to being a star pass rusher, in the mode of Demarcus Ware and Terrell Suggs. Unfortunately, it appears that he has regressed since then, mostly due to having a small repertoire of moves, which he has claimed to have finally worked on this past offseason. But to be fair to him, who knows how his offseason work would have manifested on the field over the course of this season.

Nevertheless, my overall point is, if Rob Jackson (who has a small sample size of PT during the Reg Season) continues to play as he did as he did on Sunday or at other point in his career. Does it make a Orakpo expendable (i.e. explore trade options in the off season)? do we pay him top dollar after next season? Is it a big drop off in production between Rak and RJax?... what do you think?

[I_Bleed_B&G]

I think so. Rak hasn't been the player I thought he should be. Now he has been a good player, but not great. I think its something the FO has to think about

As much as I hate to get rid of players that we drafted only to see them go somewhere else to do something big. It is a tough call. If he does get injured again next year entering his FA year, I think you may have to hold on to him since he can't command big money

[CTskins]

I think so. Rak hasn't been the player I thought he should be. Now he has been a good player, but not great. I think its something the FO has to think about

Are you being serious? Sarcasm desn't come through very well on a message board. One interception does not an All-Pro make.Remember Chis Horton anyone? The OP said it himself that Jackson (Who I'd love to see excel) has had a small sample size. He might prove himself to be a serviceable (hopefully better) Linebacker, but lets not get carried away about trading Orakpo...At least not yet.

[authentic]

Are you being serious? Sarcasm desn't come through very well on a message board. One interception does not an All-Pro make.Remember Chis Horton anyone? The OP said it himself that Jackson (Who I'd love to see excel) has had a small sample size. He might prove himself to be a serviceable (hopefully better) Linebacker, but lets not get carried away about trading Orakpo...At least not yet.

Yeah, i'm trying to be as objective as possible, and hold everything in its proper context. All i'm saying is that

1. through his first 3 full seasons, Rak has not lived up to his full potential as a game-changing, top tier OLB/pass rusher.

2. "IF" RJax continues to produce as he did vs Cincy, IMO, we should explore our options with Rak in the offseason.. Actually we probably should regardless.

[MWCREDSKINS]

No. Don't get ahead of yourself. Rob is a solid backup but when on Rak is a much better player. People forget how much Rak has been getting held. I like Rob Jackson and Chris WIlson as backups but much rather have Rak

[CTskins]

Yeah, i'm trying to be as objective as possible, and hold everything in its proper context. All i'm saying is that

1. through his first 3 full seasons, Rak has not lived up to his full potential as a game-changing, top tier OLB/pass rusher.

2. "IF" RJax continues to produce as he did vs Cincy, IMO, we should explore our options with Rak in the offseason.. Actually we probably should regardless.

But you are not being objective, IMO. You are being reactionary about a player who was 1/11 of a defense that gave up 38 points to the Bengals. As much as I want to see Rob Jackson succeed, he is 26 year old with 19 career tackles over 4 years. He was in the right place at the right time, held onto the ball, and fell in the endzone. I'm just saying that we should just reign it in a bit.

Maybe Orakpo hasn't lived up to his potential (in your eyes). But remember, he was a pin-his-ears-back 4-3 Defensive End as a Longhorn and converted to a 3-4 OLB during his first professional Summer. An OLB has much different responsibilities than to just rush the passer and he still had 11, 8.5, and 9 sacks. Someone said Fletcher was the best player on the Defense. Maybe today, but he is also among the oldest non-kicking starters in the NFL (behind only Ray Lewis, IIRC). How much more do you think Fletch has in the tank? Orakpo is just as much a leader on this team as Fletcher is.

Secondly, based on your reasoning to trade Orakpo, getting a 1st or 2nd for him is a pipedream. In other words, say you are in the Redskin's front office and you (will all due respect) don't think he is living up to his potential as a "game-changing, top tier OLB/pass rusher." What do you think other teams think of him? My guess is a conditional 4th at best.

At the end of the day, It is my non-expert opinion that talking trade of Orakpo based on a single - albeit solid - game from a supposed depth guy is jumping the gun...Lets see a bit more, shall we.

[MustangSteve]

Rak hasn't been the player I thought he should be.

And the main reason is because RAK is a pass rush specialist, period! He is a great defensive end and has no business trying to cover TE's or WR's. I have never seen any other LB held more often than I have RAK, and there's a reason he has to be held.

[CTskins]

http://prod.static.redskins.clubs.nf...son_Rob_TD.jpg


I know some may kill me for this, others (the minority) may agree. But thats besides the point... But, since last season, up until Sunday's game, I've been wrestling with the thought that if Jackson continues to play like he did this past week vs Cincy, does it make Orakpo expendable. Thus a candidate for a possible trade in the offseason..

From what i understand Orakpo is due to be a FA after the 2013 season. And even after a padestrian 2011 and a short, injury plagued 2012 season, he may still look for top dollar for his position... Look i love Orakpo (Hence the sig ), but IMO he has been a bit overrated as one 2 best players on defense. Actually, he's our 3rd best LB with obviously Fletch, being #1 and Kerrigan quickly shooting up to #2. After Rak's rookie season, which he had 11 sacks, most of us thought that he was on his way to being a star pass rusher, in the mode of Demarcus Ware and Terrell Suggs. Unfortunately, it appears that he has regressed since then, mostly due to having a small repertoire of moves, which he has claimed to have finally worked on this past offseason. But to be fair to him, who knows how his offseason work would have manifested on the field over the course of this season.

Nevertheless, my overall point is, if Rob Jackson (who has a small sample size of PT during the Reg Season) continues to play as he did as he did on Sunday or at other point in his career. Does it make a Orakpo expendable (i.e. explore trade options in the off season)? do we pay him top dollar after next season? Is it a big drop off in production between Rak and RJax?... what do you think?

Let me break it down for you, Dr.-Jack-style...one the other hand, let's not do that.

To answer your question...NO!!!!!!!!!!! (I'll probably be back later in order to )

[Renegade7]

We won't know until next year when Orakpo enters his contract year, imo. If he gets injured again or doesn't produce like the elite talent we know he is, don't expect us to pay him so...

[KingGibbs]

Love 'Rak, but I know that a few of us have been high on Jackson since last year. I see him getting better with each passing game.

[Alaskins]

Love 'Rak, but I know that a few of us have been high on Jackson since last year. I see him getting better with each passing game.

He's pretty good on the running game as well.

I like Jackson, but I truly feel like Rak is our best player on D.

[SWFLSkins]

Love 'Rak, but I know that a few of us have been high on Jackson since last year. I see him getting better with each passing game.

Not only that King, and I love RAK as well but wouldn't the money be a factor considering the penalty and the need of an overhaul in the secondary? I think the bigger questions is the value, a top corner or depth at the LBer spot?

[KingGibbs]

Not only that King, and I love RAK as well but wouldn't the money be a factor considering the penalty and the need of an overhaul in the secondary? I think the bigger questions is the value, a top corner or depth at the LBer spot?

Being handcuffed like we are because of the cap penalty is going to severely limt our ability to upgrade positions via FA which is why finding secondary and OL help are most likely gonna have to come from the draft. I love Jackson's potential, but barring a setback injury wise with 'Rak then I think you let him play out the contract. Now if Jackson becomes a beast in all facets of the position? Then all bets are off.

[benskins26]

Interesting thought. It depends on what you could get for him I would think. It seems to me that Orakpo is pretty highly regarded, so if you could get a top 10 DB, or RT, I'd go for it. We are too thin at these positions to have the luxury of 2 strong OLBs. I think the other part of this is how does Kerrigan play the rest of the season? Should be interesting to watch.

[Dan T.]

Unfortunately with his recurring pec injury, he's damaged goods. I suspect his trade value has plummeted with the injury risk factor. That helps the Redskins in contract negotiations with him - he's going to have to realize that he won't be able to command top dollar given his injury history and future risk.

I've been a Rob Jackson fan since his first year here as a DE. He looked like the real deal, and he's clearly made a smooth transition to linebacker. Let's hope he keeps the production up as he settles in as a starter for a whole season.