Does Rob Jackson make Orakpo expendable?

[bedlamVR]

Robs deal is up this season - we need to lock him up if nothing else but for depth . Jackson should get a chance to compete for the starters OLB slot with Rak because I am concerned about Raks long term health but I still think Orakpo is the better overall player

[FSUSkins24]

Are you sure you want to do this?

Because you know that Haz just started "sort of" rushing him on 3rd down three weeks ago... and he has sacks in 3 straight games... and forced fumbles in 2, and turnovers in 2... he has more INTs this year than Orakpo does in his career.

Why not keep Orakpo for 3rd down and let RJax play first and 2nd?

---------- Post added December-16th-2012 at 10:01 PM ----------



Not as long as I'm here.

RJack is a stud. I've been saying it for months. I don't want apologies, I want him locked up for the next few years and I want to high five my brothers and sisters in the BNG!

Looking at your response above the one you gave to me, I hadn't noticed this. I'll key in on him a little bit more in the upcoming weeks and get back to you.

Dude sure makes plays though.

[GO HAMSKINS]

To answer the Threads question HELL NO! Rakpo is a beast and his last play of this season was a strip/fumble sack. Why not keep them both? (He shrugs his shoulders) Isn't like we have been the most healthiest team in the last couple of years.

[KingGibbs]

In all honesty, RJ has made me forget about Rak these last few weeks. Love Rak, but RJ has become a damn good all-around OLB and in some cases a better LB'er then Rak in regards to run defense, assignments, and coverage.

[KDawg]

Why not keep Orakpo for 3rd down and let RJax play first and 2nd?

You answered your own question...

Because you know that Haz just started "sort of" rushing him on 3rd down three weeks ago... and he has sacks in 3 straight games... and forced fumbles in 2, and turnovers in 2... he has more INTs this year than Orakpo does in his career.

He's very good at rushing the passer which would make him an ideal 3rd down player. But I think you may be trying to replace the wrong guy on third downs. Rak on the defensive right with Jackson on the defensive left could be a nightmare for teams. And in third down situations, moving Kerrigan to an inside backer and bringing him or zone dropping him could be a nightmare for offenses as well. Kerrigan as a regular ILB wouldn't work, but in specific situations where we need a rush, bringing him in would be absolutely awesome. The three of them on the field is scary, and I'd align them exactly that way. Rak is the strongest, based on what I've seen on field. He will demand attention from the LT. That matches Jackson up with the RT who is more of a run blocker in most NFL offenses. Then add Kerrigan possibly coming from the middle, and if not, he does a decent enough job zone dropping...

Wow. Talk about a pressure package.

[darrelgreenie]

Pass rushing package:
ROLB Jackson RDE Orakpo DL Cofield LOLB Kerrigan

[KDawg]

Pass rushing package:
ROLB Jackson RDE Orakpo DL Cofield LOLB Kerrigan

I don't like Rak at DE unless you're talking about it from a "PSYCHO" package look. I don't like him in a 4 tech at all. Three point stance out of a four is a lot different. Outside 5 tech to the open side is a different ballgame.

[DC9]

Pass rushing package:
ROLB Jackson RDE Orakpo DL Cofield LOLB Kerrigan

I'm with KDawg... I'd flip either Orakpo and Jackson or Orakpo and Kerrigan. Orakpo is too small to get push on a guard and his skillset (and I use the "set" part of that loosely) is such that he gets up the field and forces the QB to step up. You want that on the edge.

[darrelgreenie]

I;m talking about in pure pass rush situations.
Rak can play from whichever stance he feels more comfortable, my guess is with his hand down.(which he's done often in the past as a skin)
It would be our answer to the NASCAR package

[KDawg]

I;m talking about in pure pass rush situations.
Rak can play from whichever stance he feels more comfortable, my guess is with his hand down.
It would be our answer to the NASCAR package

Doesn't change my concern. I don't like him in a 4-tech.

From a Psycho Package he'd be in a 5 or further out.

[DC9]

I;m talking about in pure pass rush situations.
Rak can play from whichever stance he feels more comfortable, my guess is with his hand down.(which he's done often in the past as a skin)
It would be our answer to the NASCAR package

He isn't talking about "stance" technique. He's talking about which shoulder on which linemen Orakpo would line up. Starting at "zero" when you line up over the center and working your way out.

[darrelgreenie]

4-tech or 5-tech or 3-tech in a pure pass rush situation what difference does it make?

They can stand up and move around like the Steelers do for all I care. When the ball is snapped they pick their man/spot and go hunting for QB.

When the Giant get all their pass rushers on the field I doubt they're concerned about the exact position where the line-up.
Just get to the QB.

I'm gonna take my pass rushers and let them rush the passer.

Moving Kerrigan further away from the action and possibly having him drop in coverage is not how I would go.

[thewagen]

NO WAY...Not a chance. A healthy Orakpo (and Carriker), and this defense would elevate to be a force...

[KDawg]

4-tech or 5-tech or 3-tech in a pure pass rush situation what difference does it make?

Quite a large one. Tackles are better pass protectors than guards most of the time, but guards are often time a larger human being. Putting Rak in a 3-tech means he's open to the double team. Putting him there makes little to no sense. Aligning him in a 4-tech also leaves him susceptible to a double from the tackle and guard, or the tackle and the tight end. Aligning him on the open side 5-tech frees up the worry of a tight end chipping and keeps him closer to the target (the quarterback). Even aligning him in a 4-tech to the open side means he's most likely going outside to avoid the guard/tackle double. Which means the defense is open to the draw, because the guard is free to get to the second level and block an ILB.

That's why the Steelers stand up and move around. I won't label that technique, as I've heard it called about a thousand different names. But they get to put guys in places that leave them susceptible because there is no presnap read to make. It's a guessing game when teams employ that scheme effectively.

When the Giant get all their pass rushers on the field I doubt they're concerned about the exact position where the line-up.

Their guys are also more suited to do that, especially within the structure of a 43.

Moving Kerrigan further away from the action and possibly having him drop in coverage is not how I would go.

I'd argue that moving him inside is moving him closer. A straight line is the fastest way to get from point A to point B. Someone do some math on that, because I'm not smart enough to figure it out. But I would bet moving Kerrigan inside puts him in a BETTER position to rush the passer.

For the record, I'd also utilize Rak and Jackson as zone droppers, too. Keeps offenses guessing and allows for turnovers.

[RandyHolt]

Having a DC that actually attempts to pressure a QB when a 4 man rush cannot, trumps anything and everything related to: is this player better than that player, or is that player expendable.

Defense mandates players working as a team. Haslet blitzed a rookie out of the bye, and thus became unpredictable. That's all he did. Suddenly, those that said the defense, salary cap, or injuries, were what is holding this team back are being served crow. It was Haslet.

Not Rob Jackson, it was the play call. Rob Jackson showing blitz, drifting back into a spy role.

It was one of the few times we clearly saw the benefit of a 3-4 in action.