Does Rob Jackson make Orakpo expendable?

[Thinking Skins]

I'm with you. If we could trade Orakpo and use that money for secondary help. I'd be for it.

That's completely the wrong direction to go. Do you not remember the 90s when we had a great secondary with no pass rush and our defense still ranked last in the league. Defenses, particularly defenses today are built around a legit pass rush. We can make it with an adequate secondary if we're not giving QBs 10 seconds to throw the ball. I'd keep Orakpo, Jackson and Kerrigan and try to add some more beef to that front pass rush unit in case we get hit with injuries again.

I'd invest some low picks into some talent in the secondary, and look at some decent FAs (along the line of what Pitt paid for Ryan Clark) but it wouldn't be my primary concern.

[JMUSkins]

I wish they kept stats on how many holding penalties he drew. I distinctly remember him causing a really high number of holding penalties. He may not have had top 10 sacks those years, but he still is one of the best because lines keyed in on him and held him in many cases. No one one else on this defense gets that kind of attention, which is why I think this thread is ridiculous.

I think the premise is unfounded as well. We are a better defense with Orakpo out there. I do agree that other teams key on him, which frees up Kerrigan. That, alone, is worth its weight in gold. Keep Orakpo... period.

[HogsGoHard]

I do not like this at all. I say we keep both. Figure out a way to keep them both on the field. Have Orakpo rush that QB as much as his gigantic heart desires and have Rob Come blitzing in or drop back for one of those sweet picks. We need to be trying to keep our best players not trade them away. Where is the law that says you can only have x amount of good players?

[Rypien1191]

Keep both. Especially if we're keeping the 3-4, and with London in his last year or two. Jackson is ranked #1 in pass coverage by PFF. Kerrigan plays better with Rak in. All 3 are weapons.

[mojo]

That's completely the wrong direction to go. Do you not remember the 90s when we had a great secondary with no pass rush and our defense still ranked last in the league. Defenses, particularly defenses today are built around a legit pass rush. We can make it with an adequate secondary if we're not giving QBs 10 seconds to throw the ball. I'd keep Orakpo, Jackson and Kerrigan and try to add some more beef to that front pass rush unit in case we get hit with injuries again.

I'd invest some low picks into some talent in the secondary, and look at some decent FAs (along the line of what Pitt paid for Ryan Clark) but it wouldn't be my primary concern.

I agree with your line of thought. I was taking Orakpo's contract and cap hit into consideration though. The D has a lot of holes to fill and I wouldn't want the team to sink a lot of cash into Rak when Jackson is playing so well. We could spread that money around to build depth for the defense overall.

[skinzwiz]

they were taken in the same draft... this is the first extended action we've seen from Jackson because of Orakpo.

What we see now, is a ball hawking OLB who can set a run edge and tackle in the open field as well as cover and remain disciplined in the zone... who's pass rush skills are a work in progress (Jackson).

What we've seen from the other guy (Orakpo) are that he can't catch a ball that hits him in the chest... he sucks in coverage... he can't make open field tackles... he is below average at setting the rush edge... but he can run a tackle up the field and sometimes he gets a sack to the tune of 9 or so a year.

Who's further along and who is the better total product?

This is what I've been trying to get into all of the "Orakpo is the best LB in the NFL" club's head for the last three months. Looks like there are still a few out there who can't hear me over how awesome Orakpo's performance against the Raiders was in 2009.-

How do you figure all of this about Jackson? The guy averages less than 3 tackles a game and has only had 2 passes defended in the last 7 games. He is better than Orakpo in coverage, but neither of them are studs in that department.

Look at the stats, look at their games. Jackson never outplays Orakpo.

And another thing, no one doubles Jackson or holds him 3 times a game.

[Chump Bailey]

Look at the stats, look at their games. Jackson never outplays Orakpo.

It's not even close IMO with regard to pass rushing ability and Rob is certainly decent enough in that aspect. I like both players a lot, but in no way do I feel Rak is expendable.

[mojo]

How do you figure all of this about Jackson? The guy averages less than 3 tackles a game and has only had 2 passes defended in the last 7 games. He is better than Orakpo in coverage, but neither of them are studs in that department.

Look at the stats, look at their games. Jackson never outplays Orakpo.

Not only does Jackson produce more game changing plays than Orakpo but look at Orakpo's stats from his last full season. Compare that to what Jackson has done this season and Jackson is the clear winner.

[BobGriffin]

Not only does Jackson produce more game changing plays than Orakpo but look at Orakpo's stats from his last full season. Compare that to what Jackson has done this season and Jackson is the clear winner.

Football is not just about "teh stats bro"
Look at our pass rush as a whole this year versus last year. It was dominant at times last year. This year it has been pathetic trending towards below average/okay at times.

No doubt he makes splash plays but the other 57 minutes of the game the QB is unbothered. Even with that the only stat of his that surpasses rack is Ints.

[pjfootballer]

Orakpo causes the other team to double team Orakpo, leaving Kerrigan one on one.

Jackson causes the other team to double team Kerrigan, leaving Jackson one on one.

End of story.

[skinzwiz]

Not only does Jackson produce more game changing plays than Orakpo but look at Orakpo's stats from his last full season. Compare that to what Jackson has done this season and Jackson is the clear winner.

Brian Orakpo 2011 though 12 games:
50 Tackles
7 Sacks
2 FF
5 Passes Defended

Rob Jackson 2012:
34 Tackles
4.5 Sacks
2 FF
5 Passes Defended
3 Ints

Keep in mind defenses gameplanned against Orakpo. What stats are you looking at?

[moondog]

Orakpo causes the other team to double team Orakpo, leaving Kerrigan one on one.

Jackson causes the other team to double team Kerrigan, leaving Jackson one on one.

End of story.

Extremely simplified but not entirely untrue. Even if it's not a double team, other teams, for the most part will key on Orakpo, or now Kerrigan. The fact that Orakpo opened up so much for not only Kerrigan but also Bowen was huge for our defense. Our front 7 as a whole last year produced a LOT of pressure and performed better overall than this year. Jackson is a very solid pass defender but it's not as if Orakpo was some scrub pass defender - he has improved tremendously and was getting pretty good at it.

Hell, he already had a couple passes defended both at the LOS (a la Kerrigan) as well as in the secondary in his short time playing this year. His ceiling is much higher than Jackson's and our defense is simply better with him on the field. I'm refraining as much as I can on this thread because it's literally been driving me crazy since it's inception.

[skinsfan834]

People on this board are so keen on destroying the depth that we have been trying to build over the past couple of years. Is it a bad thing to have 3 quality pass rushers? Take a look at the Giants, come 3rd down they bring 4 "true" Defensive Ends to rush the passer. Once Orakpo comes back we have 3 pass rushers that have shown that they need to be accounted for, as they can consistently make plays.

If this season has taught us anything, defensively at least, is that depth is incredibly important. We have lost 3 maybe 4 starters (if you count Jackson), and our back-ups have stepped up to replace them. Say we trade Orakpo and next season Kerrigan or Jackson go down, who do we have to replace them? This is football, injuries are unavoidable.

One last thing that I have noticed about this year, CHEMISTRY. Shanny has finally gotten the right group of guys in that locker room, and they are all playing for each other right now. I say we keep this group together and let them grow as a TEAM under the leadership of our guy RG3. The future is as bright as I have ever seen in Washington. Let's build up the team that we have right now by adding complementary pieces rather than giving away our assets. HTTR.

[mojo]

Brian Orakpo 2011 though 12 games:
50 Tackles
7 Sacks
2 FF
5 Passes Defended

Rob Jackson 2012:
34 Tackles
4.5 Sacks
2 FF
5 Passes Defended
3 Ints

Keep in mind defenses gameplanned against Orakpo. What stats are you looking at?

Consider that Orakpo's stats are for 16 games, not 12 correct? So yea, correlate Jackson's stats over 16 games instead of the 11 he's played in and I'm confident he will surpass those stats.

[acuratl1984]

if he's getting better resign at a good rate, and NASCAR Package as they call it for Giants...

on 3rd down go to 4-3, rush Orakpo/Kerrigan from DE, and Rob Jackson from OLB.