Rob Jackson's Worth

[SkinsTillIDie]

I'm responding to people saying he's a starter. With Kerrigan and Orakpo, there aren't a whole lot of snaps for other players.

As for pass defense, you don't typically select OLBs in a 3-4 for their pass defense. (which is why they are typically converted DEs.)

Edit: agree with below that the team could use him, but lets be realistic of how many snaps he'd get with the defense with Orakpo and Kerrigan.

He is a starter, just not with us. Which is obviously the biggest concern when we try to keep him around this offseason. There are teams who will be more desperate and have more cap room and give him a look

This season, we've seen just how essential depth is. Orakpo's ended the last two seasons with shoulder and pectoral surgeries. Fletcher will be 38 next season. Rob Jackson is a guy who has proven his versatility -- he can tackle, he can rush the passer, he can drop into coverage -- with more time and reps, he's exactly the type of player who can play any linebacker position.

With Haslett's creative schemes, this will be an enormous boost to what we can do, what we can disguise and how we can confuse opposing QBs. He's gotten better every season he's been here and he still has more room to grow.

Simply put, Rob Jackson could be a Cris Clemons type, an unheralded linebacker we let get away too soon and one who developed into a dynamic and game-changing player elsewhere.

Without Jackson's big plays this year, there's a good chance we don't make the playoffs. He's made more gamechanging plays than our star on the otherside, Ryan Kerrigan. If we can re-sign him, he may be technically a backup on the depth chart, but he'll see a ton of playing time. Playing Fletcher 100% of snaps is downright stupid if we want him healthy for the playoffs. We're bound to get injured somewhere, and Jackson's talents can help us on all 3 downs.

Who knows, maybe he takes on a Lorenzo Alexander-role and learns and thrives at ILB -- forming a formidable trio with Perry Riley and Keenan Robinson going forward, once Fletcher hangs up his cleats.

Jackson's a real good player though and we'd be remiss to let him leave.

---------- Post added December-31st-2012 at 12:11 PM ----------

Not sure about Jackson in the middle covering tight ends. Seems like most of his plays have been in short zone or covering the Rb in the flat. Big difference compared with running down the field with big, athletic TEs.

Yeah, this is why we drafted Keenan Robinson