Is there room for Orakpo and Rob Jackson?

[BigHairedAristocrat]

Originally Posted by Mayor

Maybe I am crazy, but I see Orkapo and Kerrigan excelling at playing as down linemen, Jackson playing great as a coverage LB... so how about the 4-3?

Starters:

DE: Kerrigan, Orkapo
DT: Cofield, Jenkins
LB: Jackson (O), Fletcher*(M), Riley (O)
S: Draft, Draft
CB: Hall, Wilson


* - If Fletcher retires then it's a camp toss up

I like the look of that front 7.

I don't. It would make our front 7 much worse. Carriker and Bowen (whom you are not in your lineup) are much better players than Jenkins and Jackson. Your proposal also leaves us little depth behind the starters. I think the lineup you described would be a nice defensive look to mix things up, but it's a weaker base defense than what we have now.

I also don't like any lineup that has hall an window as our primary corners.

In addition, you have us starting two rookie safeties. Considering our first two picks will be in the bottom of the 2nd and 3rd rounds, the idea of starting two rookies is even more preposterous. Overall, I think your lineup would result in a weaker defense than what we had this year.

[Defensewins]

Originally Posted by NC_Skins

Do you think Orakpo makes that INT that Jackson did this past weekend? Hell, do you think he makes any of those INTs that Jackson has this year? (probably not since he hasn't had a INT since he's been in the league) He's got 4.5 sacks, but didn't start 2 of those games. He's better in passes defensed, INTs, but doesn't bring the pressure that Orakpo does.

We won the NFC East with out Orakpo's pass rush pressure. How critical is that pressure?

[KLHJ2]

Why not kick Rob Jackson inside with Perry Riley when Fletcher decides to hang it up?

[calia]

Originally Posted by KJHJ2

Why not kick Rob Jackson inside with Perry Riley when Fletcher decides to hang it up?

This makes sense to me. Jackson doesn't generate a big pass rush, which is more a function of an OLB. An ILB needs to be a sure tackler, and if he can pluck errant passes out of the air, so much the better. And Jackson can do that (just as Fletcher did this year too). I realize that they're different positions, but I would imagine that Jackson is a solid enough player to make the transition, and who better to teach him than Fletcher?

[Mayor]

Originally Posted by CultBrennan59

Just cause it looks good on paper doesn't mean its going to work on the field. We're doing fine in the 3-4. Why fix something that ain't broken? Our weakness is in the secondary, and 3-4, 4-3, 5-2, 1-6, it doesn't matter what defense you play you have always 4 guys starting in the secondary.

While I get your point, my point is putting you talent in a position where they are most beneficial to the team is a good strategy. Orkapo is a good pass rusher, Jackson is a ball hawk, I was just presenting an option that puts them both on the field in a position where they excel.

In fact, we have been fighting for years now to pigeonhole Kerrigan and Orkapo into 3-4 LB positions when their natural talents are in the 4-3 DE position. Why not build the defense around our best players best skills?

Adjusting your scheme to the skills of your players is what winning franchises do. Getting rid of a good player because they don't fit in your scheme is what losing franchises do.

[KLHJ2]

Shannahan wanted the 3-4 defense and changed us to it. It isn't going to change anytime soon.

[BigHairedAristocrat]

Originally Posted by Mayor

While I get your point, my point is putting you talent in a position where they are most beneficial to the team is a good strategy. Orkapo is a good pass rusher, Jackson is a ball hawk, I was just presenting an option that puts them both on the field in a position where they excel.

In fact, we have been fighting for years now to pigeonhole Kerrigan and Orkapo into 3-4 LB positions when their natural talents are in the 4-3 DE position. Why not build the defense around our best players best skills?

Adjusting your scheme to the skills of your players is what winning franchises do. Getting rid of a good player because they don't fit in your scheme is what losing franchises do.

Your proposal gets rid of carriker and Bowen, who are better players than Jackson and Jenkins. So you are suggesting the skins do what a losing organization would do. I would like it if you were the defensive coordinator for the cowboys.

[los panda]

Originally Posted by Mayor

While I get your point, my point is putting you talent in a position where they are most beneficial to the team is a good strategy. Orkapo is a good pass rusher, Jackson is a ball hawk, I was just presenting an option that puts them both on the field in a position where they excel.

In fact, we have been fighting for years now to pigeonhole Kerrigan and Orkapo into 3-4 LB positions when their natural talents are in the 4-3 DE position. Why not build the defense around our best players best skills?

Adjusting your scheme to the skills of your players is what winning franchises do. Getting rid of a good player because they don't fit in your scheme is what losing franchises do.

while taking bowen and carriker off the field, from a position in which they excel

[NC_Skins]

Originally Posted by Defensewins

We won the NFC East with out Orakpo's pass rush pressure. How critical is that pressure?

That's really something I cannot answer. Definitely something the coaches will have to decide.

[Chico23231]

Originally Posted by BigHairedAristocrat

Your proposal gets rid of carriker and Bowen, who are better players than Jackson and Jenkins. So you are suggesting the skins do what a losing organization would do. I would like it if you were the defensive coordinator for the cowboys.

What?

You can have Jackson and Orakpo on the field at the sametime, his alignment is a little off, but it can easily be done.

[Chico23231]

Originally Posted by los panda

while taking bowen and carriker off the field, from a position in which they excel

Bowen off the field in pass rush situations is no big loss at all.

[SmootSmack]

Originally Posted by KJHJ2

Why not kick Rob Jackson inside with Perry Riley when Fletcher decides to hang it up?

Because you're forgetting about Keenan Robinson

[los panda]

Originally Posted by SmootSmack

Because you're forgetting about Keenan Robinson

i did, i forgot he was ir'd

[Lotus]

We could kick Jackson inside on purely passing situations, kind of like how the Giants play DE's at DT in passing situations.

[Southpaw]

Originally Posted by Defensewins

We won the NFC East with out Orakpo's pass rush pressure. How critical is that pressure?

Winning the NFC East does not discount the fact the Redskins still have to 28th ranked defense in the league. The rest of the team isn't so perfect that they can afford to disregard a principle of NFL defenses. They should be able to create pressure without having to rush six defenders, but since Orakpo went down that hasn't happened.

Ask the 2007 and 2011 Giants if a pass rush is critical.