Redskins Insider: Rob Jackson impresses teammates

[BGO]

In practice the past three seasons, outside linebacker Rob Jackson has impressed teammates with his pass-rushing skills. And Jackson recorded his first career sack in Sunday's 20-17 Redskins victory in overtime against the Jacksonville Jaguars. His teammates were not surprised. "He took advantage of his opportunity," inside linebacker and defensive co-captain London Fletcher said. "I think he has a great upside, because he gets off the ball [quickly], he can rush the passer, he has a lot of moves and he's violent when he's trying to get there. He's trying to get there with a purpose." A seventh-round draft pick (242nd overall) in 2008 from Kansas State, Jackson was a defensive end his first two seasons in Washington's former base 4-3 defense. He was switched to outside linebacker in the offseason when Coach Mike Shanahan began the transition to a 3-4 scheme. Jackson failed to make the opening 53-man roster

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[Lanky Livingston]

Maybe everyone clamoring about the lack of personnel for the 3-4 wasn't looking deep enough; maybe Shanahan was looking to the youth of the team and seeing guys like Jackson. Just a thought...

 

[Yusuf06]

Maybe you shouldn't have said that Lanky. I think I just heard a pop in the distance that I'm almost sure was Ryman's head exploding.
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[Elephant]

Maybe you shouldn't have said that Lanky. I think I just heard a pop in the distance that I'm almost sure was Ryman's head exploding.
Posted via BGO Mobile Device

As for Jackson, I can say he impressed me.

 

[Ax]

He was my preseason fav the year we drafted him.

Was pleasantly surprised at his play Sunday, as a linebacker.

Hoping like hell it isn't a mirage.

 

[Lanky Livingston]

Maybe you shouldn't have said that Lanky. I think I just heard a pop in the distance that I'm almost sure was Ryman's head exploding.
Posted via BGO Mobile Device

Apologies to Ryman's family.

 

[Rymanofthenorth]

LOL you guys are so totally right, Shannahan was looking at Rob Jackson and Chris Wilson when making this change , im pretty sure the rationale was

" well we will lose a probowl calibre starting DE in Carter, and a top 5 dmvp calibre player in haynesworth, also I can marginalise Fletcher who is just a step below probowl and the same with mcintosh, BUT ITS ALL GOOD BECAUSE ROB JACKSON AND CHRIS WILSON ARE GUYS I CAN BUILD THIS DEFENCE AROUND. Then I will trick everyone by not even having either one start a game. I am such a genius, noone will ever see that coming."

yup thats my head exploding lol

 

[Bulldog]

If the coaching staff knew Jackson could be a factor in the regular defense he would have been activated from the practice squad when the competitive portion of the season was still underway.

We are looking at younger players now as we should be, but let's not give the staff too much credit for what they do or don't do.

They are largely unknown quantities and their performances can be surprising to all.

 

[Lanky Livingston]

I said what I said mostly in jest, b/c you are obviously right. If Haslett/Shanahan had known Jackson would be a beast in the 3-4, I would hope they'd have activated him a lot earlier in the season.

 

[Bulldog]

For a head coach that supposedly was talking to Snyder in September of 2009 about replacing Zorn in 2010, Shanahan seems singularly unfamiliar with the returning players on this roster and what they can and can't do.

You would think that with deal all but signed during that 2009 season that Shanahan would have broken down the Redskins roster and start evaluating some of these guys.

Now in Jackson's case he was on the roster but rarely used in games, so Shanny gets a pass there.

But he seems to have been surprised by some of the other players here and what they have or haven't done.

One could see that guys like Thomas and Rinehart were riding a spot based on draft position alone under Cerrato.

Yet it took MONTHS to clear Thomas off the roster and Rinehart lasted until the end of August.

 

[Rymanofthenorth]

I said what I said mostly in jest, b/c you are obviously right. If Haslett/Shanahan had known Jackson would be a beast in the 3-4, I would hope they'd have activated him a lot earlier in the season.

my head still popped lmao and I thought jackson would be a better fit in the 3-4 as he isnt much of a 4-3 guy at all, however I have no faith in shanny or hasletts abilities to judge talent anymore. the ONLY decent move they made was a no brainer for carriker and hes decent but nothing special.

 

[FuriousD]

To be fair to Shanny, he would have caught some real heat (like he doesn't already) if he would have made a snap judgement and moved Thomas & Rinehart out too quickly. Instead he gave them both plenty of time to prove themselves and they didn't follow through. End of story.

With regard to Jackson, if he wants to see more playing time he better get his special teams act together. He has the size and speed to be useful but does he have the passion?

It's nice he got to play and record a sack but he's been here a while now (3 yrs?) and is still languishing in relative anonymity. If he was going to make a move he should have done it by now or at least found a home on teams.

 

[Bulldog]

No, I think like Jeremy Jarmon he is simply a young raw player with some upside whose immediate future was turned upside down in the switch to the 3-4.

Jackson at 260 is a DE projected to the 4-3. That's what he was drafted for.

Now we are telling him he is really an outside linebacker.

Again, some guys are getting lost in the wash and it's really not their fault.

You can't ask Jackson or Jarmon to gain 50 pounds to bulk up and play DL in the 3-4, but it is also unrealistic to take a down lineman that has played DE his entire college career and to this point in the NFL and tell him he needs to start covering tight ends and running backs in open space and expect him to be effective in that role.

 

[fansince62]

If the coaching staff knew Jackson could be a factor in the regular defense he would have been activated from the practice squad when the competitive portion of the season was still underway.

We are looking at younger players now as we should be, but let's not give the staff too much credit for what they do or don't do.

They are largely unknown quantities and their performances can be surprising to all.

bingo!!!! my first thought as well. better still...he would have made the orig 53 man roster.

like much on this team...work in progress.

 

[fansince62]

No, I think like Jeremy Jarmon he is simply a young raw player with some upside whose immediate future was turned upside down in the switch to the 3-4.

Jackson at 260 is a DE projected to the 4-3. That's what he was drafted for.

Now we are telling him he is really an outside linebacker.

Again, some guys are getting lost in the wash and it's really not their fault.

You can't ask Jackson or Jarmon to gain 50 pounds to bulk up and play DL in the 3-4, but it is also unrealistic to take a down lineman that has played DE his entire college career and to this point in the NFL and tell him he needs to start covering tight ends and running backs in open space and expect him to be effective in that role.

you're on a roll BT!!!!

 

[Rymanofthenorth]

No, I think like Jeremy Jarmon he is simply a young raw player with some upside whose immediate future was turned upside down in the switch to the 3-4.

Jackson at 260 is a DE projected to the 4-3. That's what he was drafted for.

Now we are telling him he is really an outside linebacker.

Again, some guys are getting lost in the wash and it's really not their fault.

You can't ask Jackson or Jarmon to gain 50 pounds to bulk up and play DL in the 3-4, but it is also unrealistic to take a down lineman that has played DE his entire college career and to this point in the NFL and tell him he needs to start covering tight ends and running backs in open space and expect him to be effective in that role.

eggfriggingzactly and we went form being a team with serious depth at DE to a team that will have to spend resources to fill a huge hole at DE.