Are you buying into the Shanaplan?

[CultBrennan59]

Originally Posted by Defensewins

Is four sacks in the last five games consistent enough? All wins. He has three interceptions and 2 forced fumbles with two games to play. So he has caused five turnovers for our defense.
I am not saying get rid of Orakpo, keep them both, but Jackson should play his fair share and not waste away on the bench.
I highly disagree with some that say Orakpo is better against the run. No sir. Orakpo sometimes on run plays guesses wrong and goes for the sack. Completely over running the play and failing to keep gap responsibility. Jackson is better at setting the edge against the run. Jackson is better in space and making football decisions on the fly. That skill can not be measured by stats.
Orakpo has not blossomed into the dominate LB he is supposed to be at this point in his career. Yes he has sacks, but he has weakness' in his game at point in his career where he should be past them. Kerrigan was already surpassed Orakpo at OLB.

Yes, Rob has played well of late, but he has been inconsistent. There was a stretch since after his INT against Cincy where I forgot he was even on the team. It wasn't until like you said 4 games ago that I was like "Oh yeah Rob Jacksons still on this team". I need to see more consistency from Rob Jackson before I start thinking of him as a starting caliber player on this team or any other team for that sake.

[KLHJ2]

Perhaps I am in the minority but the defense is just not the same without Orakpo. I just have not seen that much of a pass rush in the absense of Rak and Adam. The defense has tightened lately, but there still seems to be a lack of pressure.

[punch it in]

Originally Posted by Angry

Perhaps I am in the minority but the defense is just not the same without Orakpo. I just have not seen that much of a pass rush in the absense of Rak and Adam. The defense has tightened lately, but there still seems to be a lack of pressure.

I would say you are in the majority.
Edit: you are rite on. The d is playing very well just no qb pressure which is anazing because of our bad secondary. I never thought it could be possible but haz is pushing all the rite buttons.

[CultBrennan59]

Originally Posted by KJHJ2

Perhaps I am in the minority but the defense is just not the same without Orakpo. I just have not seen that much of a pass rush in the absense of Rak and Adam. The defense has tightened lately, but there still seems to be a lack of pressure.

If your in the minority, then I'm in it too. But no, I think its the majority opinion; its just that theres some dumb opinions that stick out more than the smart ones.

Losing Carriker was also a huge loss, because he would always be double teamed and would help push the pocket into the QB, causing the QB to stay back and not step up.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Weirdly, I think if Haslett gets another year with Orakpo and Carriker back (PLUS some added draft picks or FA), we'll have a pretty damn good defense. I'll never say that losing Orakpo/Carriker was as good thing, but it really forced Haslett to innovate to make up for the lack of pressure from those two. As a result, when they come back, that should make us that much more dangerous.

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

Weirdly, I think if Haslett gets another year with Orakpo and Carriker back (PLUS some added draft picks or FA), we'll have a pretty damn good defense. I'll never say that losing Orakpo/Carriker was as good thing, but it really forced Haslett to innovate to make up for the lack of pressure from those two. As a result, when they come back, that should make us that much more dangerous.

Agreed. Our front 7 is pretty good. Fix the secondary and we have somethin' going on defensively.

[Gary84Clark]

FA next year = Ed Reed

[Hog1]

You know ER is like......35 right?

[CultBrennan59]

I doubt Reed leaves the Ravens. And age isn't a factor for FS's. Those guys will play till their 38-39 (Dawkins for example)

[Hog1]

At 35, he may have some time yet, but sure as hell, he'll be on "Dancing with the Stars" and end up back in Miami....right?
No thanks.....Keep going young and building for the future.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Chico23231

I want to ask the hatters, what were your expectations this season? And what were your expectations when Shanny and Bruce took over?

I think that would help me understand alot of things.

Dont talk about McNabb, Brown, and the defense...we know the regime's mistakes, No team is perfect. Sure, we know RT and the secondary is an issue and we should have resigned Carlos, we know these things. But what were your expectations?

I think anyone who said after the RG3 trade that "Mike Shanahan can really afford another 5-11 season" would just have being dishonest. A pretty 8-8 (gaudy offensive stats - as we have enjoyed) or any 9-10 win season was baseline expectation.

So we've met baseline expectation for the season already, barring some sort of self-destructive last two games, which I don't think will happen. We're back in the chase for the NFC East, and I think we'll take care of the Eagles pretty routinely.

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by Skinzman

See, here is part of the problem. Its the same problem I have with GTripp. You both seem to to think that building a team in the NFL is a one year proposition. Where you say throw away a season, I say didnt get locked into a bad QB and waste 4 or 5 seasons. I have tried to make the case that passing on Gabbert was a good thing, and the responses I get are more about me having an attitude because I believe that the only way to build a team is "my way".

But the whole "All it takes is one year" is a clear sign that no team building is needed by the people who say it. And that is flat out wrong. If that was right, then Vinny Cerrato is the greatest GM to ever grace the planet. He made the most 1 year moves I have ever seen.

Finding the RIGHT QB is the most important piece to any NFL team. He found it... yet all you say (and others like you) is that a season was wasted.

We're in year three now so whether or not an organization can be turned in the right direction within the first year is not a relevant discussion to the Shanahan Redskins.

Finding the right quarterback doesn't matter if you win 33% of your games. If you are winning 60% and have a 22-year old franchise quarterback, then you have accomplished something special.

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by CultBrennan59

I doubt Reed leaves the Ravens. And age isn't a factor for FS's. Those guys will play till their 38-39 (Dawkins for example)

I gotta disagree. A FS, who sometimes has coverage responsibilities, can lose a step to age just like a corner would.

Denver Dawkins was not as good as young Philly Dawkins for this reason.

[That Guy]

the best buy in FA this offseason is byrd by far... if he makes it to free agency.

[mbedner3420]

Originally Posted by That Guy

the best buy in FA this offseason is byrd by far... if he makes it to free agency.

I agree, but I doubt he makes it to free agency.