Chiefs’ Tyson Jackson links his production to the team’s success

[Hammock Parties]

This is a great article about Tyson doing his job. #stillnotworth3rdpick

http://www.kansascity.com/2012/08/16...roduction.html

Chiefs defensive end Tyson Jackson doesn’t have to look at the stats sheet or study the game tape to determine whether he had a productive game.

He watches how the linebackers behind him fared.

“If Derrick Johnson and Jovan Belcher had a real good game, I know nine times out of 10, I did a good job,” Jackson said of the Chiefs’ two inside linebackers.

“I’ve got to keep those guys free; I’ve got to let those guys run downhill to the ball. I know I’ve had a pretty good game if those guys are satisfied, and we won.”

A year ago, Johnson and Belcher had career seasons, were ranked 1-2 on the team in tackles, and Johnson earned his first Pro Bowl berth. So Jackson must have been doing something right.

But Jackson, the Chiefs’ first-round pick in 2009, is still trying to overcome the label of draft bust ever since his rookie season when general manager Scott Pioli made him the third overall pick in the draft.

To the casual fan, it doesn’t seem like Jackson even gets his uniform dirty. The only names they seem to hear are Johnson … Hali … Belcher … Houston …

“The glamorous part about playing defensive line is getting sacks,” said defensive line coach Anthony Pleasant. “And our defense is a linebacker defense.

“We’re just the grunt guys up front. Our job is to keep the linebackers free to make plays. It’s not a glorified position … if we stop the run, we give them a chance to rush the passer.”

In his three seasons, Jackson has but two sacks in 44 games, but he holds down the left side in the defense, which is critical because most teams are righthanded and direct their running game in that direction.

And according to Pro Football Focus, a website that tracks statistics, Jackson and right end Glenn Dorsey each accounted for more tackles than any 3-4 defensive ends in the NFL, including the Steelers, Ravens and Patriots, who are known for their 3-4 fronts. Jackson was credited with 38 stops on run plays, while Dorsey had 32.

“Tyson is a prototype defensive end you want on the left side,” said Pleasant, who spent most of his 14-year career playing end in that scheme. “He’s got the bulk, he moves well, he can transition from run to pass, so he’s the ideal player you want. A lot of runs go to the left side, so you want someone stout who can defend the run.”

Both Jackson and Dorsey played ends in a 4-3 system at LSU, so it’s taken a while for them to learn the intricacies of the 3-4. Dorsey was the fifth overall pick in 2008, the final year of the Herm Edwards regime, which ran the 4-3. But the Chiefs, in Pioli’s first draft, still took Jackson knowing that he and Dorsey would have to convert to new positions.

It may have taken longer than anticipated for Jackson to fulfill the Chiefs’ hopes, but they haven’t given up on him.

“When you’re picked that high, there’s so much expectation, and some of it is fair and some of it isn’t,” said Chiefs right tackle Eric Winston, who goes against Jackson every day in practice.

“Everybody figures it out at his own pace. Some guys come into this league, and the lucky ones have it figured out … I didn’t. It took me at least a half a year, probably a full year, to really figure out what this league was all about, and from what I heard, Tyson had a pretty good year last year, and you can see he’s building on that.”

When they drafted Jackson, Chiefs officials compared him to former Dallas Cowboys end Russell Maryland, who didn’t roll up a lot of sacks in the Cowboys’ 3-4 scheme but helped win three Super Bowl rings.

“Coming from a 4-3 defense, it’s totally different technique-wise,” Jackson said of his first three years with the Chiefs. “From the outside looking in, it looks like football, but it’s a different type of world …

“I’m starting to pick up things, starting to understand the defense, starting to understand my technique better. I’ve still got some ways to go, but I can see myself getting there.”

So do his teammates. Winston, in his first season with the Chiefs, has been impressed with Jackson’s work ethic.

“The thing I like is he’s working hard, but it’s never enough,” Winston said. “Even when he’s had a couple of good plays, it’s like, ‘Aw, I’ve got to make those faster, I’ve got to get there faster.’ He’s trying to improve his game, and that’s important.

“When you get in year four, year five, it’s easy to say, ‘Well, I’ve probably learned all I’m going to learn …’ He’s realizing there are always things to be learned, always advantages to be had, and that’s been impressive.”

It’s in Jackson’s best interest — as well as the Chiefs’ — for him to have a breakout season this year. During the offseason, Jackson agreed to restructure his contract. His base pay for 2012 dropped from $8 million to $4.25 million with $4 million guaranteed. In exchange, his salary would be $14.72 million in 2013 ($3.2 million guaranteed), so it’s likely that will be restructured again — or Jackson would be let go — depending on how he performs this year.

“I’ve just got to lay it on the line every play,” Jackson said. “Come out there like it’s the last play of my career, so I leave it all on the table and rely on what I’ve been taught over the last couple of years on how to play a 3-4 defense, and how to be strong inside, and how to control those offensive lineman …

“It’s up to us up front to hit those offensive lineman, and keep them flat on the line of scrimmage so the guys in the back can run around and make some plays.”

[O.city]

What would Jackson have to do, stats wise, for you guys to say he's not a bust?

[chiefzilla1501]

Is that kind of guy worth a #3 pick? No.

But he was arguably the third best pick in the top 10. And with his restructured contract, I think he's a very good deal for the Chiefs. The Chiefs could have done a whole lot worse.

Given the shiftiness of that draft, I think the Chiefs did very well with the Jackson pick. And I have a feeling he's only getting better as he begins to focus more on refining his pass rush.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by O.city

What would Jackson have to do, stats wise, for you guys to say he's not a bust?

5+ sacks, 20+ hurries a year.

That's what JJ Watt did last season. Brett Keisel, too, to name another 3-4 team.

[O.city]

Is it me or do we not play quite the attacking style that the Steelers do up front?



I wish we would.



I would think that would be a pretty good barometer. If he gets 4 or 5 sacks I'd be ecstatic.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Cassel's Reckoning

5+ sacks, 20+ hurries a year.

That's what JJ Watt did last season. Brett Keisel, too, to name another 3-4 team.

Can't really compare Pittsburgh to KC, as Pittsburgh plays a zone blitz whereas the Chiefs play a 2-gap. Not to say that a pass rush presence isn't nice in a 2-gap, ala Richard Seymour, but it's not the primary responsibility. Jackson is a lot more responsible for freeing opportunities for other guys than a 3-4 DE who plays 1-gap or zone blitz. Ty Warren was never a great pass rusher, but he was a very good lineman for New England.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by chiefzilla1501

Can't really compare Pittsburgh to KC, as Pittsburgh plays a zone blitz whereas the Chiefs play a 2-gap. Not to say that a pass rush presence isn't nice in a 2-gap, ala Richard Seymour, but it's not the primary responsibility. Jackson is a lot more responsible for freeing opportunities for other guys than a 3-4 DE who plays 1-gap or zone blitz. Ty Warren was never a great pass rusher, but he was a very good lineman for New England.

Yeah, and all of this BS is completely destroyed when you go back to quotes about Tyson Jackson right after he was drafted.

http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/article...F-9980D758521B

Q: Does he come out of the game on passing downs?

TODD HALEY: “No, we look at Tyson as a three-down player and we actually think that he probably gains an advantage on third down if he moves inside and is over a guard. He’s got some pass rush skills, there is no doubt about it and that’s one of the things that excited the coaches about him. When you can take advantage of some match-ups inside it may really help him and us.”

PIOLI: “In a ¾ defense even though he’s playing defensive end and more outside in the regular (defense) in sub packages he has the skill set to move in and potentially to have a mismatch, not necessarily on the edge.”

Three years later Tyson Jackson NEVER plays on third down.

Because he's one of the worst ****ing pass rushers in the league.

[Munson]

He's a bust.

[O.city]

Maybe now that he's figuring things out, he gets the pass rush element down?

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by O.city

Maybe now that he's figuring things out, he gets the pass rush element down?

I guess it's possible, but we drafted Allen Bailey and Dontari Poe to play in the nickel. Pretty specifically.

I'd be surprised if Tyson Jackson ever has 3 sacks in a season, let alone 5.

[O.city]

He's gonna have some chances to rush the passer in the base package and heavy stuff, so we will see. It would be nice for a 3 to 5 sack season from him.


One thing we haven't really talked about, was last year against Denver Tebows, we played some 4 man fronts and Dorsey really had a great game.


I'd like to see some situations where we get into that.

[O.city]

BTW, good article Clay. Tried to rep you, but I've given you too much already.

[qabbaan]

Jackson seems to have grown to the point where he is a serviceable player at his position in our scheme.

His job isn't to generate statistics, and his draft position is not relevant any longer. He has turned out to be a starter, he seems to be a relatively solid player. Not special, not flashy, but he is a good fit at a position where you can't just plug anyone in.

Better we overpaid for someone who can be a long term starter on a good defense than drafted a bust. It would have been nice to get him lower in the round, but as a player I don't have a problem with him at all. I think we should all stop loving to hate him and see him for what he is. A guy who is good enough to start on a good defense.

[Dante84]

Cassel took a ton of heat of Jackson for the team's most hated player.

[Hammock Parties]

Originally Posted by qabbaan

Better we overpaid for someone who can be a long term starter