Is Drake Jackson's Production Sustainable?
Drake Jackson matched his rookie year total in sacks in Week 1 of the 2023 season with a career-high 3-sack game. Jackson's play has fans excited, the 49ers may have an edge rusher opposite Nick Bosa that can produce and take stress off Bosa. Or do they?
Fans should be excited, seeing the second-year edge rusher get production like he did is phenomenal. He is ready to take the next step. His confidence looks great, his show is there. During Week 1 versus a Pittsburgh Steelers offensive line that is arguably a bottom 10 line in the NFL, Jackson produced 5 pressures on 26 pass-rushing opportunities.
Looking at the production we are probably thinking, "Wow another player ready to take his second-year jump for the 49ers' stacked roster." When watching the game live I was excited and impressed to see Jackson getting after the quarterback, but I also was able to notice it wasn't quick sacks or pressures.
After watching the All-22 angle of the game I wasn't as impressed as I initially was. I was able to see the explosiveness of Jackson, but how he got his sacks and pressures was a bit concerning. I am not going to say he can't continue this production, because the way his production is coming is because he is on clean up duty. Let me explain.
Clean up duty to me is when the defensive line forces a quarterback out of the pocket or to step up to scramble and another defensive palyer gets the sack, in this case that is Jackson. Now let me walk you through each of his sacks.
Sack 1
Jackson's first sack was a bull rush. He bull rushed Left Tackle Dan Moore Jr., now with this I will credit he got push on Moore but Moore recovered and anchored well. Now the issue is he is still attacking the full body of the tackles, as he did his rookie year, which as an edge rusher you do not want to do. Luckily Arik Armstead completey dominated Center Mason Cole forcing Kenny Pickett out of the pocket. This is where Jackson played clean up duty sack artist, and got Pickett down after he was forced out of the pocket. More of an effort sack from Jackson then a clear win.
Sack 2
On his second sack there was a stunt where Armstead started as the left DT next to Bosa, he looped around Javon Hargrave and Jackson becoming the now right edge rusher. Hargrave whooped Center Cole, he's terrible, and forced Pickett to bail up the pocket looking to run on 3rd and 20. Again on this rep he ruhshed the full body of Moore and got some push, this time more of a win, but not the reason Pickett scrambled. Pickett scrambled becasue Hargrave would've gotten the sack. As Pickett is scrambling Jackson dove for the feet of Pickett, tripping him and registering a a sack.
Sack 3
This one is interesting, now i'm not in meetings and don't know the play call for the defensive line. Initially I thought it was a stunt, after watching the All-22 angle, I don't think it was. Arik Armstead beats right guard James Daniels pretty bad to the outside, now it looked pre-determined for Armstead to get pushed up field and allow Jackson to initiate a rush and immediately loop inside as Armstead was getting up field. Jackson looks in and gets the sack. This was his fastest win from what I saw. Looked like a plan stunt but not as much as I'm use to seeing, normally the DT tries to hit the tackle while in the process to free up the Edge Rusher, but Armstead didn't try to hit the tackle. Either way best win out of the sacks for Jackson.
Now do I think this style of productiion is sustainable? I do think he can get a few more sacks off of hustle and effort alone. I mean look at the defensive line, he's the 4th option that opposing offenses will look to block. That means he will get more one on ones and, if he continues to attack the full body of tackles he won't win his reps immediately, and have to counter, or get hustles sacks. This kind of production long term isn't what you are looking for as a starting edge rusher, but as he's the 4th option its fine for now. I don't expect him to have 3 sacks games on a regular or multiple sacks in games frequently. I do expect to continue to see a few effort plays, but I'm skeptical on him winning pass rush reps consistently one on one, he just attacks the full body of tackles way to often. I'm excited to see his development, he has the talent and bend to be a quality edge rusher for the 49ers.
