Some say that the first rule of success is showing up. For Washington Redskins linebacker Ryan Kerrigan, that wasn't a problem during his rookie season in 2011.
Kerrigan started all 16 games and logged every one of Washington's 1,056 defensive snaps, according to official playing-time documents, despite moving from a 4-3 defensive end spot at Purdue to outside linebacker in the Redskins' 3-4 defense.
Success followed, as Kerrigan posted 63 tackles, ranked second on the team with 7.5 sacks and led the team with 14 quarterback hits. According to Football Outsiders Almanac 2012, Kerrigan led the Redskins and was tied with San Francisco 49ers All-Pro defensive lineman Justin Smith for 11th place in "Hurries" with 28.
As is often the case with pass-rushers, Kerrigan's sacks last season came in bunches. The rookie posted 4.5 sacks over his 7.5 sacks over a four-game span in the middle of the season before posting just one sack in the final five games of the season.
Some of that could be a case of Kerrigan hitting a rookie wall, but some could be opposing offenses realizing 'Hey, this kid's pretty good, too' and no longer solely focusing on containing his more accomplished counterpart, Brian Orakpo.
Entering his second season in the NFL, Kerrigan knows he needs to be more consistent, Mike Carmin of the Journal and Courier reports.
"I have to be more consistent," said Kerrigan. "In some games, I felt like I played pretty well last year, and some games I wasn't as productive as I needed to be. Be more consistent and be a presence every week."
