Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

Just reading about what a physical specimen "Rak" is and the fact that he will play LB AND DE... I started having a mini-flashback to #56 days...

I was wondering what everyone's thought were comparing/contrasting these 2 guys.

I know one thing... Lavar was a little bit of a "you know what" about playing DE and putting one hand down even after 11 sacks one yr. Rak doesn't seem to have ANY of that in him...

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

Rak is primarily a DE. Lavar was primarily a LB.

Lavar had personality problems. At this point, Rak seems put together pretty well.

Lavar went to three Pro Bowls. Rak hopefully will go to eight.

Fingers crossed all around. It is hard to compare the two since Rak has yet to don the b&g.

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

Well Orakpo doesn't seem to think as much of himself as Lavar did for one thing. Also, he is at heart a DE whose responsibility play afer play is maintain contain nd get into the backfield. Not much to freelance there whereas LBs have tons of opportunity to submarine the scheme by going rogue. Lavar exceled at that.

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

Man, it's going to be a long summer.

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

[quote=Ruhskins;552829]Man, it's going to be a long summer.[/quote]

Was waiting for this type of reply :laughing2

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

[quote=Ruhskins;552829]Man, it's going to be a long summer.[/quote]

Amen bro

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

I really don't see the comparison.

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

hopefully he's more disciplined

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

Lets just hope that in a few years , we are comparing Orakpo to Mann and Manley .

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

[quote=budw38;552867]Lets just hope that in a few years , we are comparing Orakpo to Mann and Manley .[/quote]

Man, that would be awesome. Remember the days, Manley was a beast, and Mann just oozed confident character. If Carter/Orakpo, and Haynesworth can do any of that, it will be a fun season.

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

[quote=hooskins;552842]I really don't see the comparison.[/quote]

yeah neither do I

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

They are both African-American (comparison)
One went to Texas the other Penn State (contrast)

Thought you could get past me huh????

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

I have seen Rak play the last 4 years here in TX. The guy has a motor that is second to none and really picks his game up on the big stage. The question mark is that he did have the tendency to take some plays off in his first couple years (not the last two) and I hope he doesn't revert back to that problem. He is REALLY strong and can manhandle just about anyone. Good head on his shoulders as well.

I see no comparison to Arrington other than he is African-American as so noted by Earthquake.

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

The comparison is valid simply because both were high 1st round picks that we fans hope turn into great players.

Lavar is a maverick & really enjoys being different. Rak seems just as smart if not much smarter, but he presents himself in a more humble manner. I know introductory press conferences are always full of cliches about winning, team,etc. & they say the right things, but Rak really sounds mature & grounded.

I was so pysched when we drafted Lavar. I have my concerns about Rak, so I wasn't as happy w/the pick. Now that's it's done, I'm already starting to like him more.

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

Does Orakpo speak of himself in the third person? I know that Lavar used to and it would drive me insane.

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

Lavar was a good player who could just as easily miss an assignment as he could make a great play. Hopefully Orakpo will be [I]a great player [/I]that plays within the scheme and strikes fear in the hearts of opposing QBs.

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

Lavar got too ate up in the moment and went rogue at times. This made him an unpopular coaching canidate. Orakpo comes across humble but smart. This makes him extremely dangerous as a coachable player who could develop into an awesome force in the NFL (a Haynesworth on the DE). Only time will tell, but thinker (smart) players are the hardest to defend against.

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

wow the fans have been crying about getting a de and we got the best one i the draft imo he hasnt even gotten on the field yet and people worried about him geese let the man do his thing then compare him

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

[quote=Eknox;552852]hopefully he's more disciplined[/quote]
THANKYOU!
If not, he'll just end up in some "gangsta' shootout" in his restaurant

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

[quote=CRedskinsRule;552873]Man, that would be awesome. Remember the days, Manley was a beast, and Mann just oozed confident character. If Carter/Orakpo, and Haynesworth can do any of that, it will be a fun season.[/quote]

The Manley, Mann, and Butz trio was beast with Grant completing the 4. Orakpo, Carter, Griffin, and Haynesworth look to be strong with the rookie being able to draw from the vet's experience.. As a whole, the current four have a little more speed on the ends and AH could possibly get more upfield push than Butz... But it all remains to be seen.

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

Some people have failed to see a connection between Orakpo and Lavar but there is an obvious connection:

Orakpo wears #98. Lavar wore #56.

98-56=42

Charlie Taylor wore #42.

So the connection between Orakpo and Arrington is Charlie Taylor. It all makes sense. :)

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

Lavar was a monster for a couple years, lets not forget that. He was unbelievably physically gifted, but he developed a "degenerative knee problem" a couple years in, and he was never the same (mostly because without being able to rely on his physical ability, he was unable compensate for the fact that he couldn't learn to play within a scheme). That kind of thing is unavoidable, and it could happen to anyone, and there was no way to know it would be him.

That said, there is no reason to believe the same will happen to Orakpo save for the bad luck we seem to have with first round picks on Defense . . .

I'll just go ahead and knock on wood for you.

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

According to Phillip Daniels, Orakpo reminds him of...[URL="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/apr/29/daniels-ok-being-backup/"]himself[/URL].

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

[quote=AnimateYYZ;553198]According to Phillip Daniels, Orakpo reminds him of...[URL="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/apr/29/daniels-ok-being-backup/"]himself[/URL].[/quote]

I saw that, too. I was heartened by the fact that they both weighed the same upon entry into the league. Orakpo may turn out to be a fine pass rusher AND run stopper.

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

[quote=WillH;553194]Lavar was a monster for a couple years, lets not forget that. He was unbelievably physically gifted, but he developed a "degenerative knee problem" a couple years in, and he was never the same (mostly because without being able to rely on his physical ability, he was unable compensate for the fact that he couldn't learn to play within a scheme). That kind of thing is unavoidable, and it could happen to anyone, and there was no way to know it would be him.

That said, there is no reason to believe the same will happen to Orakpo save for [B]the bad luck we seem to have with first round picks on Defense[/B] . . .

I'll just go ahead and knock on wood for you.[/quote]

You mean like Sean Taylor and Laron Landry?

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

Lavar: I've seen his NFL career from start to finish
Orakpo: talk to you in 5-18 years

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

[quote=Lotus;553210]You mean like Sean Taylor and Laron Landry?[/quote]

Sean Taylor is no longer with us and Landry has yet to prove he is the player we drafted.

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

[quote=Lotus;553210]You mean like Sean Taylor and Laron Landry?[/quote]

Good Call. I meant ST passing, but I was trying to say it politely, and I half had in mind Carlos Rogers and Rocky Mcintosh (sp?) taking a little while to develop, but obviously Rocky was a 2nd rounder, I just forgot.

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

[quote=RedskinMike;553253]Sean Taylor is no longer with us and Landry has yet to prove he is the player we drafted.[/quote]

So he was a bad pick because he was killed?

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

On Lavar...he was allowed to be a maverick by a series of rotating door coaches...if not for his bad knees, which caused all the drama with the Skins, he would have been one of the best 10 LBs in team history.

For Rak, way to early to make any opinion.

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

[quote=tryfuhl;553263]So he was a bad pick because he was killed?[/quote]


I'm sure thats not what he meant. I had originally said we had [I]bad luck[/I] with the picks (not that they were bad picks), which you questioned citing ST and Landry, and which he subsequently defended.

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

I think the main difference is, Orakpo has not done a car commercial with Biz Markie:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jB_upFw4wj0]YouTube - Eastern Motors Lavar Arrington and Biz Markie sings[/ame]

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

I hope the main contrast is the coaches put Orapko in one position and let the man play football to his abilities and talents. Lavar got bounced from side to side and was up and down. Sometimes you just have to let talented players do what they do best instead of over-coaching them.

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

Speaking of Lavar, it appears that he has become a talent evaluator.

[URL="http://myespn.go.com/blogs/nflnation/0-7-643/Arrington-on-Wake---He-s-like-Cinderella-Man-.html"]Wake: He's like Cinderella man[/URL]

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

Obviously, I see I must have worded the original post all wrong....

What I was saying to compare & contrast is what they do on the field, not off of it.

Orakpo will play both DE and LB for the Skins, just like Lavar did. I thought Lavar was much better at DE (His best season was when he played it primarily - 11 sacks), but we needed him at LB, and he whined about playing with one hand down....

Orakpo, they are saying, will play LB on 1st & 2nd down some times, but DE on all 3rd downs... just was hoping people would compare their PLAYING STYLES and what they bring to a game as LB/DEs...

To say the only thing they have in common is skins color... pretty lame.

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

[quote=Hail to the Redskins;553307]Obviously, I see I must have worded the original post all wrong....

What I was saying to compare & contrast is what they do on the field, not off of it.

Orakpo will play both DE and LB for the Skins, just like Lavar did. I thought Lavar was much better at DE (His best season was when he played it primarily - 11 sacks), but we needed him at LB, and he whined about playing with one hand down....

Orakpo, they are saying, will play LB on 1st & 2nd down some times, but DE on all 3rd downs... just was hoping people would compare their PLAYING STYLES and what they bring to a game as LB/DEs...

To say the only thing they have in common is skins color... pretty lame.[/quote]


I dont remember Lavar ever primarily being a DE

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

Time will tell with Orakpo. I liked Lavar when he played but since he got out of the league my opinion of him has dwindled.

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

I think Orapko will be better. Orapko, played all four years at Texas, Lavar, came out as junior with a chip on his shoulder. Brian, seems to be more grounded and eager to get on the field and prove what he can do no matter where you put him, and as long as he doesn't have multiple DC's over several years and isn't represented by the Poston brothers all should be good.

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

[quote=Hail to the Redskins;553307]Obviously, I see I must have worded the original post all wrong....

What I was saying to compare & contrast is what they do on the field, not off of it.

Orakpo will play both DE and LB for the Skins, just like Lavar did. I thought Lavar was much better at DE (His best season was when he played it primarily - 11 sacks), but we needed him at LB, and he whined about playing with one hand down....

[B]Orakpo, they are saying, will play LB on 1st & 2nd down some times, but DE on all 3rd downs...[/B] just was hoping people would compare their PLAYING STYLES and what they bring to a game as LB/DEs...

To say the only thing they have in common is skins color... pretty lame.[/quote]

Do you have a link to that information? In [URL="http://blog.redskins.com/2009/04/25/coach-zorn-talks-brian-orakpo/"]this link[/URL], Zorn says something very different. He describes Orakpo as a hands-down DE and is very vague about any LB role.

Re: Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast
 

They are both going to be directly responsible for ending a Dallas Cowboy QB's career.