Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo

[FRPLG]

To have player this caliber available is really quite a bonus for us. We're talking about the best true pass-rushing end in the draft. To me we needed a OT more but Orakpo is relatively a better prospect than Oher. So Oher at a position of great need versus Orakpo at a position of somewhat lesser need sorta washes mathematically to me. Default to taking the better player and let the chips fall. Nobody should be disappointed.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

To have player this caliber available is really quite a bonus for us. We're talking about the best true pass-rushing end in the draft. To me we needed a OT more but Orakpo is relatively a better prospect than Oher. So Oher at a position of great need versus Orakpo at a position of somewhat lesser need sorta washes mathematically to me. Default to taking the better player and let the chips fall. Nobody should be disappointed.

Getting Haynesworth makes the Orakpo pick that much more valuable. To get the kind of push up the middle we're going to have now with a DT rotation of Big Al, a healthy Griffin (who apparently is looking the best he has since his first year with the Skins), Monty, and Golston... Let's just say AC and Orakpo are going to have their ears pinned back. I can't wait.

[Lotus]

Yes, Sanchez clearly was a smoke screen. I'd like to offer props to 53Fan, Slingin' Sammy, CRedskinsRule, and 724SkinsFan for having both the courage and insight to share that with us before the draft even started. Those guys know what they are talking about!

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by GMScud

Promising Sanchez the keys to the car from day one would basically cancel out Campbell. His trade value would plummet, and he'd likely walk after '09. Not to mention what it would do to the locker room. Snyder was just going status quo. With Campbell on the team, Sanchez would have to compete for the job. That's a no brainer. That doesn't mean Campbell couldn't be traded after drafting Sanchez. At least we're not tipping our hand in that regard. Currently, telling him anything other than what we are would be foolish. At this point I'd say it's possible (however unlikely), that we're running a good bluff.

I'd like to thank myself for realizing the possibility- I just didn't think we were actually smart enough to do it. I'd also like to thank the FO office for wisely using Danny's past history as a great tool to create the smokescreen. And lastly, I'd like to thank the Raiders for drafting Heyward-Bey.

[FRPLG]

Originally Posted by GMScud

Getting Haynesworth makes the Orakpo pick that much more valuable. To get the kind of push up the middle we're going to have now with a DT rotation of Big Al, a healthy Griffin (who apparently is looking the best he has since his first year with the Skins), Monty, and Golston... Let's just say AC and Orakpo are going to have their ears pinned back. I can't wait.

I mean, seriously. Let's take an optimistic approach and project Orakpo out as good as we think he is. Doing that we start Orakpo, Griffin, Haynesworth, Carter. Even if we drop him back to SAM we still have improved our front 4 or 7 immensely. Like going from one of the worst(front 4) or average(front 7) to a top 10 unit in both cases. One of our biggest weaknesses becomes a strength.

If we can find one OT capable of not getting JC killed and some depth guys on the OL who, again, don't get JC killed then our OL can be fine. I mean getting a good RT would have still left issues on the OL that'll need to be fixed via shrewed veteran acquisitions and hopeful progression of younger guys. But improving the DLine was essentially impossible using that same strategy. Historically, there aren't difference makers available along the DLine post-draft and we don't have even any real hope for young contributers with growth potential in-house. Guys like Wilson, Alexander and Jackson while sexy in some respect have serious weaknesses that involve unimprovable attributes like size and speed. They have roles but every down starters they aren't At least not on a good line.

I'm actually ecstatic with this pick.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by FRPLG

I mean, seriously. Let's take an optimistic approach and project Orakpo out as good as we think he is. Doing that we start Orakpo, Griffin, Haynesworth, Carter. Even if we drop him back to SAM we still have improved our front 4 or 7 immensely. Like going from one of the worst(front 4) or average(front 7) to a top 10 unit in both cases. One of our biggest weaknesses becomes a strength.

If we can find one OT capable of not getting JC killed and some depth guys on the OL who, again, don't get JC killed then our OL can be fine. I mean getting a good RT would have still left issues on the OL that'll need to be fixed via shrewed veteran acquisitions and hopeful progression of younger guys. But improving the DLine was essentially impossible using that same strategy. Historically, there aren't difference makers available along the DLine post-draft and we don't have even any real hope for young contributers with growth potential in-house. Guys like Wilson, Alexander and Jackson while sexy in some respect have serious weaknesses that involve unimprovable attributes like size and speed. They have roles but every down starters they aren't At least not on a good line.

I'm actually ecstatic with this pick.

Yup. I agree with everything you just said.

I too am ecstatic with this pick. I really didn't think he'd fall to us at all. I love that we had the pick turned in after about 20 seconds, and we had a jersey ready with his name on it. LOL! Smitten with Sanchez my ass. We were drooling over Orakpo.