Let's talk some Orakpo

[over the mountain]

Originally Posted by Big C

orakpo did well rushing the passer, as did jarmon. not sure how rak will be at linebacker though

yeah this is something im wondering about to in regards to orakpo. we know he is physically impressive, positive remarks about how he studies the game so he could be decent at SAM but i wonder if his skill set is better suited at being a down lineman 3 snaps a series instead of just on 3rd down.

- orakpo said in an interview that he excels at rushing the passer and really wasnt asked to do anything else in texas (LB and coverage is new to him)

- given how blache (arguably but JT certainly thought so) misused JT last year in this similar role, i am alil hesitant to let blache try the same thing again with our star rookie

-im not sure blache knows how to scheme an aggresive front four and really hope he doesnt ask them to stay conservative and eat up blockers again this year to try and let the LBs make plays.

-last year qb pressure was a big problem, DS n Cerrato addressed that with AH and orakpo but maybe even with the right pieces (and AH is a huge talent addition) blache still cant get pressure on qb or is too old and stubborn to change his his conservative approach

- on the flip side, theisman today said orakpo lacks the true size to take a defensive lineman pounding every snap

im not totally sure how i feel, i know we need LB help but at the expense of experimenting with our star rookie and taking him from what he does best to a whole new position and responsibilities? im not sold on this yet but i will defer to blache and the coaches.

go skins!!

[Lotus]

There was one play when Rak looked like he was in the backfield before the snap, despite not being offsides. Talk about explosiveness.

[CultBrennan59]

Can people tell me why Rak looked bad in coverage, because when I watched him, the TE had maybe a step on him in the endzone, but other than that, I thought he looked great. Also you got to keep in mind that Greg Blache is good at hiding players weaknesses and exploiting there strengths, so in the preseason he's not going to show what he's going to be doing all season. But if you want my full thoughts on Orakpo, he was always around the ball, HELD CONSTANTLY, and looks great as an OLB and a DE.
My next question is if you all think he looks too bad at OLB, should we sign Derrick Brooks, and move Rak to DE for the rest of this season?

[over the mountain]

Originally Posted by CultBrennan59

My next question is if you all think he looks too bad at OLB, should we sign Derrick Brooks, and move Rak to DE for the rest of this season?

i think orakpo is physically gifted enough to be decent at LB and seems to be a student of the game so learning coverage and LB responsibilities should progress positively . . . but i wonder if we would be better off with orakpo at DE and bringing someone like brooks in so rak can do what he does best with no hesitation or thinking.

i also wonder if no RT really claims the starting spot in the next few weeks whether we should bring in jon runyan.

go skins!!

[Lotus]

Brooks has always played on the weak side in a Tampa-2 scheme. I don't know that he would work on the strong side in our scheme.

[53Fan]

Originally Posted by Lotus

Brooks has always played on the weak side in a Tampa-2 scheme. I don't know that he would work on the strong side in our scheme.

I think the coaches will stick with Orakpo for the next couple of games and if him or Wilson don't look like they're up to the task, Marcus Washington could be brought back in. I wouldn't hold my breath though, they definitely want Orakpo on the field as much as possible.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by 53Fan

I think the coaches will stick with Orakpo for the next couple of games and if him or Wilson don't look like they're up to the task, Marcus Washington could be brought back in. I wouldn't hold my breath though, they definitely want Orakpo on the field as much as possible.

lol you just won't let go hope of MW coming back.

I think the chances at this point are slim to none.

[SkinsLove24/7]

Sam Huff called him Rakapo on the radio and seriously did not seem to know his name. I got a good laugh out of that. ORAKPO looked great and is so quick cant wait to see this D week after week...Anyone else every catch games on the radio? Michaels, Jergensen and Huff are good guys but just don't cut it when it comes to play by play. The ramble on and are kinda goofy. Im not a big fan but oh well..just some thoughts..

[Kope]

Originally Posted by SkinsLove24/7

Sam Huff called him Rakapo on the radio and seriously did not seem to know his name. I got a good laugh out of that. ORAKPO looked great and is so quick cant wait to see this D week after week...Anyone else every catch games on the radio? Michaels, Jergensen and Huff are good guys but just don't cut it when it comes to play by play. The ramble on and are kinda goofy. Im not a big fan but oh well..just some thoughts..

I just think of Sonny and Sam as having two uncles you really like watching the game in your living room next to you... not really as commentators. Larry is still the evil replacement for Frank Herzog so I just tune him out.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by Kope

I just think of Sonny and Sam as having two uncles you really like watching the game in your living room next to you... not really as commentators. Larry is still the evil replacement for Frank Herzog so I just tune him out.

Michael is terrible. He's such a comapny man. He makes me puke sometimes.

[Monkeydad]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

Michael is terrible. He's such a comapny man. He makes me puke sometimes.

So you like Brian Mitchell's approach better?

I see nothing wrong with a commentator for the Redskins Broadcast Network actually being optimistic and supporting the team.

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by Buster

So you like Brian Mitchell's approach better?

I see nothing wrong with a commentator for the Redskins Broadcast Network actually being optimistic and supporting the team.

Thank you!

[mlmpetert]

Originally Posted by SkinsLove24/7

Sam Huff called him Rakapo on the radio and seriously did not seem to know his name. I got a good laugh out of that. ORAKPO looked great and is so quick cant wait to see this D week after week...Anyone else every catch games on the radio? Michaels, Jergensen and Huff are good guys but just don't cut it when it comes to play by play. The ramble on and are kinda goofy. Im not a big fan but oh well..just some thoughts..

I listened when I left a friends place during half time, when Sam disappeared for 3 minutes of game time during the start of the second half. I think Sonny said he went to the ATM? What the hell does he need to go to the ATM for during halftime? They do remind me of 2 old uncles, I feel like they might be drinking too.

I never really followed Maryland, but wasn’t shawne merriman really only a DE in college that got converted to OLB in the pros. Can anyone draw any comparisons, besides physically?

[firstdown]

Originally Posted by mlmpetert

I listened when I left a friends place during half time, when Sam disappeared for 3 minutes of game time during the start of the second half. I think Sonny said he went to the ATM? What the hell does he need to go to the ATM for during halftime? They do remind me of 2 old uncles, I feel like they might be drinking too.

I never really followed Maryland, but wasn’t shawne merriman really only a DE in college that got converted to OLB in the pros. Can anyone draw any comparisons, besides physically?

Maybe because they are radio they have to pay for anything they eat or drink.

[BDBohnzie]

Originally Posted by mlmpetert

I never really followed Maryland, but wasn’t shawne merriman really only a DE in college that got converted to OLB in the pros. Can anyone draw any comparisons, besides physically?

Merriman was a hybrid DE/OLB at Maryland, similar to Terrell Suggs in Baltimore (who also played DE in college at Arizona State). Both San Diego and Maryland run a similar 3-4 style defense, so there was very little transition for Merriman. Orakpo has the speed to cover TEs and RBs out of the backfield, his adjustment will be mental in learning to do the other tasks of a linebacker besides dropping the QB on his head.