Orakpo at SAM makes no sense?? Stupid??

[rick1796]

I got bored so it's kinda long. . .

Orakpo at SAM makes no sense?? Stupid??

Over and over again, I hear the naysayers spout that moving Orakpo is a bad idea. Matt Mosley says it “doesn’t make sense” every time the subject is brought to his attention. ES members like Brandon Lloyd Christmas (sweet you’re famous now. . ) search through every post in every thread looking for an opportunity to call the idea of moving Orakpo to SAM “Stupid”. (He still finds time to rant about JC, don’t worry.) Frankly, I would say that these assertions are the one that are “stupid” or “don’t make sense”. Allow me to address my reasons below.

First, let me say that I find your lack of faith disturbing. Between Williams and Blache the Redskins defense has been more than solid. Lack of turnovers has been a persistent issue, but most of the victories over the last few seasons can be attributed to the defense. So why now would we as fans assume the defensive coaches have no idea what they are doing?

Second, in case no one has heard Blache rant on the subject, the ‘skins defense is designed to stop the run first and foremost. This style of defense has been so effective against the Cowboys 2 season ago that they apparently decided not to bother to try last season. Albert Haynesworth is not a liability against the run but the accommodations that will be made to allow him to be a playmaker in the defense will break from the disciplined approach that made the skins run defense so sturdy. Having Orakpo on the line would further weaken the line against the run. He is a rush first end who admits to not being quite up to par in his run defense. Daniels with his new weight of 305lbs, his experience, and his pride in his run defense makes the line very difficult to run against.

With the run defense being as strong as it should be this will allow the coaches to focus their schemes on stopping the intermediate passing game, and allow the players (Landry, Haynesworth, Carter, Hall, Rogers) to restrict the deep passing game. Orakpo will cover short zones, but at least as often, he will likely be moving forward, and attacking the play in front of him. Pass and run blitzes will bring him head first into the action, while still allowing the defense to be flexible and unpredictable.

Finally, I think you can rest assured that every third down with four or more yards to go Orakpo will have his hand in the dirt allowing him to do what he does best. Every time I hear a rant about burdening the kid with learning to cover a TE I wonder how easy some fans must think it is to learn to defend the run again huge athletic OT’s. Frankly, it seems, from those rants, as though it must be easy. Still, somehow teams still manage to run the ball. I feel that learning to be a run stopping left end on 1st and 2nd downs is as much or more of a learning curve, for a collegiate pass rushing right end, than learning to play some LB. Additionally, I hear talk of him adding weight so he can anchor the left side. Why, the hell, would you want a guy we are counting on to provide dynamic play including sacking the QB to force on extra weight?

In conclusion, I can certainly see those who do no agree with the idea of moving Orakpo to LB voicing that opinion. However, I cannot understand saying the idea makes no sense, or is stupid. There is certainly a lot of sense behind the idea. Forcing Orakpo to change his body structure to play on the left side of the defensive line could be said to make little sense. So let’s wait a while before deriding the coaches that have been successes for the ‘skins in the past as being simpletons, and see if Orakpo can make the transition. If he can this defense could be very special.

[Playsmart30]

I dont understand why the redskins even thinking about playing him at LB.

[stoney26]

I think they should put him at the position that got him all of the awards he won. But then again Ive never been a defensive coordinator like most of the people on this board. Plus it was just a mini camp. Hopefully it was just to see what he had. And who knows, he could turn into in all pro linebacker. Im just hoping for the best.

[rick1796]

I dont understand why the redskins even thinking about playing him at LB

Ah see that is better. You show that the failure here is on your part to understand the motivations of those with more experience and ability than yourself.

[IbleedBnG83]

All we can do is hope and expect that Blache and Co. will put the team in the best position to win.

[WhoRUSupposed2Be]

A good thread... I find there be good fortune with Orakpo playing both LB and DE.

Just see my sig.

[TD_washingtonredskins]

All we can do is hope and expect that Blache and Co. will put the team in the best position to win.

Exactly right.

Maybe we're attempting to put the best 11 defenders on the field at one time. It's quite possible Blache trusts Daniels/Orakpo over Orakpo/Blades. If Daniels is healthy, I could certainly understand that logic.

Many are acting as though we're not going to let this kid play or something. I'm all about putting the best 11 men on the field as often as possible!

[Mahons21]

double my bad

[Mahons21]

Drafting a first round pass rusher and playing them at LB is stupid... If we needed a SAM we could have gone after a SAM and had PD and Wilson rotating at DE... If we needed a run-stopping DE, maybe we should have traded down and gotten a a bigger guy like Ayers.... Asking a pass rusher to cover Jason Witten is plain laughable and makes no sense at all

[CRobi21]

I've heard in some articles that Blace wants him to mainly be a blitzing LB at SLB, and on 3rd downs line up at DE and rush the passer.

So he's gonna be getting after the QB no matter what.

Kinda like J Harrison in Pittsburgh.

[KeepThaFaithDC]

I think we got just what we needed. a true athlete can play anywhere and will make plays. here we have a guy that can play both def end and lb. it makes perfect sense. n really it doesn't have to make any sense cause we arent coaches. we are fans and don't know **** about whats really going on behind the scenes.. we will remain fans and they will coach. just have to stay positive and think theyre doing the rite thing. i think they are

[bobzmuda]

Just think Terrell Suggs or DeMarcus Ware.

He's not going to be asked to drop back 30 times a game, that's for sure.

[Audible_Red40]

So he's gonna be getting after the QB no matter what.

Kinda like J Harrison in Pittsburgh.

Totally agree.

Or J.Porter, S.Merriman and D.Ware.

[rick1796]

No no no Mahon21 said it was stupid and he CLEARLY has more knowledge than the coaches.

Clearifying, my post isn't as much about whether the move should be made. It's about saying things are stupid when clearly you aren't the subject matter expert. Give it a chance. I think there is a lot of potential in this move. If he doesn't take to it, then we'll only see him on third downs anyway. . .

[Art]

I dont understand why the redskins even thinking about playing him at LB.

It's not so much that you do not understand. It's that you've closed your mind and have refused to pay attention. The original poster took his time to produce a thoughtful post that was a trademark for ES in the beginning. A provoking post designed to inspire communication around the thoughts provided. Agree or disagree, but engage.

Instead, you reply with an almost incidental one line response that doesn't suggest you even read the post above. Agree or disagree with the logic, but at least acknowledge you saw it, as it is a rationale that provides all the reasoning YOU could possibly need to understand that which you deem inconceivable.

The Redskins are a defense BASED on stopping the run and putting the opposition into situations that create advantages for our defense. If this goal remains, Orakpo is a far lesser player than Daniels on run situations. At least for today, as Orakpo puts on more weight and adds more strength, he'd be a liability against the run. Carter is smaller and lean, but holds up reasonably well because he's pretty active.

Orakpo could too, but isn't quite ready for that role. While I fully support ONLY playing Orakpo at defensive end, damning the consequences and hoping he develops there as a great one, the premise for playing him at backer is doing so gives us an overall BETTER defense on first and second downs when teams are more likely to run, while on third down providing an opportunity for him to get after the QB in a situation that benefits us.

I'm not a fan of splitting his duty, but, conversely, I LOVE defenses that move people around and create matchup problems in so doing. If Orakpo can fill that role well and help us on all three downs, he might as well be used in that way.

[TheLongshot]

I don't see any problem with trying to find a way to get a talented player on the field as much as possible. Despite what many here think, Orakpo isn't going to get the majority of snaps at RDE, particularly when he's probably a better pass rusher than run blocker at this point in his career. In fact, I expect that he's going to be in rushing the passer for about the same amount of time if he's playing primarially DE or LB.

[SnyderMustGo]

Totally agree.

Or J.Porter, S.Merriman and D.Ware.

All those guys play in a 3-4.

A OLB in a 3-4 is VASTLY different than a OLB in a 4-3.

[NAC386]

Just think Terrell Suggs or DeMarcus Ware.

He's not going to be asked to drop back 30 times a game, that's for sure.

Not exactly like Suggs or Ware since they play in different types of defense, but I agree with the thought behind this statement. He is going to be asked to blitz a ton, just from the LB position which is actually perfect for him right now I think. He is not going to be covering TE's that often, he's going to be blitzing and covering short zones where he can blow up the receiver or RB.

I do NOT want him as a linebacker we have seen it played most on the Skins teams, but I really don't think that is what the coaches have in mind. I think he'll be attacking the QB and blowing up screens and short routes almost all the time.

[rick1796]

It's not so much that you do not understand. It's that you've closed your mind and have refused to pay attention. The original poster took his time to produce a thoughtful post that was a trademark for ES in the beginning. A provoking post designed to inspire communication around the thoughts provided. Agree or disagree, but engage.

Thanks Art.

I am all for definsive flexibility. What the 'skins have lacked over the last few years is the ability to confuse an offense. GWilliams was able to do it some, but even he got predictable, and used his players in the same way down in and down out. I like that mentallity to an extent. It says "here's our defense. . good luck chump" but it doesn't produce the turnovers we need. Hopefully Orakpo, Hall and Haynesworth will provide that spark where ever Orakpo lines up during the season. My bottom line is i want him on the field.

[Thinking Skins]

I think Blache is just developing a lot of different packages. The same way we keep a lot of bodies rotating on our DL, I think we're going to be rotating bodies at our LBs as well to keep them fresh.

I have no problem with a playmaker at DE/LB. If Blache thinks its a good idea, then far be it for me to think I know defense better than him.

[SnyderMustGo]

He is going to be asked to blitz a ton, just from the LB position which is actually perfect for him right now I think. He is not going to be covering TE's that often, he's going to be blitzing and covering short zones where he can blow up the receiver or RB.

He can't play that way as a OLB in a 4-3. The job assignments are different. Hell, a OLB in a 3-4 still has to cover TEs. In a 4-3, its the lineman that get the push and the linebackers react. You can't send our OLB on a blitz on every place like Harrison, Ware, Merriman or Porter who are all OLBs in a 3-4.

[NAC386]

He can't play that way as a OLB in a 4-3. The job assignments are different. Hell, a OLB in a 3-4 still has to cover TEs. In a 4-3, its the lineman that get the push and the linebackers react. You can't send our OLB on a blitz on every place like Harrison, Ware, Merriman or Porter who are all OLBs in a 3-4.

But remember that he is playing OLB on running downs, mainly 1st and 2nd. On 3rd downs they want him as a DE. So, you are right that he can't do the same things a 3-4 guy can do, but don't forget that on passing downs he will be a DE on the line, not dropping to cover a TE.

[IbleedBnG83]

Organized chaos.

Being able to have Orakpo all over the feild as well as Chris Wilson, adds a whole other dimension to the defense. We will be able to confuse offenses as to what we are doing on defense.

Don't expect Orakpo to be playing man coverage on Tony Gonzalez, but making plays on players coming out the backfield.

I am willing to be that Orakpo being utilized in a LB role and a pass rush specialist will allow him to make numerous big plays this year.

I do look forward to hearing him practicing with the DL and doing DE drills to see how he fares in the NFL.

[Thinking Skins]

He can't play that way as a OLB in a 4-3. The job assignments are different. Hell, a OLB in a 3-4 still has to cover TEs. In a 4-3, its the lineman that get the push and the linebackers react. You can't send our OLB on a blitz on every place like Harrison, Ware, Merriman or Porter who are all OLBs in a 3-4.

Aarington was an OLB in at 4-3 who blitzed from the LB spot and also put his hand in the dirt. Why can't we have a DE who puts his hand in the dirt but also blitzes from the OLB spot too?

[stoney26]

I've heard in some articles that Blace wants him to mainly be a blitzing LB at SLB, and on 3rd downs line up at DE and rush the passer.

So he's gonna be getting after the QB no matter what.

Kinda like J Harrison in Pittsburgh.

I was thinking the same thing but how many sam backers get a bunch of sacks in the 4-3?? This is a serious question. I couldnt think of any but maybe there are some.