WP: Rookie Orakpo Tackles Dual Role

[ACW]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/09/AR2009100903901.html

Some key quotes:

But Orakpo says compared with the first two games, his comfort level the past two weeks "is like night and day." Orakpo was credited with four tackles against Detroit and a season-high seven last week against Tampa Bay. He also notched a sack in each of the past two games, the first Redskins rookie since Andre Collins in 1990 to register a sack in consecutive games.

"He's understanding how offenses are going to try to attack him, put him in situations where he may not be as comfortable, try to get him in space as much as possible," middle linebacker London Fletcher said. "He's continuing to learn. I think his explosiveness is improving each and every week, his suddenness is improving each and every week. And his hesitancy from not knowing what to do, that's going away each and every week."

"Right now I'm just really enjoying this new position, playing in space," Orakpo said. "A defensive end's dream is always to play in space and have an opportunity to do all kinds of stuff, so I get to do that and at the same time, I get to rush on third downs or different pass situations. So that gives me a lot of opportunities to make plays."

Orakpo says both Fletcher and Olivadotti, the linebackers coach, have taken a special interest in his development. Olivadotti said one of Orakpo's best attributes is his ability to learn and quickly adjust. Orakpo doesn't wait for film study on Mondays to make adjustments, and Olivadotti says he can see his young linebacker improving through the course of a game. Four weeks into the season, Olivadotti says he'd like to see Orakpo better use his eyes to react and follow the ball.

"It's still probably not as perfect as he or I would like it," Olivadotti said of Orakpo's overall game. "But right now, it's little tweaks and not really big chunks that we're dealing with. The more he plays, I think, the better he's going to get."

Nice to see Fletch involved Article also said no plans to switch 'Rak to full-time DE.

[Ax]

I've never really understood all the criticism for trying to enable the young man to be on the field for every play. If we already had an established SAM backer, Rak would be on the bench 1st and 2nd down.

He's too small to be an every down DE. For now. The tackles in this league would wear him down by the 3rd quarter. He needs a year or two in the pro's strength training regiment, along with the experience of the pro game, before he'd be fully ready to be an every down DE. Lots of kids make the transition from DE to LB, or vice-versa, out of college. Does everyone think Rak is too dumb or something?

After the year is done, we can assess whether or not he's a good fit for the job. For now, I think the kid is doing just fine. And, I trust Fletcher and Olivadotti to guide him toward being a dominating force as a versatile, every down LB/DE.

[redskins55]

I never was concerned that Orakpo couldn't learn OLB and be effective...My concern is that we arn't utilizing him for his fullest and natural potential. It's like putting Portis at Fullback. Yea he can block really good but is that what best serves his potential? I'm not changing my sig until it happends. Blache got the point a little bit after the lions game but he still has to get more aggressive.

[redskins55]

I've never really understood all the criticism for trying to enable the young man to be on the field for every play. If we already had an established SAM backer, Rak would be on the bench 1st and 2nd down.

That's a great point.. I would like to see us have a natural SAM backer. see Derek Brooks on ESPN analyzing and can't help but think he could help our defense at SAM or even bringing back Marcus Washington. RAK should be rushing that QB on all downs especially since the NFL is not a run first league anymore. Alot of teams pass on 1st and 2nd downs and Rak is left hesitating on the rush and/or caught in space covering a TE.

Look at the only TD Tampa scored last week. Rak was covering the TE, when he figured out the TE wasn't going out for a pass he decided to bull rush and was a second late for a sack. If he was in the dirt he could've got there in time for a critical sack. Those plays change games!

[Oldfan]

I've never really understood all the criticism for trying to enable the young man to be on the field for every play.

He could be on the field for every down as a DE if he was used the way the Colts use Dwight Freeny. They have him going after the QB on every down, resting on short yardage.

That's the argument. I'm not saying that I know enough to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of a move like that. But, the argument makes sense at face value.

[Ax]

He could be on the field for every down as a DE if he was used the way the Colts use Dwight Freeny. They have him going after the QB on every down, resting on short yardage.

That's the argument. I'm not saying that I know enough to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of a move like that. But, the argument makes sense at face value.

And I agree, mostly. I just think that most of the criticism tries to paint it as such an alien idea. It is not. But I know, especially right now, everything is over criticized around these parts.

If Rak was at DE on every down, and people were running all over him, and he didn't have any more sacks than he does, then all the chatter would be how we wasted another draft pick.

I also understand, that until he is at DE full time, everybody who thinks he should be, right now, will swear to the heavens that if he were, he'd already have 217 sacks, and be a lock for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

[redskins59]

He's too small to be an every down DE. For now. The tackles in this league would wear him down by the 3rd quarter.

Andre Carter is 250 lbs, whereas Orakpo is 260 pounds. He is big enough to play DE.

[21forlyfe]

Wait a minute how many sacks and takeovers those Rak Have? now how many mistakes have he made? The SAM thing is stupid....The only dumb move ive seen top this was when they wanted ST to play in the box to stop the run...but if it was a pass they wanted ST to sprint out of the box and defend the Pass..SMFH

Rakpo is less of a player playing at the LB spot...Name one good play he has made at playing LB?(not rushing from a standup position smh)All of his limted plays have come from him playing at the DE spot

[Ax]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. If Rak was our starting DE, He'd have a million sacks, and every RB would be tackled behind the line, causing a fumble, that Rak would then pick up and run back for a TD.

[theboomking]

I've never really understood all the criticism for trying to enable the young man to be on the field for every play. If we already had an established SAM backer, Rak would be on the bench 1st and 2nd down.

He's too small to be an every down DE. For now. The tackles in this league would wear him down by the 3rd quarter. He needs a year or two in the pro's strength training regiment, along with the experience of the pro game, before he'd be fully ready to be an every down DE. Lots of kids make the transition from DE to LB, or vice-versa, out of college. Does everyone think Rak is too dumb or something?

This is a bit ridiculous. Rak is as big as both of the Giants' DE's, or nearly so. He is bigger than Andre Carter. He can bench press 515 pounds, probably more than any other DE on the team except maybe Daniels.

I think the one benefit of playing him at OLB is his long term health. Smaller DE's don't tend to have nearly as much longevity in the league, whereas OLB's can play effectively well into their 30's because they take much less of a beating on a play to play basis.

That said, I am fine with him at SAM, this year. His long term fate is definitely to be Carter's replacement.

[theboomking]

Wait a minute how many sacks and takeovers those Rak Have? now how many mistakes have he made? The SAM thing is stupid....The only dumb move ive seen top this was when they wanted ST to play in the box to stop the run...but if it was a pass they wanted ST to sprint out of the box and defend the Pass..SMFH

Rakpo is less of a player playing at the LB spot...Name one good play he has made at playing LB?(not rushing from a standup position smh)All of his limted plays have come from him playing at the DE spot

Well, I can agree that Rak's impact plays certainly have come from the DE spot. He has been competent as a SAM but very good as a DE. You seem to slight his productivity thus far however. He has been excellent in the last 3 games, registering sacks in the last two, and multiple hits on Bulger in the previous game, being especially effective on the key stop against the Rams at the end of the game.

[HailGreen28]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. If Rak was our starting DE, He'd have a million sacks, and every RB would be tackled behind the line, causing a fumble, that Rak would then pick up and run back for a TD.

I get the impression his best sacks and pressures have been when he was on the line (as a SAM, but on the line rushing). And I thought in those situations he wasn't getting steamrolled on run plays. Is that true, or not?

[Ax]

This is a bit ridiculous. Rak is as big as both of the Giants' DE's, or nearly so. He is bigger than Andre Carter. He can bench press 515 pounds, probably more than any other DE on the team except maybe Daniels.

Carter is better against the run as a down lineman, right now. What the hell is wrong with having Carter, Daniels, and Rak all on the field at the same time? If we were set at SAM, we wouldn't need to do this, and Rak could be worked in easily at DE. We're not though. Rak is the best candidate on the squad to play the position. So, it makes perfect sense. For now.

I think the one benefit of playing him at OLB is his long term health. Smaller DE's don't tend to have nearly as much longevity in the league, whereas OLB's can play effectively well into their 30's because they take much less of a beating on a play to play basis.

That said, I am fine with him at SAM, this year. His long term fate is definitely to be Carter's replacement.

100% correct.

[theboomking]

Carter is better against the run as a down lineman, right now. What the hell is wrong with having Carter, Daniels, and Rak all on the field at the same time? If we were set at SAM, we wouldn't need to do this, and Rak could be worked in easily at DE. We're not though. Rak is the best candidate on the squad to play the position. So, it makes perfect sense. For now.

Nothing is wrong with playing Rak at SAM this year, because we have no viable alternatives at SAM. If we want to keep Orakpo at Sam however, we still need to draft a RDE to be Carter's replacement in the current scheme. Carter is getting up there in age and has been only moderately effective this year. I'm assuming that Jarmon will be our LDE.

What I'm guessing will happen however is that we will have a new defensive coordinator next year. If that DC isn't Jerry Gray, we can probably expect to see Rak at DE full time.