skinsfan07 Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 http://www.redskins.com/gen/articles/Orakpo_Keeps_Coming_93824.jsp Didn't see this posted yet. By Gary Fitzgerald Redskins.com Posted: December 14, 2009 From the moment Brian Orakpo arrived at Redskins Park, he has displayed maturity beyond his years. That maturity continues to show up on the football field. He had a career day in the Redskins’ 34-13 victory over the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, posting four sacks. For the Redskins, it’s a good thing that his career is only beginning. “His aggressiveness and his burst,” head coach Jim Zorn marveled a day after the game. “It didn’t seem like he got tired. He was gutting it out.” Said Orakpo: “I was just being relentless out there. You have to give credit to the offense, too. The offense put a lot of points on the board and that allowed us to really let it loose [as pass rushers].” It was the first time a Redskins defender had four sacks since December 2005 when Phillip Daniels had four against the Dallas Cowboys. Dexter Manley, Ken Harvey and Diron Talbert also accomplished the feat. The last NFL rookie to post four sacks in a game? Go back to December 1987, when Buffalo’s Cornelius Bennett did it. Orakpo has 11 sacks on the season. He becomes the first rookie to post double-digit sacks since Chicago’s Mark Anderson and Cleveland’s Kamerion Wimbley did it in 2006. Other pass rushers who posted double-digit sacks as rookies? Tennessee’s Jevon Kearse, Indianapolis’s Dwight Freeney, Carolina’s Julius Peppers, Baltimore’s Terrell Suggs, Minnesota’s Kevin Williams and San Diego’s Shawne Merriman. Overall, the Redskins posted eight sacks of Raiders quarterbacks on Sunday. Andre Carter had two sacks, Lorenzo Alexander had one and Reed Doughty recorded a sack on a safety blitz in the first quarter. The last time the Redskins’ defense posted eight sacks in a game was on September 1990 against Troy Aikman and the Dallas Cowboys. Carter and Orakpo become the first Redskins teammates to post double-digit sacks in the same season since 2000, when Bruce Smith and Marco Coleman accomplished the feat. Smith had 10 and Coleman had 12 that year. As a pass-rushing duo, Carter and Orakpo lead the NFL with a combined 22 sacks. They took over NFL lead from Dwight Freeney and Robert Mathis, who have combined for 21 sacks. In Orakpo, it’s clear the Redskins have a special player on their hands. He has been lining up more at defensive end in recent weeks, although he still sees action at linebacker. “I was in the zone, basically,” Orakpo said after the Raiders game. “I love the game plan. Get me on the edge more at defensive end, my natural position, and then I can just wreak some havoc out there.” It helped when the Raiders lost starting quarterback Bruce Gradkowski left the game at halftime with a knee injury. He was replaced by backup JaMarcus Russell, who really struggled. Russell was sacked six times in the second half, three times by Orakpo. “We knew he was a pocket quarterback and that we could get after him,” Orakpo said. His approach to rushing quarterbacks is to adapt to the technique of the blocker. “I’m never guy who anticipates my move before the snap,” he said. “I’m always a guy who plays off of reaction. Whatever the tackle gives me, that’s when I make my move.” With three games to play, Orakpo is 3.5 sacks shy of Kearse’s rookie record of 14.5 sacks, set in 1999. Orakpo is also certain to be a contender for the NFL Rookie of the Year honors. His top competition is likely Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing, who has 112 tackles, 2.5 sacks and three interceptions. "That’s one thing about me, I don’t aim for anything, I just go out there and play," Orakpo said. "If it happens, it will be a huge honor, but that’s not my number one goal. If it happens, it’s a great accomplishment.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MattFancy Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 Maybe we'll start playing him more at DE after this. I'm sure he has some more big games left in him this year! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Mexico Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 The man is a beast. I love watching him play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IONTOP Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 ROY should be one of the most coveted awards because you only have ONE chance to win... If you come in 2nd place for the MVP voting you can say "well I'll work harder and try to win it next year" but with ROY it's such an honor to win it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terrifNick21 Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 It's so great to actually have a player on defense the caliber of Orakpo. Straight domination yesterday. Can't wait until he gets the rookie sack record. I REALLY can't wait till he lines up against Flozell again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Operations Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 He's a real bright spot, for sure. Best defensive end we've had since Charles Mann. Good pick, Vinny! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grantarchy Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 Orakpo is the first player that we've had since the passing of Taylor that has perennial pro bowl and future HoF potential. It is nice to have a player on the team that you can actually say is going to be dominant at his position. Been a long time since we could say that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Operations Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 I hope he ends Sheli Manning's or Tony Homo's season. :evilg: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mistertim Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 Even with a couple other serious contenders for DROY, if Orakpo broke Kearse's rookie sack record I don't see how they could pass him up for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bikie Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 I wanted to bet on orakpo as the DROY due to AH being in the picture... little did I know he'd get 4 sacks without him... if orakpo truly develops into a nightmare, demanding more attention than one man (cause he wasn't chipped or doubled at all yesterday), and AH remains in the picture also demanding a double team, it just won't be fair... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SirClintonPortis Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 JaMarcus Russell is pretty bad at avoiding sacks, but getting 4 sacks in a game is still a great achievement. Orakpo will be a BEAST. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oldskool Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 It reminds me of when Osi Umenyiora abused Winston Justice and immediately made him a well known player in the league and respected for his ability. Hope the same holds true for Orakpo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmk588 Posted December 14, 2009 Share Posted December 14, 2009 Orakpo for president!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skinsfan07 Posted December 15, 2009 Author Share Posted December 15, 2009 I wanted to bet on orakpo as the DROY due to AH being in the picture... little did I know he'd get 4 sacks without him... if orakpo truly develops into a nightmare, demanding more attention than one man (cause he wasn't chipped or doubled at all yesterday), and AH remains in the picture also demanding a double team, it just won't be fair... agreed. And with Carter playing so well and Jarmon as a backup we will be a force at the DE position. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rocky21 Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 Only this coaching staff would take the best D line prospect this tean has had in at least a deacde and play him out of position as a rookie. Oh boy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skins93077 Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 Just like someone else mentioned he had 4 sacks without big al. That alone just shows you what he can do. Also, anyone else notice rob jackson in the game late? He was doing ok rushing just got there alittle bit late at times. He could also work into the mix along with jarmon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kuraitengai Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 It's so great to actually have a player on defense the caliber of Orakpo. Straight domination yesterday. Can't wait until he gets the rookie sack record. I REALLY can't wait till he lines up against Flozell again. unless he decides that rak is trying out a justin tuck impersonation and then tries to trip or push him in the back to get him outta the game... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StillUnknown Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 gotta wonder how many more sacks he would have if he was on the line all the time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
[[ghost]] Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 He'll need at least one multi sack game if he wants that record. We've got some good teams to go up against though. Gints, Dallas, and San Diego aren't pushovers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theboomking Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 ];7112911']He'll need at least one multi sack game if he wants that record.We've got some good teams to go up against though. Gints' date=' Dallas, and San Diego aren't pushovers.[/quote'] That is a tough slate. If he can manage a half sack a game, he will wind up with 12.5, and I will be completely satisfied. Teams are going to watch the tape of this last game and try to chip him or double him more frequently. Hopefully we can move him around and stunt him to counter some of that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rd421 Posted December 15, 2009 Share Posted December 15, 2009 IMO Rak is our best draft pickup since Sean Taylor Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Blitz Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 His motor runs nonstop! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussieskin Posted December 16, 2009 Share Posted December 16, 2009 I have been told that Dansby wont be getting a contract from the birds at the end of this season, we pick him up, then we can play "RAK" on the end, he and carter have that Mann and Manly look about them, and Dansby would be a good pick up for the LB's and he would love to come to DC, my informant by the way is Karlos' father. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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