Re: Orakpo is Open to Change
 

[quote=53Fan;555867]LB is my favorite position and I just like the way he plays. He gets me pretty psyched. Plus he's funny as hell. Nice discussion GMScud. :food-smil[/quote]

How about giving Lavar Arrington a try out at SLB.

Re: Orakpo is Open to Change
 

[quote=GMScud;555804]FRPLG is right, MW makes 31 look like 37. He's lost at least a step, maybe two. I love his motor and enthusiasm, but there's a big reason no one else wants him and we aren't budging on the vet min contract we've offered. I've got nothing against the man whatsoever, but his skills have diminished significantly over the past few seasons and he can't stay healthy.

As far as Orakpo, I agree with Mosley. To take the best DE in the country and turn him into a 4-3 OLB and only a part time DE wouldn't be smart at all. If we ran a 3-4 and were looking to turn him into a Demarcus Ware, then sure. IMO he needs to have that hand in the dirt on every down. I don't really see the point of selecting the best pass rusher in the entire draft and then putting him out of position, all the while only letting him do what he does best on 3rd downs.[/quote]

The only, or at least the best, justification that I can come up with for doing this is if Blache wants to keep the DL mostly 100% technique and wait for the run first style. He already has to deal with letting Haynesworth needing more free reign than the system generally allows, and lord willing Blache will give it to him, so maybe he feels 2 left to do their own thing on a 4 man front is too much? Or maybe he's really not confident in Orakpo's run stuffing. Perhaps the LB assignment could give him a bit more freedom.

Anybody more familiar with the intricacies of the D care to comment?

Re: Orakpo is Open to Change
 

If Marcus sucks it up and comes back for the vet min I would welcome him back. As we get closer to camp and he's still sitting at home w/o a deal I think he just might take that offer. If not oh well we'll battle on without him.

Re: Orakpo is Open to Change
 

I hope that the Redskins put Orakpo at DE the whole preseason to scare the "poo" out of teams and to see what he is capable of at DE (his specialized position). Don't let any of the teams see what he will do at LB until it is gametime. The element of surprise will give the Redskin defense another edge. The other teams will not know how to prepare for his presence.

Re: Orakpo is Open to Change
 

(If Marcus sucks it up and comes back for the vet min I would welcome him back. As we get closer to camp and he's still sitting at home w/o a deal I think he just might take that offer. If not oh well we'll battle on without him.)

This would be awesome also. Marcus would be crazy not to accept this offer for 1 year, then in an uncapped year go for the bigger contract. Once Marcus is at LB, Orakpo will see most of his action at DE. The defense (especially LBs would benefit in their play from a strong D-line and put Marcus in line for more money next year...that's what he wants isn't it?) stronger stats would show how well Marcus can play and = more ground to demand for better contract money.

Re: Orakpo is Open to Change
 

I am open to moving Orakpo around as long as we utilize Haynesworth all along the d-line. To be honest I look forward to the future chess matches our DC will play with opposing QB's! Doing this change will not only bring pressure but will diminish the second half of the season decline...now what can we do to the offense. Can Orakpo catch or run?

Re: Orakpo is Open to Change
 

[quote=tryfuhl;555921]The only, or at least the best, justification that I can come up with for doing this is if Blache wants to keep the DL mostly 100% technique and wait for the run first style. [B] He already has to deal with letting Haynesworth needing more free reign than the system generally allows, and lord willing Blache will give it to him, so maybe he feels 2 left to do their own thing on a 4 man front is too much? Or maybe he's really not confident in Orakpo's run stuffing. Perhaps the LB assignment could give him a bit more freedom.[/B]

Anybody more familiar with the intricacies of the D care to comment?[/quote]

If Blache is worth a damn as a coordinator, he'll make some adjustments to fit the personnel, which I think he's prepared to do with Big Al. If in fact he's not confident in Orakpo's ability to stuff the run and plans to use him as on OLB on 2 outta the 3 defensive downs, then why didn't we draft a linebacker?

Orakpo is the same size as Andre Carter and he's probably the strongest guy on the team right away. I don't think his run stopping was mentioned as a weakness or concern in his draft profiles.

We drafted a DE in the 1st round for the first time in more than a decade. Let's use him at his natural position.

Re: Orakpo is Open to Change
 

[QUOTE=GMScud;556186]If Blache is worth a damn as a coordinator, he'll make some adjustments to fit the personnel, which I think he's prepared to do with Big Al. If in fact he's not confident in Orakpo's ability to stuff the run and plans to use him as on OLB on 2 outta the 3 defensive downs, then why didn't we draft a linebacker?

Orakpo is the same size as Andre Carter and he's probably the strongest guy on the team right away. I don't think his run stopping was mentioned as a weakness or concern in his draft profiles.

[B]We drafted a DE in the 1st round for the first time in more than a decade. Let's use him at his natural position.[/[/B]QUOTE]

Couldn't agree more

Re: Orakpo is Open to Change
 

Ya I really don't see orakpo being a good 4-3 OLB he needs to stay at DE

Re: Orakpo is Open to Change
 

What interesting is the consensus best LB in the draft Aaron Curry was 'downgraded' because of his lack of pass rush moves. Orakpo has the size 6'3" 250lbs +/-, speed and agility of a strongside LB (sub 4.7 speed 39.5in vertical) of a OLB. Have we talked about his strength? His ability to read and react will determine his sucess. I recall games where McIntosh was covering TEs and it wasn't always pretty. With Orakpo we get the best of both worlds. On passing downs, he'll have his hand in the dirt. Just like we wanted to use Washington and Arrington.

Re: Orakpo is Open to Change
 

Only the Redskins. We're the only team that will use a first round pick at DL for the first time in 12 years and contemplate using that guy 2/3 of the time at OLB.

Re: Orakpo is Open to Change
 

[quote=Dirtbag359;556464]Only the Redskins. We're the only team that will use a first round pick at DL for the first time in 12 years and contemplate using that guy 2/3 of the time at OLB.[/quote]


That is what we do.

Re: Orakpo is Open to Change
 

It's hard to trust that the FO and coaches are on the dame page. Chris Wilson working out at SLB? Aging Daniels and Wynn are the only DEs in the league or draft who can do what we need done on the DL. Jansen loses job to a undrafted rookie but yet we fail to seek legitimate competition/replacement for both?

Re: Orakpo is Open to Change
 

I agree with the article that Orakpo should be at DE for all 3 downs. I do understand why the staff wants him at LB though. With Daniels and Wynn the Skins have guys who can stuff the run at the LDE spot on running downs. The Skins have a hole at OLB and Orakpo has the power/speed combo to be effective enough on those downs to make the defense better as a whole.

The problem I have with this is Orakpo is build to be a Defensive End. We all know he will be a end for the next 10-15 years in DC if things pan out. Id rather him get all the snaps at his future position for the longrun instead of having him fill a hole on this team at OLB.

Honestly id love to see Carter at LDE where I think hes actually better then people think at stopping the run. Id put Orakpo at RDE where he can reak havoc all over the field. At the 2 OLB spots id put Rocky and Wilson there. With all the defensive ends here now I think Wilson can see alot more playing time at OLB and he could really breakout at that position.