Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

[quote=tryfuhl;550693]Yep, just hope that we can keep Carlos.. if not we'll definitely need some help there cuz if he's gone and with Smoot likely being gone.. well yeah[/quote]

Wait, what? Keep Carlos when? You mean keep him after the 2009 season? He's not going anywhere this year.

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

[quote=GMScud;550696]Wait, what? Keep Carlos when? You mean keep him after the 2009 season? He's not going anywhere this year.[/quote]
Yeah, sorry, omitted next year from that

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

A-

Good (great?) pick. Says a lot of good things. Seems to take nothing for granted. His speed and strength are going to be trouble for opposing linemen. Imagine the poor RB that has to pick up his blitz. I'm not expecting any special numbers in 2009, but I do think we'll see plenty of flashes of what he'll become for us for many years to come.

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

I know nothing about the guy, so I can't give him a grade. But since it's the first defensive linemen we've taken in the first three rounds since 1997, I like the selection.

As to whether OT was a bigger need -- flip a coin. DE and OL needs seemed to be about even.

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

I think this pick has off the field ramifications for the Redskins fanbase. A lot of us, including the administrator of this website, were considering having a serious falling out with the team amidst the Cutler thing and if the supposed Sanchez love affair came to fruition. I think staying put, not mortgaging the future and opting for stability at QB, and then landing a guy like Orakpo, all the while running a great bluff around Sanchez is a big deal.

This move made me feel a good bit better (for now) about how the front office is doing things. The sense of relief I have is huge.

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

[quote=jsarno;550443]A+ pick...he was the one guy I really wanted but thought it was unrealistic to have him there at 13. I was getting more and more excited every time a team took another player. Make no mistake, this kid is a beast, and we got a steal. Yes, he was at 13, so how much of a steal can he be? Well, he will put up numbers worthy of a #1. Smart pick...thank you FO for not kicking the team in the nutts with a dumb trade for Sanchez! We are MUCH better off! This gives us an amazing line. I am super excited for our pass rush this year! I don't recall the last time it looked this good![/quote]

Well said, my feelings exactly. :)

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

[quote=GMScud;550718]I think this pick has off the field ramifications for the Redskins fanbase. A lot of us, including the administrator of this website, were considering having a serious falling out with the team amidst the Cutler thing and if the supposed Sanchez love affair came to fruition. I think staying put, not mortgaging the future and opting for stability at QB, and then landing a guy like Orakpo, all the while running a great bluff around Sanchez is a big deal.

[B]This move made me feel a good bit better (for now) about how the front office is doing things. The sense of relief I have is huge.[/B][/quote]

I don't feel relief because I never really bit on the Sanchez stuff. But, yes, I feel a lot more confidence about the FO after today. They bluffed exceptionally well and landed a very fine pick. They capitalized on their reputation for stupidity by doing something pretty smart.

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

I lost my voice (even though they picked him in 20 seconds) yelling at Dan to take this kid when he dropped to us. He benches over 500 pounds, and runs a 4.66 40, AND, he knows how to use those skills. ESPN reports he has a weak lower body, he squats OVER 600 pounds, that doesn't seem too weak to me. this is a great pick. Hopefully Carter will be able to come out of his 2008 slump so we can see this D line DOMINATE. Great pick.

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

[quote=Lotus;550723]I don't feel relief because I never really bit on the Sanchez stuff. But, yes, I feel a lot more confidence about the FO after today. They bluffed exceptionally well and landed a very fine pick. [B]They capitalized on their reputation for stupidity by doing something pretty smart[/B].[/quote]

Amen. I was legitimately scared when all of the Sanchez/trading up rumors surfaced. Oh, and thank god Al Davis is a complete idiot, i think his stupidity shook it up enough for Orakpo to drop to us.

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

[quote=Lotus;550723]I don't feel relief because I never really bit on the Sanchez stuff. But, yes, I feel a lot more confidence about the FO after today. They bluffed exceptionally well and landed a very fine pick. [B]They capitalized on their reputation for stupidity by doing something pretty smart.[/B][/quote]

That's what I'm saying. If in fact that was our real intention (which I doubt we'll ever know), then it's a really great move by Snyderatto.

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

[quote=NM Redskin;550456]So best starting front four in the NFL, Cater Grif, Hay, and Rak? On paper looks like it.

Also gotta love Rak's answer to what he was gonna buy with his first pick. A huge bed, nice. Also he looked generally happy to get pick by Wash.[/quote]

That's the problem.....best on paper. They're always the best on paper, they need to be the best on the [B]FIELD[/B]. You cant win games on paper, if you could, we would have six or seven super bowl rings adn we wouldnt be a .500 team every year.

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

I don't know as much about Orakpo as I probably should, I really didn't study him much, but if he's as good as projected, combined with AH, our d-line went from "So What?" to "Oh Shit!" this offseason. Bring on the Cowgirls!

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

[quote=53Fan;550732]I don't know as much about Orakpo as I probably should, I really didn't study him much, [B]but if he's as good as projected, combined with AH, our d-line went from "So What?" to "Oh Shit!" this offseason. Bring on the Cowgirls![/B][/quote]

:food-smil

Hope Romo enjoys eating turf.

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

[quote=Lotus;550733]:food-smil

Hope Romo enjoys eating turf.[/quote]

Hell yea!

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

Awesome pick!! They could have gone either way between OL and DE, but matching a guy like Orakpo with Carter, Griffin, and most notably Haynesworth was too good to pass up. I also love the fact that the team didn't hesitate at all with the pick as it took them less than 2 minutes to announce their selection.

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

Being an SC fan i would've love to get Sanchez. Orakpo is a beast but i think maybe OL or LB would've been a bigger void to fill

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

Words cannot express how glad I was when the Jets got Snachez. I saw the poor fans shake their heads and I said to myself, better you than me. I'm glad we got Orakpo. I'd have liked Oher but I think we have plenty of time to get someone now that we haven't traded away everything.

I missed everything else after we picked.

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

A few thoughts:

-The interest in Sanchez was legit, but they weren't going to trade up any higher than 8th to the Jaguars and they were relatively stingy in what they were going to give up. Plus, the deal would have had to have been coupled with a Campbell trade (or possibly someone else) for another 2nd or 3rd round pick

-A bit surprised that Orakpo fell, though not entirely (I had in my mock to the Skins a couple of weeks ago). His stock seemed to be falling recently through no fault of his own really. But this was the guy Vinny has wanted for a long time. He was definitely the driving force behind this pick. At the last minute I thought they might pick Cushing (he's another guy I know they liked), but I'm glad they went with Orakpo (Matty, sorry about the Maualuga text-my USC guy was messing with me)

-It is kind of funny though how we put so much focus on the dinner and private meetings they had with Sanchez, yet when a few of us pointed out the same exact stuff was happening with Orakpo...it was ignored.

-As for the pick itself, I think it's a good one. The knee issues obviously are something to monitor closely, but he has the ability to do all the things we envisioned for Jason Taylor (and he's a decade younger). He'll be exciting to watch.

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

YES!!!!! We just drafted THE INCREDIBLE HULK. Unlike Bruce Banner though, it looks like RAK won't change back into a wimpy little scientist. DON'T...MAKE...RAK...MAD!!!!!
Double Digit Sacks easy with Big A tying things up in the middle.

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

[quote=Superman13732;550734]Hell yea![/quote]

man that's dirty
...

:food-smil lol

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

After having a nightmare that we drafted freeman, today was like a fairytale. Still hoping for good news with the OL tomorrow.

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

i love this pick.... im starting to really like this Defense...

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

anybody.but.sanchez. was my mantra going into today...THANK GOODNESS WE ADDRESSED A LINE NEED.

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

Could also go lb in the 3rd today. There is some quality still out there.

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

[quote=jsarno;550465]I challenge any team to put up a better front 4. This is a top notch crew now. Once the chemistry is there, we will be outstanding.[/quote]

Hey I love the enthusiasm but slow down with all this best D-Line front crap. We have not played a down of football yet so lets just see how they start out against the G-Men. We as fans still need to remember games are won and loss on the field not paper.

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

I been saying all along that defense wins championships ( Steelers,Giants). Our defense was ranked 4th but we did not get to the QB. This was the big reason why we did not get many Ints cause QB has to much time to throw the ball. With Big Haynesworth he should help our run defense and pass rush. Our defense has to create more turnovers this year which translates to more points from the offense. Turnovers change momentum
and of course field positon.

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

Is this the 1st D-Lineman we have drafted in the 1st round since DE Kenard Lang out of the University of Miami? I'm almost certain it is. He left us to play for the Browns.

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

[quote=The Goat;550435]The knee injury is recurring...not random.[/quote]

2007 - Right knee.

2008 - Left knee.

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

[quote=SmootSmack;550786]A few thoughts:

-The interest in Sanchez was legit, but they weren't going to trade up any higher than 8th to the Jaguars and they were relatively stingy in what they were going to give up. Plus, the deal would have had to have been coupled with a Campbell trade (or possibly someone else) for another 2nd or 3rd round pick

-A bit surprised that Orakpo fell, though not entirely (I had in my mock to the Skins a couple of weeks ago). His stock seemed to be falling recently through no fault of his own really. But this was the guy Vinny has wanted for a long time. He was definitely the driving force behind this pick. At the last minute I thought they might pick Cushing (he's another guy I know they liked), but I'm glad they went with Orakpo (Matty, sorry about the Maualuga text-my USC guy was messing with me)

[B]-It is kind of funny though how we put so much focus on the dinner and private meetings they had with Sanchez, yet when a few of us pointed out the same exact stuff was happening with Orakpo...it was ignored.[/B]

-As for the pick itself, I think it's a good one. The knee issues obviously are something to monitor closely, but he has the ability to do all the things we envisioned for Jason Taylor (and he's a decade younger). He'll be exciting to watch.[/quote]

One thing that has been overlooked in this flirtation with Sanchez is that Sanchez's agent released the details from that dinner meeting, and the restaurant also publicized it. I'm sure the Redskins interest in him was genuine, but it was overblown because of those two extra sources touting the meeting.

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

Ya I would have probably of gone with oher since the oline sucks and orakpo has had injury problems and some say he's too small for the 4-3 DE


That said, this would have been my next pick and let's see how great he'll do his first year, and see if we can get another DE to rotate with him or as a just incase pick

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

[quote=SmootSmack;550786]A few thoughts:

[B]-The interest in Sanchez was legit, but they weren't going to trade up any higher than 8th to the Jaguars and they were relatively stingy in what they were going to give up. Plus, the deal would have had to have been coupled with a Campbell trade (or possibly someone else) for another 2nd or 3rd round pick[/B]

-A bit surprised that Orakpo fell, though not entirely (I had in my mock to the Skins a couple of weeks ago). His stock seemed to be falling recently through no fault of his own really. But this was the guy Vinny has wanted for a long time. He was definitely the driving force behind this pick. At the last minute I thought they might pick Cushing (he's another guy I know they liked), but I'm glad they went with Orakpo (Matty, sorry about the Maualuga text-my USC guy was messing with me)

-It is kind of funny though how we put so much focus on the dinner and private meetings they had with Sanchez, yet when a few of us pointed out the same exact stuff was happening with Orakpo...it was ignored.

-As for the pick itself, I think it's a good one. The knee issues obviously are something to monitor closely, but he has the ability to do all the things we envisioned for Jason Taylor (and he's a decade younger). He'll be exciting to watch.[/quote]

So it wasn't really a clever smokescreen designed to get the player we really wanted.

I still maintain that it was a relatively cheap price to pay for the Jets to move up to #5 -- switch spots in the first, give up their 2nd and a few players most of us have never heard of? That wasn't as pricey as I thought it would be.

And those Browns -- they move down a total of 4 picks in the first round to the Bucs and Eagles and all they get are two 6th round picks in return? Just doesn't make sense.

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

actully you might want to send one to buffalo to lol

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

So glad Orakpo fell our way. I was getting nervous around pick #9. So glad he is a Skin!

Maybe the Sanchez deal was a big smokescreen but none the less the Skins should have handleed JC with a bit more class.

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

This might work. Now if our O can score 16 points a game we should win with the D we now have.

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

Excellent pick. I wasn't really sold on him at first but the more I learned about BO the more I liked the pick. I'm not sold on his run stopping abilities though I'm sure that's not what he was brought in for. He's a bit undersized at the moment and I hope he gets to 280.

Defense wins Championships and boy do we have a defense. Hail!

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

[quote=Beemnseven;550831]So it wasn't really a clever smokescreen designed to get the player we really wanted.

I still maintain that it was a relatively cheap price to pay for the Jets to move up to #5 -- switch spots in the first, give up their 2nd and a few players most of us have never heard of? That wasn't as pricey as I thought it would be.

And those Browns -- they move down a total of 4 picks in the first round to the Bucs and Eagles and all they get are two 6th round picks in return? Just doesn't make sense.[/quote]

Many teams inquired about moving up for Sanchez as part of due diligence.

Given that, as you say, the price to move up was relatively cheap, then the Skins were not very serious about moving up for Sanchez.

The FO has clearly stated that they wanted Orakpo all along. VC said they gave him a top 5 grade.

So the Sanchez stuff was still a smokescreen. We were not as "smitten" as everyone claimed.

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

[quote=Beemnseven;550831]So it wasn't really a clever smokescreen designed to get the player we really wanted.

I still maintain that it was a relatively cheap price to pay for the Jets to move up to #5 -- switch spots in the first, give up their 2nd and a few players most of us have never heard of? That wasn't as pricey as I thought it would be.

And those Browns -- they move down a total of 4 picks in the first round to the Bucs and Eagles and all they get are two 6th round picks in return? Just doesn't make sense.[/quote]

I don't know that any real smokescreen was in play with Sanchez, in my opinion. I know that Orakpo has been their true top choice for a while, and Vinny and co. had been going around saying "He's too good. No way he drops to us." Maybe his rep as a talent evaluator scared off teams ahead of him? And I also know that we should be happy that a) we had no 2nd round pick that we may have offered to move up to get Sanchez, and b) Cerrato is one guy who wasn't as keen as others in the organization on moving up to get Sanchez, this was Zorn and Snyder driven.

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

Were we interested in Sanchez? Sure. But how interested. We were NOT going to give up the farm for him. Call it a smokescreen or whatever you want, but the idea that we were VERY interested in him, and that Snyder would go to ridiculous lengths to get him, played to our advantage.

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

At this point I could really care less how much of the Sanchez talk was a bluff or truth, truth is we'll never know for sure... all that matters is we addressed a key need along the DE and didn't have to trade up to do it.

Re: Meet the Beast: Brian Orakpo
 

HELLO REDSKIN FANS!!!! I'm breathing a huge sigh of relief today. Perhaps our front office is starting to get it after all. I thought the DE from Tenn was a little better than Orakpo but I'm not going to complain about this pick. Will filled a huge need and this guy sort of reminds my of James Harrison coming off the edge. My only concern is can he hold up at DE 265lbs at DE? But someone mentioned that he's got the frame to put on some weight, which I agree with. Dude looks like a tank. And is he a better fit in a 3-4? But I've got confidence in Blache and co. Our defense now looks more like one that's going to get sacks and create turnovers.