Let's talk some Orakpo

[BDBohnzie]

Originally Posted by mlmpetert

I never really followed Maryland, but wasn’t shawne merriman really only a DE in college that got converted to OLB in the pros. Can anyone draw any comparisons, besides physically?

Merriman was a hybrid DE/OLB at Maryland, similar to Terrell Suggs in Baltimore (who also played DE in college at Arizona State). Both San Diego and Maryland run a similar 3-4 style defense, so there was very little transition for Merriman. Orakpo has the speed to cover TEs and RBs out of the backfield, his adjustment will be mental in learning to do the other tasks of a linebacker besides dropping the QB on his head.