Redskins place franchise tag on Orakpo

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by mredskins

Seeing that Byrd is a FA now.

Would you have rather spent the $$$ on Byrd or Rak? Which would have the bigger impact on our 14 team?

This is assuming we only signed one big name star.

I really don't want Byrd. I am sure he must have wanted out of Buffalo, but my understanding is that they were trying to show him the money, and he still refused. For me, that sets a big red flag. I don't know the solution at Safety, but somehow we have to find the talent that is the right price and attitude. I just have no clue who that is, rookie or FA wise.

[JoeRedskin]

I go with the guy we know. If we can get Byrd also, great. I just get the feeling he is the next big FA flop. Namdi Asoumagawatchamacallit redux.

[MTK]

Someone would be getting blamed either way. If he didn't get the tag we would hear about how it's the same old Redskins, always letting talent get away for nothing.

[TenandSix:Unacceptable]

As far as Orakpo the football player I'm pretty sure he was just a warm body out there, or at least the first half of the season when I was actually paying attention. As far as Orakpo the person he's always seemed like a solid citizen type guy. I'd have let him walk, personally. It's a lot of money for someone who there are better versions of elsewhere, but given our dearth of pass rush in general, I suppose keeping him this year and trying to add to our rush could actually make him more effective.

I'm thinking we can't fix it all in one offseason so this allows us to focus on some other things. I'd concentrate on upgrading the OL and front seven at the expense of other holes. Last year was unacceptable. We essentially added no one on OL or DL. This team with a good OL and some real players in the front seven has plenty of upside and room to grow even if our DB's are getting torched and our recievers can't get open without time or scheme.

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by TenandSix:Unacceptable

As far as Orakpo the football player I'm pretty sure he was just a warm body out there, or at least the first half of the season when I was actually paying attention. As far as Orakpo the person he's always seemed like a solid citizen type guy. I'd have let him walk, personally. It's a lot of money for someone who there are better versions of elsewhere, but given our dearth of pass rush in general, I suppose keeping him this year and trying to add to our rush could actually make him more effective.

I'm thinking we can't fix it all in one offseason so this allows us to focus on some other things. I'd concentrate on upgrading the OL and front seven at the expense of other holes. Last year was unacceptable. We essentially added no one on OL or DL. This team with a good OL and some real players in the front seven has plenty of upside and room to grow even if our DB's are getting torched and our recievers can't get open without time or scheme.

Generallly, I agree with your statements.

The bolded statement is something I have seen in various forms from the "Let Rak walk" crowd. Who are these double digit pass rushers that also play OLB? As far as I can tell, the only other ones currently in the conversation are possibly Ware if he gets cut or Worilds. As to each, at this stage of the game - even if he gets released - Rak>Ware (age, injury, production) and Worilds got transition tagged at 10M. In his four years, Worilds was okay but in his contract year he gets 8 sacks. Wohooo.

I just don't see any real replacement that provides the production Rak does. Again, who is providing these double digit sacks for less than 10M a year?

(If I hear R.Jax, my head may explode).

[TenandSix:Unacceptable]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

Generallly, I agree with your statements.

The bolded statement is something I have seen in various forms from the "Let Rak walk" crowd. Who are these double digit pass rushers that also play OLB? As far as I can tell, the only other ones currently in the conversation are possibly Ware if he gets cut or Worilds. As to each, at this stage of the game - even if he gets released - Rak>Ware (age, injury, production) and Worilds got transition tagged at 10M. In his four years, Worilds was okay but in his contract year he gets 8 sacks. Wohooo.

I just don't see any real replacement that provides the production Rak does. Again, who is providing these double digit sacks for less than 10M a year?

(If I hear R.Jax, my head may explode).

I think Orakpo's big problem is outside of sacks I really don't think he's a very good player. I wouldn't count him in the top 10 OLB's in the league and if you're building a team for the long haul I'd rather lose in the short term and plug my holes/use my cap space for solutions that I'd consider optimal. We're talking about a mammoth contract to get him signed for term and he's not a player I'd offer a franchise type deal for. You only get a limited number of those for each team, and imo he's not worth it.

[CRedskinsRule]

Rjax

[JoeRedskin]

KA-BOOM


Stand back from the splatter zone.

[JoeRedskin]

Well, we will have to agree to disagree. If you want to say he is not "elite", fine. No argument. To say "outside of sacks, I really don't think he's a very good player", well, that's a huge leap. I would suggest that it is also unjustified.

From a purely objective standpoint, he may not be worth 12M a year, but he is certainly a 8-9M/year player. Since coming in the league, he has consistently improved his game "outside of sacks" and is well thought of by his teammates who, if you go back and look at their comments, definitely considered him a top 10 OLB. Rak starts on every team that doesn't have a OLB named Ware, Suggs or Mathews. Is he top 5, no. Top 10, yup.

As someone else said, in three years are highest paid players are T. Williams, RGIII and Rak, we are doing something right.

Side note, from a Keim report:
"Finally, KC Joyner included a stat on linebacker Brian Orakpo: 'Orakpo posted a 2.3 percent mark in the disrupted dropback percentage metric that tracks how often a defender tallies a sack, interception, pass defensed or batted ball. That total ranked sixth among all linebackers last year and illustrates the kind of impact Orakpo can have.' "
Offseason Blueprint: Washington Redskins - ESPN

[Skinzman]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

Well, we will have to agree to disagree. If you want to say he is not "elite", fine. No argument. To say "outside of sacks, I really don't think he's a very good player", well, that's a huge leap. I would suggest that it is also unjustified.

From a purely objective standpoint, he may not be worth 12M a year, but he is certainly a 8-9M/year player. Since coming in the league, he has consistently improved his game "outside of sacks" and is well thought of by his teammates who, if you go back and look at their comments, definitely considered him a top 10 OLB. Rak starts on every team that doesn't have a OLB named Ware, Suggs or Mathews. Is he top 5, no. Top 10, yup.

As someone else said, in three years are highest paid players are T. Williams, RGIII and Rak, we are doing something right.

Side note, from a Keim report:
"Finally, KC Joyner included a stat on linebacker Brian Orakpo: 'Orakpo posted a 2.3 percent mark in the disrupted dropback percentage metric that tracks how often a defender tallies a sack, interception, pass defensed or batted ball. That total ranked sixth among all linebackers last year and illustrates the kind of impact Orakpo can have.' "
Offseason Blueprint: Washington Redskins - ESPN

Wouldnt that mean he is #4 then if he doesnt start over only 3 guys? Therefore a top 5 guy.

Also, I think to many of you are still wrapped up in the whole cap being 120 mil or less. It is over 130 mil now and will be around 150 mil in 3 to 4 years. His value of 8-9 mil will go up as the cap does. I would agree that 11 mil is to much for him with 120 mil cap or less, but with where the cap is headed, he is worth 11 mil imo.

[TenandSix:Unacceptable]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

Well, we will have to agree to disagree. If you want to say he is not "elite", fine. No argument. To say "outside of sacks, I really don't think he's a very good player", well, that's a huge leap. I would suggest that it is also unjustified.

From a purely objective standpoint, he may not be worth 12M a year, but he is certainly a 8-9M/year player. Since coming in the league, he has consistently improved his game "outside of sacks" and is well thought of by his teammates who, if you go back and look at their comments, definitely considered him a top 10 OLB. Rak starts on every team that doesn't have a OLB named Ware, Suggs or Mathews. Is he top 5, no. Top 10, yup.

As someone else said, in three years are highest paid players are T. Williams, RGIII and Rak, we are doing something right.

Side note, from a Keim report:
"Finally, KC Joyner included a stat on linebacker Brian Orakpo: 'Orakpo posted a 2.3 percent mark in the disrupted dropback percentage metric that tracks how often a defender tallies a sack, interception, pass defensed or batted ball. That total ranked sixth among all linebackers last year and illustrates the kind of impact Orakpo can have.' "
Offseason Blueprint: Washington Redskins - ESPN

Well we went 10-6 w o him and 3-13 with him. Also as many have pointed out he was invisible the first part of the year when we still had a chance. He made a classic "contract push" when games were meaningless. Also, saying someone is a starting player at OLB puts him into the top 64 at their position plus there's over 100 starting LB's in the league. I'd personally rather upgrade the other LB positions and then find someone who may be an adequate downgrade for Rak. I don't think Orakpo is a true game changer at LB. A solid cog? Sure. Worth top 5 or 10 money at his position? No.

I honestly think that's why they franchised him. So they can keep him in the fold with an eye towards letting him walk in a year if he doesn't really turn a corner. If that's the case, like I said, I hope they go after OL and more help in the front seven with the remaining cap.

[NC_Skins]

Originally Posted by JoeRedskin

Rak starts on every team that doesn't have a OLB named Ware, Suggs or Mathews. Is he top 5, no. Top 10, yup.

Aldon Smith. Tamba Hali. Von Miller. Robert Mathis. Justin Houston.


You forgot a few.

[JoeRedskin]

Originally Posted by NC_Skins

Aldon Smith. Tamba Hali. Von Miller. Robert Mathis. Justin Houston.


You forgot a few.

Like I said, top 10 not top 5.

[mooby]

Originally Posted by NC_Skins

Aldon Smith. Tamba Hali. Von Miller. Robert Mathis. Justin Houston.


You forgot a few.

Why are we acting like NFL teams don't want bookend pass rushers. Even a team that has only one elite pass rusher would find room for Rak.

[EARTHQUAKE2689]

Originally Posted by mooby

Why are we acting like NFL teams don't want bookend pass rushers. Even a team that has only one elite pass rusher would find room for Rak.

Not drinking enough Milk I suppose.