RI: Orakpo Starts Out at Linebacker

[Ruhskins]

As soon as I saw this I knew people were going to blow this out of proportion. Why is everyone so fixed on Vernon Gholston's failure, when you have both Shawne Merriman and Terrell Suggs as examples of DEs (in college) that made successful transitions to LBs? I'm not saying that Orakpo is going to be a LB, but just as you bring negative examples, there are positive examples of successful transition. Besides, when Greg Blache or Jim Zorn say the words "Orakpo will be a full time LB" stop speculating so much.

[SouperMeister]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

As soon as I saw this I knew people were going to blow this out of proportion. Why is everyone so fixed on Vernon Gholston's failure, when you have both Shawne Merriman and Terrell Suggs as examples of DEs (in college) that made successful transitions to LBs? I'm not saying that Orakpo is going to be a LB, but just as you bring negative examples, there are positive examples of successful transition. Besides, when Greg Blache or Jim Zorn say the words "Orakpo will be a full time LB" stop speculating so much.

Merriman and Suggs are poor examples since they are largely pass rushing 3-4 linebackers in the pros. Asking Orakpo to play LB in a 4-3 is a far more difficult transition. Hopefully his hand will be in the dirt on 3rd and long passing situations.

[skins89moss]

Originally Posted by SouperMeister

Merriman and Suggs are poor examples since they are largely pass rushing 3-4 linebackers in the pros. Asking Orakpo to play LB in a 4-3 is a far more difficult transition. Hopefully his hand will be in the dirt on 3rd and long passing situations.

T. Suggs was a DE at ASU which ran a 4-3 defense. He dropped in the draft do to his 40 time was slower than scouts expected. He has made a great transtion to the 3-4. You aree right i think the use Suggs more to rush the QB.

[skins89moss]

Originally Posted by SouperMeister

Merriman and Suggs are poor examples since they are largely pass rushing 3-4 linebackers in the pros. Asking Orakpo to play LB in a 4-3 is a far more difficult transition. Hopefully his hand will be in the dirt on 3rd and long passing situations.

T. Suggs was a DE at ASU which ran a 4-3 defense. He dropped in the draft do to his 40 time was slower than scouts expected. He has made a great transtion to the 3-4. You aree right i think the use Suggs more to rush the QB.

[Pocket$ $traight]

Originally Posted by Ruhskins

As soon as I saw this I knew people were going to blow this out of proportion. Why is everyone so fixed on Vernon Gholston's failure, when you have both Shawne Merriman and Terrell Suggs as examples of DEs (in college) that made successful transitions to LBs? I'm not saying that Orakpo is going to be a LB, but just as you bring negative examples, there are positive examples of successful transition. Besides, when Greg Blache or Jim Zorn say the words "Orakpo will be a full time LB" stop speculating so much.

I like how Gholston's career is over after one year. I seem to remember people saying that Mario Williams was a bust. Now he is considered a prototype.

I will defer to Greg Blache who might know a little more about defense over the people who automatically dismiss using Orakpo in more than one position.

Didn't they openly say throughout the draft process that they were so high on him because they could use him at linebacker some? If he was a one trick pony, they wouldn't have drafted him.