Smoot Lays the Smack Down (Redskins vs. Rams)

[MTK]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

I have three things I'm deeply concerned about...

1) Playcalling.
2) Opponnent's third down conversion rate.
3) We really haven't gotten a great pass rush. AH is GREAT against the run in the middle, but neither Carter nor Orakpo are getting a lot.

Carter is getting some good pressures though, better than nothing

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Carter is getting some good pressures though, better than nothing

Yeah, but for as good as Orkapo looked in the preseason, he's been invisible thus far 2 weeks in. Maybe we should let him play his natural position. Only we could screw up a prospect like Orakpo.

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by GMScud

Yeah, but for as good as Orkapo looked in the preseason, he's been invisible thus far 2 weeks in. Maybe we should let him play his natural position. Only we could screw up a prospect like Orakpo.

My guess is that Orakpo is still getting used to the speed of the game, which is much faster in the regular season than it is in preseason. Patience please. If he is still invisible around Thanksgiving, then we can have this discussion.

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by Lotus

My guess is that Orakpo is still getting used to the speed of the game, which is much faster in the regular season than it is in preseason. Patience please. If he is still invisible around Thanksgiving, then we can have this discussion.

Look, I've been skeptical of changing his position since before he was drafted. Stud defensive prospects like him usually start contributing early and often. I just don't like what I've seen (nothing) from him thus far. He's mediocre in coverage and not getting to the QB. I think he'll come around, but you can't help but wonder how he'd be doing as a full time DE. The guy is strong as an ox. I'm not sure he'd be struggling against the run as much as some assume.

While he's "getting used to the speed of the game," our defense is having the same problems as last year as far as QB pressure, or lack thereof. In addition to not being able to get off the field on 3rd down....

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by Lotus

My guess is that Orakpo is still getting used to the speed of the game, which is much faster in the regular season than it is in preseason. Patience please. If he is still invisible around Thanksgiving, then we can have this discussion.

Orakpo was hurrying Bulger out there...he had a pretty big mistake with that PF penalty though. I'm sure he'll learn.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by GMScud

Yeah, but for as good as Orkapo looked in the preseason, he's been invisible thus far 2 weeks in. Maybe we should let him play his natural position. Only we could screw up a prospect like Orakpo.

Rak had some good pressure at the end to seal the deal

[SC Skins Fan]

Originally Posted by GMScud

Yeah, but for as good as Orkapo looked in the preseason, he's been invisible thus far 2 weeks in. Maybe we should let him play his natural position. Only we could screw up a prospect like Orakpo.

Good call. I thought it would work, but he does not look good at linebacker. I have not re-watched the game either, so GTripp can probably comment better, but it does not even look like Blache has used him much as a rush player from SLB (which was the main argument for why he would work at that position). He looks so much better with his hand down.

[TheMalcolmConnection]

Originally Posted by Mattyk72

Carter is getting some good pressures though, better than nothing

It's true, maybe my beef is with the secondary. Are we missing Springs THAT much? It's basically the same secondary that dominated last year and this year we're getting bitched on almost every third down.

Even though Carter is getting good pressure, I was just thinking we'd see a few more sacks with the addition of Haynesworth and Orakpo.

[skinsfan69]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

It's true, maybe my beef is with the secondary. Are we missing Springs THAT much? It's basically the same secondary that dominated last year and this year we're getting bitched on almost every third down.

Even though Carter is getting good pressure, I was just thinking we'd see a few more sacks with the addition of Haynesworth and Orakpo.

Bulger threw some real nice passes on 3rd down. He was throwing some before the guy even came out of his break. The corners got beat but they didn't give up anything deep and they pay the other guys too. I can't bitch too much about the corners. STL had 114 yards passing.

[Beemnseven]

Originally Posted by TheMalcolmConnection

It's true, maybe my beef is with the secondary. Are we missing Springs THAT much? It's basically the same secondary that dominated last year and this year we're getting bitched on almost every third down.

Even though Carter is getting good pressure, I was just thinking we'd see a few more sacks with the addition of Haynesworth and Orakpo.

Yeah, me too. Hard to believe we had more sacks over the first two games last year than we do this year.