Smoot Lays the Smack Down (Cowboys at Redskins)

[SirClintonPortis]

Originally Posted by #56fanatic

wow. am i the only one that thinks this is really harsh assessment of Orakpo?? THe guy has been really really good over the last couple of years. I dont think he is playing horrible this year. Do you know think that Kerrigan may be taking away some of his sack numbers? I just think as a whole our D line is better as a whole as well, which may have taken a couple sacks away from him. I didn't see him getting mushed all day. He got pressure, made some plays. On the TD late in the game, he was visibly held that should have been called. Still dont understand how the ref missed that when he was 5 yards away. He was basically pulling him down by the neck of his jersey. anyway, I think bashing Orakpo or calling him out is a little nit picky

Our best is not Jared Allen's, Dwight Freeney's, etc's best. You watch the goddamn tape, and you see LTs always struggling to hold their own against guys like those. Not the case with Orakpo. Stats are not comprehensive logs of what goes on the field. Getting owned by Doug Free 1-on-1 multiple times is not going to land on stat sheet anywhere, but the visual evidence is there.

That is not to say Orakpo is horrible. I only said that he's not as good as other guys. That DOES NOT mean he is horrible. Those guys I listed would be rated 90 out of 100. Orakpo would be lower, say 75 or 80 out of 100. You call this bashing? What am I supposed to do? Say he's better than Ware? That's bullshit.

[over the mountain]

Originally Posted by SirClintonPortis

Those guys I listed would be rated 90 out of 100. Orakpo would be lower, say 75 or 80 out of 100. You call this bashing? What am I supposed to do? Say he's better than Ware? That's bullshit.

Rak is just entering his 3rd season, Ware is something like a 7 or 8 year vet.

Ware - Rak
58 tkls, 8 sacks - 50 tkls, 11 sacks
73 tkls, 11.5 sacks - 56 tkls, 8.5 sacks

If all-pro, HOF players like Allen and Ware are 90s, Id say Rak is a solid 83-85 perennial probowler.

So what that Rak is a straight up one dimensional pass rusher like t suggs or d ware and not an all around backer like matthews or urlacher.

different peices to complete the puzzle. Rak, flethcher and kerrigan all fit and fill different needs. I do wish Haslett would move rak and kerrigan around some.

Given the choice between a 3rd year Rak or 7 year Ware going forward, Id take the younger Rak who has some of his best seasons right around the corner.

Better D personnel and more time in the system = Rak putting up bigger and bigger numbers. its just a matter of time b/c he has the physical tools and right mind state to be one of the best pass rushers in the league for the rest of the decade.