Orakpo / Lavar Arrington Compare & Contrast

[jbcjr14]

I have seen Rak play the last 4 years here in TX. The guy has a motor that is second to none and really picks his game up on the big stage. The question mark is that he did have the tendency to take some plays off in his first couple years (not the last two) and I hope he doesn't revert back to that problem. He is REALLY strong and can manhandle just about anyone. Good head on his shoulders as well.

I see no comparison to Arrington other than he is African-American as so noted by Earthquake.

[freddyg12]

The comparison is valid simply because both were high 1st round picks that we fans hope turn into great players.

Lavar is a maverick & really enjoys being different. Rak seems just as smart if not much smarter, but he presents himself in a more humble manner. I know introductory press conferences are always full of cliches about winning, team,etc. & they say the right things, but Rak really sounds mature & grounded.

I was so pysched when we drafted Lavar. I have my concerns about Rak, so I wasn't as happy w/the pick. Now that's it's done, I'm already starting to like him more.

[Stacks42]

Does Orakpo speak of himself in the third person? I know that Lavar used to and it would drive me insane.

[SouperMeister]

Lavar was a good player who could just as easily miss an assignment as he could make a great play. Hopefully Orakpo will be a great player that plays within the scheme and strikes fear in the hearts of opposing QBs.

[redskingrove]

Lavar got too ate up in the moment and went rogue at times. This made him an unpopular coaching canidate. Orakpo comes across humble but smart. This makes him extremely dangerous as a coachable player who could develop into an awesome force in the NFL (a Haynesworth on the DE). Only time will tell, but thinker (smart) players are the hardest to defend against.

[nimbh2]

wow the fans have been crying about getting a de and we got the best one i the draft imo he hasnt even gotten on the field yet and people worried about him geese let the man do his thing then compare him

[WillH]

Lavar was a monster for a couple years, lets not forget that. He was unbelievably physically gifted, but he developed a "degenerative knee problem" a couple years in, and he was never the same (mostly because without being able to rely on his physical ability, he was unable compensate for the fact that he couldn't learn to play within a scheme). That kind of thing is unavoidable, and it could happen to anyone, and there was no way to know it would be him.

That said, there is no reason to believe the same will happen to Orakpo save for the bad luck we seem to have with first round picks on Defense . . .

I'll just go ahead and knock on wood for you.

[AnimateYYZ]

According to Phillip Daniels, Orakpo reminds him of...himself.

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by AnimateYYZ

According to Phillip Daniels, Orakpo reminds him of...himself.

I saw that, too. I was heartened by the fact that they both weighed the same upon entry into the league. Orakpo may turn out to be a fine pass rusher AND run stopper.

[Lotus]

Originally Posted by WillH

Lavar was a monster for a couple years, lets not forget that. He was unbelievably physically gifted, but he developed a "degenerative knee problem" a couple years in, and he was never the same (mostly because without being able to rely on his physical ability, he was unable compensate for the fact that he couldn't learn to play within a scheme). That kind of thing is unavoidable, and it could happen to anyone, and there was no way to know it would be him.

That said, there is no reason to believe the same will happen to Orakpo save for the bad luck we seem to have with first round picks on Defense . . .

I'll just go ahead and knock on wood for you.

You mean like Sean Taylor and Laron Landry?

[RedskinMike]

Originally Posted by Lotus

You mean like Sean Taylor and Laron Landry?

Sean Taylor is no longer with us and Landry has yet to prove he is the player we drafted.

[tryfuhl]

Originally Posted by RedskinMike

Sean Taylor is no longer with us and Landry has yet to prove he is the player we drafted.

So he was a bad pick because he was killed?

[WillH]

Originally Posted by tryfuhl

So he was a bad pick because he was killed?

I'm sure thats not what he meant. I had originally said we had bad luck with the picks (not that they were bad picks), which you questioned citing ST and Landry, and which he subsequently defended.

[RedskinMike]

Originally Posted by tryfuhl

So he was a bad pick because he was killed?

Bad luck not bad pick

[WillH]

Originally Posted by Lotus

You mean like Sean Taylor and Laron Landry?

Good Call. I meant ST passing, but I was trying to say it politely, and I half had in mind Carlos Rogers and Rocky Mcintosh (sp?) taking a little while to develop, but obviously Rocky was a 2nd rounder, I just forgot.