RI: Orakpo Starts Out at Linebacker

[GTripp0012]

Originally Posted by The Goat

GT why are you dead set at seeing Rak RDE long term? Based on his skill set? Team needs? I just strikes me that w/ his strength and power (and given a little time to add mass the way Daniels did initially) Rak would be a beast @ LDE...able to stop the run and pressure/sack the QB w/ equal dominance.

I think you can get away at LDE with a marginal pass rusher, because it's very, very easy for the offense to neutralize the rush on the strong side. If we put Orakpo there, we would need someone that offenses fear on the other side.

Two pass rushing ends works for some teams, but not for others. Freeney and Mathis can put QBs on their backs very quickly, but Denver went with two really small rushers last year...and well, let's just say their first pick this year was a pass rusher.