Orakpo is Open to Change

[tryfuhl]

Originally Posted by GMScud

FRPLG is right, MW makes 31 look like 37. He's lost at least a step, maybe two. I love his motor and enthusiasm, but there's a big reason no one else wants him and we aren't budging on the vet min contract we've offered. I've got nothing against the man whatsoever, but his skills have diminished significantly over the past few seasons and he can't stay healthy.

As far as Orakpo, I agree with Mosley. To take the best DE in the country and turn him into a 4-3 OLB and only a part time DE wouldn't be smart at all. If we ran a 3-4 and were looking to turn him into a Demarcus Ware, then sure. IMO he needs to have that hand in the dirt on every down. I don't really see the point of selecting the best pass rusher in the entire draft and then putting him out of position, all the while only letting him do what he does best on 3rd downs.

The only, or at least the best, justification that I can come up with for doing this is if Blache wants to keep the DL mostly 100% technique and wait for the run first style. He already has to deal with letting Haynesworth needing more free reign than the system generally allows, and lord willing Blache will give it to him, so maybe he feels 2 left to do their own thing on a 4 man front is too much? Or maybe he's really not confident in Orakpo's run stuffing. Perhaps the LB assignment could give him a bit more freedom.

Anybody more familiar with the intricacies of the D care to comment?

[GMScud]

Originally Posted by tryfuhl

The only, or at least the best, justification that I can come up with for doing this is if Blache wants to keep the DL mostly 100% technique and wait for the run first style. He already has to deal with letting Haynesworth needing more free reign than the system generally allows, and lord willing Blache will give it to him, so maybe he feels 2 left to do their own thing on a 4 man front is too much? Or maybe he's really not confident in Orakpo's run stuffing. Perhaps the LB assignment could give him a bit more freedom.

Anybody more familiar with the intricacies of the D care to comment?

If Blache is worth a damn as a coordinator, he'll make some adjustments to fit the personnel, which I think he's prepared to do with Big Al. If in fact he's not confident in Orakpo's ability to stuff the run and plans to use him as on OLB on 2 outta the 3 defensive downs, then why didn't we draft a linebacker?

Orakpo is the same size as Andre Carter and he's probably the strongest guy on the team right away. I don't think his run stopping was mentioned as a weakness or concern in his draft profiles.

We drafted a DE in the 1st round for the first time in more than a decade. Let's use him at his natural position.

[vallin21]

[QUOTE=GMScud;556186]If Blache is worth a damn as a coordinator, he'll make some adjustments to fit the personnel, which I think he's prepared to do with Big Al. If in fact he's not confident in Orakpo's ability to stuff the run and plans to use him as on OLB on 2 outta the 3 defensive downs, then why didn't we draft a linebacker?

Orakpo is the same size as Andre Carter and he's probably the strongest guy on the team right away. I don't think his run stopping was mentioned as a weakness or concern in his draft profiles.

We drafted a DE in the 1st round for the first time in more than a decade. Let's use him at his natural position.[/QUOTE]

Couldn't agree more