Let's talk OTA's

[Defensewins]

On the ESPN redskins Blog, "....Brian Orakpo said he’s worked a lot on using his hands better as a pass-rusher, thanks to outside linebackers coach Brian Baker. He’s having Orakpo do drills to emphasize this, something that has not been done in the past."
They report this like it is a good thing. Not sure who it is a knock on more, the coaches not named Brian Baker, Orakpo or both. How is this possible? Is this a joke?
Amazing that our top rookie pick has more pass rush moves than our six year pro who makes $11M a year. Maybe Orakpo can take some coaching tips from our rookie. Orakpo is not a student of the game, that is fo sho, it seems in the past he has relied more on his God given talent than working on his skills. Is there anything else that "has not been done in the past?"
Working on tackling or pass Coverage? Weak!

[MTK]

New coaches bring new techniques, what's wrong with that?

[Defensewins]

New coach, but definitely not new techniques.
The technique of using your hands in pass rush has been around since Deacon Jones played the game. Rule changes were put in place in 1977 called the "Deacon Jones rule" because Deacon used his quick hands so well to head/helmet slap his opponent that it would leave his opponents dumbfounded.
Pass rush moves like: swim, grab, rip/inside, spin, under, counter/club, bull rush and speed rush have been in existence for decades.
Why Orakpo and his former coaches have never worked on this in practice before is what is glaring. Probably explains why Orakpo only has two pass rush moves speed and bull rush.

[MTK]

Who's to say he doesn't do work with his hands on his own? If coaches aren't running these drills in practice that's on them.

[MTK]

Good read on how his game improved last year

Brian Orakpo is diversifying and improving his game

[Chico23231]

Originally Posted by Defensewins

New coach, but definitely not new techniques.
The technique of using your hands in pass rush has been around since Deacon Jones played the game. Rule changes were put in place in 1977 called the "Deacon Jones rule" because Deacon used his quick hands so well to head/helmet slap his opponent that it would leave his opponents dumbfounded.
Pass rush moves like: swim, grab, rip/inside, spin, under, counter/club, bull rush and speed rush have been in existence for decades.
Why Orakpo and his former coaches have never worked on this in practice before is what is glaring. Probably explains why Orakpo only has two pass rush moves speed and bull rush.

I get what your saying, but maybe focus wasn't there with the hands as opposed to other techniques with the past coaches. All I can say is I hope this will propel Rak as a stronger pass rusher. I'm ready to ball with this new revamped d-line, pass rushing scheme and players

[MTK]

What I meant was new coach = new approach/emphasis on different techniques, drills, etc. obviously Baker isn't inventing the use of hands lol.

[SirLK26]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Redskins OTAs: Thoughts and observations - Washington Redskins Blog - ESPN

Thanks for that good read.

Hearing a lot of great stuff about the young guys. Phillip Thomas, Amerson, Breeland, Reed, Murphy, Keenan, etc., all seem to be healthy and performing well. While they are still in shorts and a lot of the compliments are coming courtesy of coach speak, it gets me excited for the season.

If a few of the younger guys like Keenan, Thomas, Reed, and Amerson stay healthy and perform well in big roles, that would be huge. And if our pass rush can get around 45-50 sacks, RG3 stays healthy, our STs perform better, and the WRs can at least come close to living up to our expectations, we could be a serious NFC East contender. Not at the level of the great NFC teams, but good enough for a serious division title push. The biggest question is whether Jay knows what he's doing, 'cause he's got some talent to work with.

[CRedskinsRule]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

What I meant was new coach = new approach/emphasis on different techniques, drills, etc. obviously Baker isn't inventing the use of hands lol.

In breaking news, Redskins coaches have now decided they are going to teach the forward pass.

[NC_Skins]

A closer look at Robert Griffin III’s mechanics


Good article breaking down Robert's mechanics.

[MTK]

Originally Posted by NC_Skins

A closer look at Robert Griffin III’s mechanics





Good article breaking down Robert's mechanics.

Good read

[tshile]

Originally Posted by Defensewins

New coach, but definitely not new techniques.
The technique of using your hands in pass rush has been around since Deacon Jones played the game. Rule changes were put in place in 1977 called the "Deacon Jones rule" because Deacon used his quick hands so well to head/helmet slap his opponent that it would leave his opponents dumbfounded.
Pass rush moves like: swim, grab, rip/inside, spin, under, counter/club, bull rush and speed rush have been in existence for decades.
Why Orakpo and his former coaches have never worked on this in practice before is what is glaring. Probably explains why Orakpo only has two pass rush moves speed and bull rush.

As a critic of Orakpo over the last few years, I hear the last bit a lot and always wonder....

The assumption always seems to be, in these situations, that the coaches are not teaching the player whatever the desired improvement is; in this case: that Orakpo develop and use more moves.

It just makes me wonder... is it possible they are trying, and he (for whatever reason) just isn't doing it? Maybe he can't break old habits, maybe he just doesn't understand, etc?

Maybe it is the coaches, but I'd think at some point this criticism of him became well known enough to both Orakpo and the Coaches that at this point in his career blaming the coaches for not trying seems to not make sense to me.

A counter argument to that, I suppose, would be to ask why they'd franchise him if the problem was that he couldn't figure it out.... but who knows.

[skinsfan69]

This whole knee brace thing is so overblown. Many Qb's play with them. It's not that big of a deal to wear one and it should never mess up a QB's mechanics. Especially today where they so much lighter than they were in the 80's.

[Ruhskins]

Originally Posted by skinsfan69

This whole knee brace thing is so overblown. Many Qb's play with them. It's not that big of a deal to wear one and it should never mess up a QB's mechanics. Especially today where they so much lighter than they were in the 80's.

It's prob not a big deal to a pocket QB, but I'm sure it is to a mobile QB like RG3.

[SirLK26]

Originally Posted by tshile

As a critic of Orakpo over the last few years, I hear the last bit a lot and always wonder....

The assumption always seems to be, in these situations, that the coaches are not teaching the player whatever the desired improvement is; in this case: that Orakpo develop and use more moves.

It just makes me wonder... is it possible they are trying, and he (for whatever reason) just isn't doing it? Maybe he can't break old habits, maybe he just doesn't understand, etc?

Maybe it is the coaches, but I'd think at some point this criticism of him became well known enough to both Orakpo and the Coaches that at this point in his career blaming the coaches for not trying seems to not make sense to me.

A counter argument to that, I suppose, would be to ask why they'd franchise him if the problem was that he couldn't figure it out.... but who knows.

I can't remember for sure and can't find it anywhere, but I thought I read or heard that our former OLB coach was too complacent, and didn't coach up the OLBs very well/wasn't hard enough on them. Could be wrong. I do know that I read an article by a team insider that the more energetic Baker was a definite and welcome change from the former coach.

On your last paragraph, maybe the fault does lie with Orakpo, and that's why he was franchised instead of extended long-term.