Orakpo as OLB (1 Viewer)

[saintfool]

Based on the OTA reports, it seems like Orakpo is going to be OLB for Washington. Maybe a situational DE too? It seems possible to me because the Redskins DE's were not exactly sack machines last year.

Any thoughts to what his numbers might look like in this role?

 

[stevegamer]

I think his numbers won't be too good - and if he gets a LB designation that means he likely will have little value.

 

[finnbarr]

I think his numbers won't be too good - and if he gets a LB designation that means he likely will have little value.

I agree, Blanche needs to turn the dogs loose and he just wont do it. I think he needs to play DE and stay there.

 

[Warpig]

I'd avoid him unless he is insane value. He's a freaking DE and Washington thinks they are smarter than everyone and trying to put him at OLB? What an ugly trend that is starting.

 

[Birdie048]

I picked up Orakpo in the 3rd round of a rookie draft. I like his dynasty value in Wash with the age of Fletcher and limited LB's to compete against. I don't see alot of value this year, but I like him as a OLB/DE rotation in some scoring systems that give more value for sacks. He is a high caliber player who needs to learn the role of his job.

Give him 2 years and re-evaluate his value! Get him while the getting is good!!

 

[SugarNuts]

I picked up Orakpo in the 3rd round of a rookie draft. I like his dynasty value in Wash with the age of Fletcher and limited LB's to compete against. I don't see alot of value this year, but I like him as a OLB/DE rotation in some scoring systems that give more value for sacks. He is a high caliber player who needs to learn the role of his job.

Give him 2 years and re-evaluate his value! Get him while the getting is good!!

Learn the role? Its a completely different position he needs to learn.

 

[ninerfanatic492000]

I picked up Orakpo in the 3rd round of a rookie draft. I like his dynasty value in Wash with the age of Fletcher and limited LB's to compete against. I don't see alot of value this year, but I like him as a OLB/DE rotation in some scoring systems that give more value for sacks. He is a high caliber player who needs to learn the role of his job.

Give him 2 years and re-evaluate his value! Get him while the getting is good!!

Learn the role? Its a completely different position he needs to learn.

in reality there are very very few SLB that produce enuff to be fantasy useful. now take that he's never played the position......Aaron Curry isn't even ranked or projected to be a fantasy star and he's the ultimate fit.Fletcher may be getting old, but he/rocky/Blades are all good and sound tacklers and have a either a tremendous to a fair amount more instints and experience on their side. Cushing has a better fantasy future than Orakpo at SLB

the best chance for Orakpo's future is that he plays enuff of his hybrid at DE where he can be classified as a DE/DL

 

[Beaumont]

I picked up Orakpo in the 3rd round of a rookie draft. I like his dynasty value in Wash with the age of Fletcher and limited LB's to compete against. I don't see alot of value this year, but I like him as a OLB/DE rotation in some scoring systems that give more value for sacks. He is a high caliber player who needs to learn the role of his job.

Give him 2 years and re-evaluate his value! Get him while the getting is good!!

Learn the role? Its a completely different position he needs to learn.

in reality there are very very few SLB that produce enuff to be fantasy useful. now take that he's never played the position......Aaron Curry isn't even ranked or projected to be a fantasy star and he's the ultimate fit.Fletcher may be getting old, but he/rocky/Blades are all good and sound tacklers and have a either a tremendous to a fair amount more instints and experience on their side. Cushing has a better fantasy future than Orakpo at SLB

the best chance for Orakpo's future is that he plays enuff of his hybrid at DE where he can be classified as a DE/DL

I completely disagree, especially in big play leagues.

 

[ninerfanatic492000]

well till the skins play the majority in 3-4 i'll take cushing vs orakpo as SLB in a 4-3. the best anyone can hope from a SLB in a 4-3 is Julian Peterson from years past(in big play or tackle heavy). seeing how cushing has played the position before(and played it damn well) and Orakpo has never played it........ i'll take Cushing.

 

[saintfool]

Fletcher may be getting old, but he/rocky/Blades are all good and sound tacklers and have a either a tremendous to a fair amount more instints and experience on their side. Cushing has a better fantasy future than Orakpo at SLB

wouldn't orakpo start over blades?i guess i think of it all as any excuse to keep orakpo on the field. marcus washington and blades were good for 100+ combined tackles last year at the SLB position. orakpo could get a chunk of that. staying on the field, albeit as a DE on 3rd downs, is good because of the big play ability there.

 

[Jene Bramel]

I picked up Orakpo in the 3rd round of a rookie draft. I like his dynasty value in Wash with the age of Fletcher and limited LB's to compete against. I don't see alot of value this year, but I like him as a OLB/DE rotation in some scoring systems that give more value for sacks. He is a high caliber player who needs to learn the role of his job.

Give him 2 years and re-evaluate his value! Get him while the getting is good!!

Learn the role? Its a completely different position he needs to learn.

in reality there are very very few SLB that produce enuff to be fantasy useful. now take that he's never played the position......Aaron Curry isn't even ranked or projected to be a fantasy star and he's the ultimate fit.Fletcher may be getting old, but he/rocky/Blades are all good and sound tacklers and have a either a tremendous to a fair amount more instints and experience on their side. Cushing has a better fantasy future than Orakpo at SLB

the best chance for Orakpo's future is that he plays enuff of his hybrid at DE where he can be classified as a DE/DL

Birdie's point about Orakpo's potential value in big play oriented scoring systems is a good one, but I still think Orakpo's a long shot. It's definitely difficult to see him reaching the potential Cushing has as an all-around prospect. Orakpo seems strong and athletic enough to make the transition, but it's a long way from measurables to on-field play.

Unfortunately, I think it looks like a longshot that Orakpo gets a DL designation in most software systems and I don't see him as Washington's next Marcus Washington.

 

[T Bell]

I picked up Orakpo in the 3rd round of a rookie draft. I like his dynasty value in Wash with the age of Fletcher and limited LB's to compete against. I don't see alot of value this year, but I like him as a OLB/DE rotation in some scoring systems that give more value for sacks. He is a high caliber player who needs to learn the role of his job.

Give him 2 years and re-evaluate his value! Get him while the getting is good!!

Learn the role? Its a completely different position he needs to learn.

in reality there are very very few SLB that produce enuff to be fantasy useful. now take that he's never played the position......Aaron Curry isn't even ranked or projected to be a fantasy star and he's the ultimate fit.Fletcher may be getting old, but he/rocky/Blades are all good and sound tacklers and have a either a tremendous to a fair amount more instints and experience on their side. Cushing has a better fantasy future than Orakpo at SLB

the best chance for Orakpo's future is that he plays enuff of his hybrid at DE where he can be classified as a DE/DL

Keep in mind that the only reason Orakpo is not the starting RDE, which would be the best spot for him to land in, is because Andre Carter is there. They can't have two smaller, faster DE's for fear of what that would do to the run defense, so they're experimenting with him going to OLB (on running downs) to get him on the field and then putting him at LDE opposite Carter on passing downs.

Anyway, I think this situation only holds up so long as Carter remains there. Carter signed a 7-year, $35M contract in 2006, so he's entering year 4 of that deal. Typically, the 'Skins do those contracts so that they backload into the last two years a huge amount of the salary to inflate the numbers. 2009 or possibly 2010 would be the last year before Carter's contract would be renegotiated with the team, or he would be released, and I've heard of zero move to want to extend him given his pretty spotty play and his limited ability to generate pass rush on his own (he needs help).

 

[Dave Larkin]

I don't see Orakpo being worth too much, certainly not this season. Unless I see camp reports telling us of his complete domination at the LOS in practice, my mind won't be changed on that. Long term, sure, his value is pretty good. In 2009, I wouldn't be too high on him.

 

[stevegamer]

Also, if he gets listed as a LB now, that hurts his long-term value as he'll need to get re-classified later back to DL.

If he's listed as a LB in whatever service you're using, I'd have him as a do not draft.

 

[Corporation]

This is why I held off on drafting Orapko. He ended up going at the end of our 2nd round (16 teams). I think he projects as an Adalius Thomas type, good but not a world beater. I think he would have been a monster DE though, and is worth a gamble if he can pick up the DE designation.

 

[massraider]

He's a draft-and-hold. I think he has the best chance to become a DL1 from this draft. But you have to wait. The OLB thing, I can't see it lasting more than a year.

 

[fantac]

I think he is talented enough to guarante he will be on the field somewhere. The Redskins like to try and prove how smart they are....haha. I think long term he definitely has value. With younger players I like to look at talent more than roles, although you must consider both. While I like him as a player, I think his value in dynasty leagues is a little too high for my taste. He always seems to go a good bit before I would take him.

 

[Birdie048]

I was trying to make 2 points.....

First: I picked him up in a Dynasty league and have a Rookie Taxi Squad where he can sit all season without making a roster issue. I am looking at his "talent" as a rusher/sack/big play guy after a season or 2 (not 2009). I see Orakpo as one of those players you grab cheap, stash somewhere on your roster, hold and watch him develop. Give him time to get his potential.

Second: League scoring system will have a key in your judgement of his value. I see FF/FR/Sack play opportunities in his roles. Some heavy tackle leagues might lower his value, but some big play opportunities should boost his FF value.

I liked what I saw of this kid (limited live game viewings, but several video highlight reels). Talent is there.

FWIW: I grabbed Cushing, Maybin and Orakpo all in the 3rd in my league.

 

[stevegamer]

He clearly gets a bump if you've got a taxi squad, due to the likelihood of him not being worth playing at a LB spot.

If/when he gets a DL designation that will also help his value, of course.

 

[Birdie048]

Just wanted to update the news of Orakpo....

Orakpo Adjusts to Double Duty

Redskins rookie Orakpo adjusts to double duty

Posted June 29, 2009 @ 10:37 a.m.

By Andrew Struckmeyer

Rookie first-round draft picks in the NFL face the daunting task of adjusting to the speed of the professional level, living up to lofty expectations, and not drowning in the sea of information that is thrown their way in learning the schemes. Redskins rookie Brian Orakpo, the team's first-round draft pick this past season, faces those same challenges, plus one more: He is trying to do all of those things at two positions, not one.

The Redskins' coaches plan to use Orakpo as a stand-up strong-side linebacker on running downs and as a defensive end on passing downs this season. This means learning two positions, including one that Orakpo never played in college at Texas.

Although Orakpo didn't see much game action at linebacker at Texas, defensive coordinator Will Muschamp used both 3-4 and 4-3 concepts in his weekly game plan. This gave Orakpo the opportunity to perform LB duties in certain schemes, even though Muschamp might not have chosen to use that particular scheme come game time.

"The coaches and I are very comfortable with what I bring to the table and that I can play that position. It's challenging, but I'm up to the task," said Orakpo.

The Redskins' coaching staff also believes that these two positions will utilize Orakpo's skills most effectively.

"[LB coach] Kirk Olivadotti liked what he saw of Orakpo at [the] strong-side linebacker position [during minicamp], and he felt like that was a pretty good position for him, as well. So, Brian is going to be a real versatile athlete," said Redskins head coach Jim Zorn.

Recently, the transition from college defensive end to NFL linebacker has produced mixed results. Jets OLB Vernon Gholston, the sixth overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft out of Ohio State, had a trying season last year learning his new position and played sparingly on defense. Jason Babin, the 27th overall pick of the Texans in 2004, has also struggled. Babin played defensive end at Western Michigan but has been unable to adapt to the LB position in the NFL, having bounced around with three teams in only five seasons.

However, the Ravens' Terrell Suggs has had great success since moving from defensive end to linebacker after he was drafted in 2003. Suggs was named the Defensive Rookie of the Year in his first year in the league and since has been chosen for two Pro Bowls at outside linebacker. Cowboys OLB DeMarcus Ware, a defensive end at Troy, has also thrived as an outside linebacker. Ware has made the Pro Bowl in three of his four seasons and twice has been named to the All-Pro team.

Orakpo not only has to master the transition to linebacker, but he must also work on his pass-rushing technique, as he faces bigger and stronger offensive linemen at the professional level. And he has to do all of this quickly, because the Redskins appear to have him penciled in as the starter at strong-side linebacker and third-down pass rusher.

"[brian] understands what we're trying to do with him, both with [DL coach John] Palermo and myself," Olivadotti said. "He knows that it's not all about being in the exact most comfortable position that he is used to being in, but right now is the time to see if we can get him comfortable doing some things, in order for him to be the most effective all the time."

One thing that will help Orakpo in his transition is his relentless work ethic. He chiseled his body while at Texas, leaving with less than 10 percent body fat. Orakpo entered college weighing only 210 pounds but left at a sturdy 265 pounds.

"Brian is as mature a college player as I've been around," said Muschamp. "He really approaches things in a serious manner and takes things to heart with his work ethic and his approach to the game."

Orakpo also has been praised by Redskins coaches for his ability to learn quickly and pick up the defensive schemes as he goes. He definitely made a strong impression at the Redskins' minicamps.

"I saw a guy that is a tremendous athlete, and he tried to hustle. He was in a lot of plays. I don't know if it was rain or sweat, but he was drenched pretty good, so I think he was working hard," said Zorn.

Orakpo also has had help in this process from the veterans on the Redskins' defense, which finished fourth in the NFL last season in yards allowed per game.

"London Fletcher, Philip Daniels, Andre Carter and all the guys have been really helpful," said Orakpo. "When I came in, I was just thrown in with the first team, learning on the fly, and if I missed an assignment, they would just tell me how to correct it right there on the fly, without the coaches having to talk to me."

In addition to leaning on the veterans for knowledge, Orakpo also will be aided by the Redskins' biggest offseason addition, DT Albert Haynesworth. Haynesworth was a first-team All-Pro each of the past two seasons and has 14½ sacks over that span. His pass-rushing capabilities should take some of the pressure and focus off Orakpo on passing downs.

Even though Orakpo is viewed as a starter in the upcoming season, he is not the only Redskin preparing for double duty. Third-year DE Chris Wilson also is attempting to learn both linebacker and defensive end, and he has provided some company and competition for Orakpo.

"We call ourselves the hybrids," Orakpo said. "It's a unique position, and we think of ourselves as special. We brag a lot about being the only guys who can play two positions. We're both trying to learn both positions, and we push each other and feed off of each other."

While the spotlight definitely will be on Orakpo this season, he is more focused on team goals than individual accomplishments.

"My goal is just to win," Orakpo said. "I'm a team-oriented guy; I don't care about all that individual stuff. Every year I put up goals, and the primary goals are always team goals. I just want to put up as many wins as we can and try to get to the postseason."

Orakpo still may have a long road ahead of him to make a name for himself in the NFL, but he certainly has the attributes, both physical and mental, to get there.

"Football is very important to him; he has a great blue-collar work ethic and attitude and approach. I think that he'll be successful because he's very talented, but he will handle that lifestyle very well off the field because he's a very mature person," Muschamp said.