Can Orakpo be a DE in a 3-4

crazyhorse1 · Post by **crazyhorse1** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 8:18 pm

I think Orakpo can play DE in a 3-4 beside Haynesworth and be a sack beast. He's 268 lbs and still has the frame to add ten pounds or so of muscle (he's young). He has too much mobility to be contained by one larger but much slower OL, which means both he and Haynesworth would require double teaming to be contained. I don't believe teams would do that.

What do you think? I simply think not playing him at DE would waste his talent. Playing him at lineback would be like using OJ Simpson at wide receiver, unless they plan on using him as a rusher on almost every down, in which case he would still he facing the same size blocker. It's just a matter of whether he would be better off with a running start or with his hand in the dirt. From what I've seen, he would be better off with his hand in the dirt.

I also think he would make many more tackles than Daniels would at DE.
The only thing Daniels can do better than Orakpo is stack up the line in short yardage situation.

brad7686 · Post by **brad7686** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 8:29 pm

As a 3-4 OLB, he'll be rushing the qb almost every play. As a 3-4 DE, he will be taking on two blockers every play.

Countertrey · Post by **Countertrey** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 9:53 pm

Yeah, I don't understand the concern, CH... OLB in a 3-4 is not the equivalent to OLB in a 4-3... In a 3-4, he'd be a pass rusher.

Jarvis has the frame to be a 3-4 end... Orakpo would disappear if made a 3-4 end.

andyjens89 · Post by **andyjens89** » Tue Mar 02, 2010 10:42 pm

OLB in 3-4 = End in 4-3........ Demarcus Ware, James Harrison, Clay Matthews, etc.

Ends in the 3-4 are HUGE like Haloti Ngata, Igor Olshansky, Richard Seymour, etc... 300 pounders who would be DTs in a 4-3. The nose tackles in 3-4 are going to be 350+ everytime (Shaun Rogers, Kris Jenkins, Vince Wilfork, Casey Hampton, etc.)

Playing Orakpo at 3-4 DE would be like playing Malcolm Kelly at left tackle.

crazyhorse1 · Post by **crazyhorse1** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 1:49 am

brad7686 wrote:As a 3-4 OLB, he'll be rushing the qb almost every play. As a 3-4 DE, he will be taking on two blockers every play.

Hiding him behind the DL is not going to shake him loose from blockers. As a rushing linebacker he'll still have to beat an LT or run into some other nasty arrangement. They'll get serious beef on him either way, sometimes two blockers. My bet is that both he and Haynesworth will require two blockers each if he plays on the line. We've all seen him beat big lineman one or one. Do the numbers. It gets really intriguing if we sign Julius Peppers, who also must be double-teamed. Three will occupy six, which means there's nobody left to block our linebackers.

But, seriously, folks, with Haynesworth over center, Orakpo and Peppers will only have to beat one big guy apiece, which they'll have to do anyway, no matter where they play. The only question is whether or not they can stop the short running game. I think they can-- same reason.

Anyway, we don't have any "big" defensive linemen of quality other than Haynesworth.

crazyhorse1 · Post by **crazyhorse1** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 2:49 am

Countertrey wrote:Yeah, I don't understand the concern, CH... OLB in a 3-4 is not the equivalent to OLB in a 4-3... In a 3-4, he'd be a pass rusher.

Jarvis has the frame to be a 3-4 end... Orakpo would disappear if made a 3-4 end.

I was an offensive lineman and a defensive linebacker and have opinions based on my playing days in high school and college. If an offense has any sense, it can put serious beef in front of a rushing linebacker. If you beat the beef, you are then clobbered by the fullback, which is much worse than being hit by a lineman. That and the fact you have to pause a beat or longer because your assignment may involve coverage or the fact that you are a step or two further from the line than a lineman would be, makes it unlikely you'll get anything other than coverage sacks, which are rare for a linebacker to get. I know that OLB's are pass rushers, but I also know they are handicapped pass rushers.
If Orakpo plays linebacker, in an 4-3 or a 3-4, his sack numbers will be considerably less than they would be if he played on the line. It's easier to beat heft than it is to beat time.

HEROHAMO · Post by **HEROHAMO** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 5:58 am

Can Orakpo play DE in a 3-4? Sure he could.
Why would we want that? He is outstanding in rushing the passer. So we need him on the edge. Either side is fine with me. OLB in a 34 is the best way to go.

UK Skins Fan · Post by **UK Skins Fan** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 9:22 am

HEROHAMO wrote:Can Orakpo play DE in a 3-4? Sure he could.
Why would we want that? He is outstanding in rushing the passer. So we need him on the edge. Either side is fine with me. OLB in a 34 is the best way to go.

Ditto

frankcal20 · Post by **frankcal20** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 10:34 am

I have a feeling that we're going to have Haynesworth and Daniels at DE's, Orakpo and Chris Wilson at OLB and Fletch and Mac at ILB. I could see us using Golston at NT or look elsewhere in FA or the draft. But that how I would line them up.

skins2357 · Post by **skins2357** » Wed Mar 03, 2010 1:50 pm

Way too small to shed blocks. As an OLB this yr he could not shed blocks, only when he rushed the passer was he effective. Imagine him getting double teamed every time....he might get pushed back into the bench.

There is a reason why all DEs in a 3-4 system are 285+....I dont think I can think of a 3-4 DE who is any good who is not 285+

HEROHAMO · Post by **HEROHAMO** » Thu Mar 04, 2010 6:50 am

frankcal20 wrote:I have a feeling that we're going to have Haynesworth and Daniels at DE's, Orakpo and Chris Wilson at OLB and Fletch and Mac at ILB. I could see us using Golston at NT or look elsewhere in FA or the draft. But that how I would line them up.

I agree also Montgomery might be a good option at NT as well.

dthomas11 · Post by **dthomas11** » Thu Mar 04, 2010 8:23 am

wouldnt it be funny if somehow suh dropped to 4????????? we would have to take him...wouldnt that be great if we had haynesworth and suh at DE in a 3-4....but im gonna get off the drugs now

SkinsJock · Post by **SkinsJock** » Thu Mar 04, 2010 9:09 am

The 2 DTs are both going in the first 3 - that leaves Okung (the only really good prospect at OT) & Bradford - I would be really surprised if anyone took Berry over one of the 2 DTs

as far as the defensive alignment this season is concerned - I am looking for Haslett to use the players he has more effectively and to devise a defensive game plan more suited to their strengths

thankfully, we have a new regime in charge here and we'll see a more effective defense