The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

Hello All,

I have been watching Orakpo closely, and I know it isn't going to be recieved well at this site, but I think he is overated. I will state my case and I ask that others please provide their insight rather than attacking the post. I really would like to know folks detailed thoughts.

My perspective:
Pros:
Orakpo has a nice speed rush

Cons:
No other rush moves or counter moves.
Can not play the pass
Can not hold the point against the run.
Instincts are poor. He frequently bites inside allowing big runs outside. Also tends to misdiagnose plays

Again, I welcome thoughts on his play, but this is what I see. I played LB at Michigan State and obviously didn't make the pros, so before folks ask if I could do better, no I can't. Just my thoughts as someone who played on a big college stage. I personally think Kerrigan is better because he has more rush moves and is 200% better against the run. Orakpo has the size and desire, but he plays a finesse game. I saw the hit on Newton, but let's be real. If unblocked, some of us could hit hard too from the blind side, not to mention make an attempt at a strip.

Well, I'm sure the responses will be interesting and all comments that show thought I welcome whether supporting my comments or disagreeing.

Lastly, how about my Spartans last night, what a game.

I think I'll ignore this thread...

Our entire defense is overrated and they've proven this with the loss to the Carolina Panthers. This game should have been 23-13 Skins but our horrible receivers and overrated defense lost this one.

StorminMormon86 wrote:Our entire defense is overrated and they've proven this with the loss to the Carolina Panthers. This game should have been 23-13 Skins but our horrible receivers and overrated defense lost this one.

agreed.
dropped passes and D let down Beck who played very well.

SKIN4LIFE wrote:Hello All,

I have been watching Orakpo closely, and I know it isn't going to be recieved well at this site, but I think he is overated. I will state my case and I ask that others please provide their insight rather than attacking the post. I really would like to know folks detailed thoughts.

My perspective:
Pros:
Orakpo has a nice speed rush

Cons:
No other rush moves or counter moves.
Can not play the pass
Can not hold the point against the run.
Instincts are poor. He frequently bites inside allowing big runs outside. Also tends to misdiagnose plays


Again, I welcome thoughts about Orakpo. re folks ask if I could do better, no I can't. Just my thoughts as someone who played on a big college stage. I personally think Kerrigan is better because he has more rush moves and is 200% better against the run. Orakpo has the size and desire, but he plays a finesse game. I saw the hit on Newton, but let's be real. If unblocked, some of us could hit hard too from the blind side, not to mention make an attempt at a strip.

Well, I'm sure the responses will be interesting and all comments that show thought I welcome whether supporting my comments or disagreeing.

Lastly, how about my Spartans last night, what a game.

I agree with all your points about Orakpo and have criticized him before for making so few tackles. Today, it looked like a track meet over his position. He was constantly getting beat to the sidelines.

I've often wondered if we didn't draft Rak as a BPA pick and then try to make him into something he is not: a standup LB who has to be able to drop off in coverage, matching up with H-backs and TE's in space, and be able to key off the RB, QB and OL instead of just pinning his ears back and trying to beat the LT or RT.

He's a stellar athlete, no doubt about it, and has improved each year in his role - but I don't know if his ceiling might perhaps be limited by his playing out of position at this level.

OP, Congrats on MSU's victory last night. What a game indeed. I love Big Ten football. Line up, smash you in the mouth, then line up and do it again. And again. And again...

die cowboys die wrote:

StorminMormon86 wrote:Our entire defense is overrated and they've proven this with the loss to the Carolina Panthers. This game should have been 23-13 Skins but our horrible receivers and overrated defense lost this one.

agreed.
dropped passes and D let down Beck who played very well.

Beck played better than I thought if that matters.

I think you raise some good points. I think the biggest issue is that he doesn't keep containment and teams can basically run at will to his side of the field. On 980 they talked about how the Eagles gained more than 50 yards on Orakpo rushing too far up the field and not keeping containment.

Sadly I have to agree. I love Rak but he is limited and was terribly exposed today along with the rest of the D.

Orakpo just needs to mentally think I have got to keep contain and force it inside. Mainly against the run he needs to improve. Pass coverage I could care less he should be rushing the passer 95 pecent of the time anyways.

Orakpo is always going balls out which is not a bad thing. Just has to have his mind slow it down and diagnose the play. I think this could be helped if Orakpo realizes it on his own or the right coach points this out to him.

He just needs to realize he cant always make the play. But he must always take care of his assignment.

Overrated nah. Just needs to keep polishing up his skills.

I won't go do far as to say Rak is overrated, but he doesn't keep contain and he only has one move as a pass rusher (it is areally good move, but he only has the one).

However, I won't pass judgement on Rak until he has a ligament Defensive coordinator!

JH isn't short for Jim Hasslett it is short for Just Horrible. This is the second game the defense (maybe even third) that the D shares a major part of the loss.

This loss was 90% JH's D and 10% Gaffney.

I don't think Orakpo alone is overrated, it's our entire defense. I do think that Kerrigan is the compliment Orakpo needs to make him better. Only time will tell. By far our most OVERRATED PLAYER on the entire team is DeAngelo Hall. I have yet to see him tackle anyone this entire season.

I agree on D. Hall being the most overated player on our D. I just feel like Orakpo gets a free pass at times, and I was wondering if I was seeing the same thing as a lot of folks.

I'm glad you brought up Hall though, because fans will talk about him for a few games, then he will have two interceptions in a game or something to that extent and folks will forget about the previous games. Not to the degree of Hall, but Orakpo will get exposed for a couple of games, then he will play the Rams, be defensive player of the week with 2 sacks, a forced fumble, etc. and folks will forget that he struggled previously and that the Rams are horrible.

Again, I'd much rather have Orakpo than Hall, just wanted to see what people were seeing from him. I'm on the same page as a lot of folks.

lets not leave this topic to just the Defense..

Another player who I think is extremely overrated is Armstrong.. terrible hands and not a good route runner..

all he is good for is a hot route straight down the field.. In no way is he worthy of being our #2 receiever.. I have never been able to figure out what it is people see in him.. a couple 40 yard catches does not impress me

I agree with Armstrong as well. We really don't have any decent receiver on this team that could be a #2. It's pretty bad when our #1 receiver would be a #2 on any other team.

I agree he is overrated in house for our own Redskins fans but not around the league. He isnt' considered in the top 10 for pass rushers for many lists.

I think us fans may overrate him a bit because of his potential. It was just like when Sean Taylor was playing, you can't tell me he didn't have flaws his first few years with taking bad angles, etc but we loved what potential he had to offer.

Orakpo is a smart guy and is dedicated. So all you have to ask for is that he improves each season and he will. Unfortunately he havent' had the luxury of having a premiere veteran pass rusher around to help him. He has improved as a linebacker. Of course I still feel Orakpo, Kerrigan, Jenkins, Kerrigan as dlineman in a 4-3 would better use their talents. But look at Demarcus Ware...took him awhile to be considered an all around LB now. His first 3 years he was weak against the run.