RI: Orakpo Starts Out at Linebacker

Interesting; we seem to expect our players to switch positions quite frequently.

It seems to me that when coaches are evaluating how to use a player they would put him in all the positions he might be asked to play, and further, I would imagine they have a belief DE will be less of a problem.

Blache likes to run some tricky schemes. Whatever blache wants to do with this amazing athlete let him do. The lb spot is probobly the spot that they want rak to be efficiant at when he is there. where he needs the most improvement

This is to begin to teach him what to do at LB in this system. My guess is that's much more complicated than rushing the QB from the edge. That's what mini-camp is for.

As soon as I saw this I knew people were going to blow this out of proportion. Why is everyone so fixed on Vernon Gholston's failure, when you have both Shawne Merriman and Terrell Suggs as examples of DEs (in college) that made successful transitions to LBs? I'm not saying that Orakpo is going to be a LB, but just as you bring negative examples, there are positive examples of successful transition. Besides, when Greg Blache or Jim Zorn say the words "Orakpo will be a full time LB" stop speculating so much.

I trust the coaches wouldn't put him at LB if they didn't think he was capable. We'll see how it goes.

I admire your optomism, but Blache horribly mis-used Jason Taylor last year. Granted, alot of that was due to injury, but still...

Blache didn't even want JT in the first place.

Ruhskins -- You brought up some examples of DEs in college that made a successful transition to LB. However, name one player that has made the transition from 4-3 DE in college to a 4-3 LB in the NFL. Bet you don't find (m)any worth a damn.

It looks like he was playing linebacker because Mcintosh was excused for personal reasons. Once he's back, he'll slide back into LB and Orakpo takes over for Daniels.

As soon as I saw this I knew people were going to blow this out of proportion. Why is everyone so fixed on Vernon Gholston's failure, when you have both Shawne Merriman and Terrell Suggs as examples of DEs (in college) that made successful transitions to LBs? I'm not saying that Orakpo is going to be a LB, but just as you bring negative examples, there are positive examples of successful transition. Besides, when Greg Blache or Jim Zorn say the words "Orakpo will be a full time LB" stop speculating so much.Merriman and Suggs are poor examples since they are largely pass rushing 3-4 linebackers in the pros. Asking Orakpo to play LB in a 4-3 is a far more difficult transition. Hopefully his hand will be in the dirt on 3rd and long passing situations.