RI: Orakpo Starts Out at Linebacker

Redskins Insider - Orakpo Starts Out at Linebacker (http://voices.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/jason-la-canfora/orakpo-starts-out-at-linebacke.html)

I do not like this move one bit. Let him stay at 4-3 end.

I hope he stays at DE otherwise he will be another Vernon Gholston.

No issue with it. We need to have as much flexibility as possible with a player like him and he needs to learn the responsibilities of the LB position quickly. His learning curve at DE will be minimal.

i think Merriman is technically a linebacker. as long as he can get to the qback, i don't care what the skins call him

He's going to be a DE on passing downs and LB on running downs.
I'm with you guys he should always be a DE. Maybe they are just experimenting for now.

Orakpo is not a full time 4-3 DE yet.

Unless you would like to see Andre Carter on the bench?

Orakpo can play LDE on passing downs, but he is too small right now to handle full time strong side DE duties.

i think Merriman is technically a linebacker. as long as he can get to the qback, i don't care what the skins call him

That's what I care about.

There are obvious negatives to this, but this is unquestionably the quickest way onto the field.

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