Rank Orakpo as a OLB prospect...

if he turns out like Merriman, or Ware, we've got ourselves a baller. all i really care about is him getting to the qback. from what position is irrelevant

I don't think he's going to be real good at OLB. I'm starting to think maybe bringing back Washington isn't such a bad idea. I really don't want Orakpo playing over the TE cause that's going to take him out of pass rushing situations on 1st and 2nd down.

Not sure why some are already so convinced he can't handle OLB. I'd at least like to see him in live action before I make up my mind.

Right now, I think the Skins are just trying to get their best players on the field. I think they know that Orakpo is a better fit at DE than at SLB and that DE is where he will eventually play. But, for right now, the Skins have a solid LDE in Daniels but they don't have a solution at SLB, so they want to see if Orakpo can help the team as a hybrid DE/SLB this season.

I don't agree at all that the Skins should have passed him up and traded down. I think Orakpo was a fine pick at #13.

I wholeheartedly agree with this. Orakpo is a beast of a player and it would have been really stupid of the FO to pass him up.

While I understand the concerns about having Orakpo playing at LB, I do think that we have a great athlete who's up to the challenge. I mean we all bitch and whine about the team not building through the draft and whatnot, but don't you guys think we're due to have a stud impact player picked up through the draft that can make a difference. Yes, I know that Merriman and Suggs are not good examples of DEs changing over to LBs (due to the system they are in), but those guys still changed positions and they had the talent and athleticism to make the change, and so will Orakpo.

I know, I'm just playing around.


I know, so am I.

Mario Williams (who's a great pass-rusher now) really struggled at DE when he entered the league so why not just let Orakpo concentrate on what he knows best before having him play a couple positions. Why overload him?

Yes Rak-attack was the highest rated DE prospect entering the draft but, is Orakpo a better OLB prospect than Curry?

I dont think so. Curry is a true LB who can play any LB spot in a 4-3 or 3-4. As a OLB Curry has all the tools to be a very good player in the NFL. Alot of teams questioned Orakpo before the draft about his ability to play the pass. I think Orakpo can fill a void at OLB for us but I think part of the reason he slipped was because teams didnt think he could play LB.

Orakpo has the power and burst off the edge to be a HOF Defensive End imo. I know he hasnt played a down yet in the NFL but he has the potenial to be great. I dont think he can be compared to a LB like Curry though.

Mario Williams (who's a great pass-rusher now) really struggled at DE when he entered the league so why not just let Orakpo concentrate on what he knows best before having him play a couple positions. Why overload him?

That was the problem with signing Daniels and Wynn. Now with Orakpo on board its going to be hard for him to crack the DL on 1st and 2nd downs. I think the experience of Orakpo at DE on every down is key to him being ready to make more plays sooner. The problem is the team wants to win so bad I think they are looking to fill a void at OLB instead of setting up Orakpo for years to come. We might make the playoffs this year but we arent a Super Bowl contender imo at this time.

Id play Orakpo at DE and let him make his share of rookie mistakes and big plays. I agree with you 100%. Why teach him the OLB spot if we know hes going to play DE for us in the future? It really scares me that the Redskins finally drafted a beast DE and they want to toy with him at OLB.

Plus if he's playing OLB on 1st and 2nd down, don't you think teams will try to take advantage of him in coverage. We won't have a great pass rush with Daniels in his place so the odds are against us.
WE'VE NEEDED A DE FOR A LONG TIME. LET'S LEAVE HIM THERE.

Mario Williams (who's a great pass-rusher now) really struggled at DE when he entered the league so why not just let Orakpo concentrate on what he knows best before having him play a couple positions. Why overload him?

I agree with you, to a degree. The one difference is that Mario was designed to be the anchor of a nonexistent line Orakpo is coming in with what should be excellent interior support, and two DEs, Carter and Daniels, to show him the ropes.