Smoot Lays the Smack Down (Cowboys at Redskins)

Let me clarify where I'm coming from w/Rak; I'm not saying he's one of our main problems, not saying he's playing poorly even.

I am saying that I'm disappointed w/his progress to this point. I don't think his pass rushing is as good as last year when he was getting held all over the place. When watching him rush he seems to lack a counter move. Kerrigan has mainly gotten coverage sacks, it's not that he's gotten to the qb quickly that often. Rak hasn't gotten there quickly much either.

Also, v. the run I find it hard to say that one of the OLBs didn't contain the edge, as we never know the call. But some teams have definitely run his way w/success. Take a look at the wash. examiner 10 observations article about the game, John Klein said that a dallas source said there plan was to run at Rak & Bowen. They didn't have success at it, but its interesting that they wanted to go to that side.

No way I want to see Rak traded next year, just want to see him become an elite OLB. Right now I don't see that.

Let me clarify where I'm coming from w/Rak; I'm not saying he's one of our main problems, not saying he's playing poorly even.

I am saying that I'm disappointed w/his progress to this point. I don't think his pass rushing is as good as last year when he was getting held all over the place. When watching him rush he seems to lack a counter move. Kerrigan has mainly gotten coverage sacks, it's not that he's gotten to the qb quickly that often. Rak hasn't gotten there quickly much either.

Also, v. the run I find it hard to say that one of the OLBs didn't contain the edge, as we never know the call. But some teams have definitely run his way w/success. Take a look at the wash. examiner 10 observations article about the game, John Klein said that a dallas source said there plan was to run at Rak & Bowen. They didn't have success at it, but its interesting that they wanted to go to that side.

No way I want to see Rak traded next year, just want to see him become an elite OLB. Right now I don't see that.


He made the probowl two years in a row. He isn't going to make the damn thing every year. I just find it hard to throw Rak under the bus when the whole team is shitty. Rak and Kerrigan are one of the bright spots of this organization.
Rak still gets pressure, but lets remember that there is now two years of game tape on him vs when he was a rookie and 2nd year player. Teams game plan for him now and olineman have film to study. So as he plays another year or two he will come into his own. Lets not forget he is relatively still a very young player, 3rd year. Next year should be a coming out year. Plus, we are putting players around him that he hasn't played with before, guys that have not played in a 3/4 and they are adjusting as well. Much like offensive lineman, it takes a year to form a group that works in tandem.

He made the probowl two years in a row. He isn't going to make the damn thing every year. I just find it hard to throw Rak under the bus when the whole team is shitty. Rak and Kerrigan are one of the bright spots of this organization.
Rak still gets pressure, but lets remember that there is now two years of game tape on him vs when he was a rookie and 2nd year player. Teams game plan for him now and olineman have film to study. So as he plays another year or two he will come into his own. Lets not forget he is relatively still a very young player, 3rd year. Next year should be a coming out year. Plus, we are putting players around him that he hasn't played with before, guys that have not played in a 3/4 and they are adjusting as well. Much like offensive lineman, it takes a year to form a group that works in tandem.

It doesn't take much to be the best on this team. But our best is not even close to the best other teams offer. Orakpo does not deserve to be considered among the elites like until he starts destroying every LT he faces just like the elites do instead of getting stuffed by Doug Free.

It doesn't take much to be the best on this team. But our best is not even close to the best other teams offer. Orakpo does not deserve to be considered among the elites like until he starts destroying every LT he faces just like the elites do instead of getting stuffed by Doug Free.


wow. am i the only one that thinks this is really harsh assessment of Orakpo?? THe guy has been really really good over the last couple of years. I dont think he is playing horrible this year. Do you know think that Kerrigan may be taking away some of his sack numbers? I just think as a whole our D line is better as a whole as well, which may have taken a couple sacks away from him. I didn't see him getting mushed all day. He got pressure, made some plays. On the TD late in the game, he was visibly held that should have been called. Still dont understand how the ref missed that when he was 5 yards away. He was basically pulling him down by the neck of his jersey. anyway, I think bashing Orakpo or calling him out is a little nit picky

Brian Orakpo is a beast. He can play defensive end in a 4-3 or OLB in a 3-4. He's a phenom. While I expected more sacks out of him after ten games, I still see his effectiveness in the defense and his ability to make the offense account for him on every play. When Orakpo goes in for a sure sack, he never tries to strip the ball. He just goes for the sack like when he sacked Cam Newton but didn't go for the strip. The great ones like Lawrence Taylor, Wilbur Marshall, and Derrick Thomas all went for the strip and got sacks as well created turnovers. Orakpo must learn to do this.

wow. am i the only one that thinks this is really harsh assessment of Orakpo?? THe guy has been really really good over the last couple of years. I dont think he is playing horrible this year. Do you know think that Kerrigan may be taking away some of his sack numbers? I just think as a whole our D line is better as a whole as well, which may have taken a couple sacks away from him. I didn't see him getting mushed all day. He got pressure, made some plays. On the TD late in the game, he was visibly held that should have been called. Still dont understand how the ref missed that when he was 5 yards away. He was basically pulling him down by the neck of his jersey. anyway, I think bashing Orakpo or calling him out is a little nit picky

Our best is not Jared Allen's, Dwight Freeney's, etc's best. You watch the goddamn tape, and you see LTs always struggling to hold their own against guys like those. Not the case with Orakpo. Stats are not comprehensive logs of what goes on the field. Getting owned by Doug Free 1-on-1 multiple times is not going to land on stat sheet anywhere, but the visual evidence is there.

That is not to say Orakpo is horrible. I only said that he's not as good as other guys. That DOES NOT mean he is horrible. Those guys I listed would be rated 90 out of 100. Orakpo would be lower, say 75 or 80 out of 100. You call this bashing? What am I supposed to do? Say he's better than Ware? That's bullshit.

I think it is obvious that, when it comes to sheer athleticism, Rak is a cut above Kerrigan. On top of that, he seems to have the same non-stop motor and desire that is touted in Kerrigan.

Which is why it seems both surprising and slightly disappointing that Rak is not dominant. He clearly has the physical ability to be and he clearly has the desire to be. Maybe it is just offenses catching up to Rak's game a little, maybe it's just he doesn't have a complete D around him (improved - but still with holes).

Don't get me wrong, even if he stays at his current level, I think he and Kerrigan are great bookends for the future. I just don't see Kerrigan ever being game changing dominant (Beastly, great, really good? All the things Orakpo is now? Yup). On the other hand, I think Orakpo has the physical ability to be a player other teams must game plan for and who then blows up their plans for him. I truly hope he gets to that level and he may well do so - I mean he is only in his 3rd year. Right now, however, he's merely a very very good player.

I am not Rak bashing, I think he is one of the best players on the team, possibly THE best, and would be one of the top players on his team no matter who he played for. I just want him to be the guy who destroys the opposition.

I long for the day when we can say "Release the KerRakpo!!" and other teams f'ing pee themselves.

NC Skins asks:

What's been the difference between playing with a guy like DeMarcus Ware compared to a guy like Brian Orakpo? How do they differ in playing styles?

Brian is more of a physical pass rusher. He is very strong at the point of attack. He tries to beat people with brute force. DeMarcus you don’t really know how he is going to beat you- he can beat you with speed, fitness, or go right through you. Both are amazing players.


Read what Bowen says in his answer to my question. One is strictly power, the other is all three. Probably answers why LTs can prepare better for Orakpo because he's only bringing one move.

wow. am i the only one that thinks this is really harsh assessment of Orakpo?? THe guy has been really really good over the last couple of years. I dont think he is playing horrible this year. Do you know think that Kerrigan may be taking away some of his sack numbers? I just think as a whole our D line is better as a whole as well, which may have taken a couple sacks away from him. I didn't see him getting mushed all day. He got pressure, made some plays. On the TD late in the game, he was visibly held that should have been called. Still dont understand how the ref missed that when he was 5 yards away. He was basically pulling him down by the neck of his jersey. anyway, I think bashing Orakpo or calling him out is a little nit picky

Agreed 110%. Especially with all of our other problems to consider, and we're sitting here picking apart one of our better players.

Read what Bowen says in his answer to my question. One is strictly power, the other is all three. Probably answers why LTs can prepare better for Orakpo because he's only bringing one move.

sums it up well, if he wants to be an elite rusher he's got to expand his repertoire. I remember Haslett or one of the coaches last year talking about him needing to learn to use his hands to keep tackles from holding him. That's still the case.