Redskins place franchise tag on Orakpo

As far as Orakpo the football player I'm pretty sure he was just a warm body out there, or at least the first half of the season when I was actually paying attention. As far as Orakpo the person he's always seemed like a solid citizen type guy. I'd have let him walk, personally. It's a lot of money for someone who there are better versions of elsewhere, but given our dearth of pass rush in general, I suppose keeping him this year and trying to add to our rush could actually make him more effective.

I'm thinking we can't fix it all in one offseason so this allows us to focus on some other things. I'd concentrate on upgrading the OL and front seven at the expense of other holes. Last year was unacceptable. We essentially added no one on OL or DL. This team with a good OL and some real players in the front seven has plenty of upside and room to grow even if our DB's are getting torched and our recievers can't get open without time or scheme.

Generallly, I agree with your statements.

The bolded statement is something I have seen in various forms from the "Let Rak walk" crowd. Who are these double digit pass rushers that also play OLB? As far as I can tell, the only other ones currently in the conversation are possibly Ware if he gets cut or Worilds. As to each, at this stage of the game - even if he gets released - Rak>Ware (age, injury, production) and Worilds got transition tagged at 10M. In his four years, Worilds was okay but in his contract year he gets 8 sacks. Wohooo.

I just don't see any real replacement that provides the production Rak does. Again, who is providing these double digit sacks for less than 10M a year?

(If I hear R.Jax, my head may explode).

Rjax

KA-BOOM


Stand back from the splatter zone.

Generallly, I agree with your statements.

The bolded statement is something I have seen in various forms from the "Let Rak walk" crowd. Who are these double digit pass rushers that also play OLB? As far as I can tell, the only other ones currently in the conversation are possibly Ware if he gets cut or Worilds. As to each, at this stage of the game - even if he gets released - Rak>Ware (age, injury, production) and Worilds got transition tagged at 10M. In his four years, Worilds was okay but in his contract year he gets 8 sacks. Wohooo.

I just don't see any real replacement that provides the production Rak does. Again, who is providing these double digit sacks for less than 10M a year?

(If I hear R.Jax, my head may explode).

I think Orakpo's big problem is outside of sacks I really don't think he's a very good player. I wouldn't count him in the top 10 OLB's in the league and if you're building a team for the long haul I'd rather lose in the short term and plug my holes/use my cap space for solutions that I'd consider optimal. We're talking about a mammoth contract to get him signed for term and he's not a player I'd offer a franchise type deal for. You only get a limited number of those for each team, and imo he's not worth it.

Well, we will have to agree to disagree. If you want to say he is not "elite", fine. No argument. To say "outside of sacks, I really don't think he's a very good player", well, that's a huge leap. I would suggest that it is also unjustified.

From a purely objective standpoint, he may not be worth 12M a year, but he is certainly a 8-9M/year player. Since coming in the league, he has consistently improved his game "outside of sacks" and is well thought of by his teammates who, if you go back and look at their comments, definitely considered him a top 10 OLB. Rak starts on every team that doesn't have a OLB named Ware, Suggs or Mathews. Is he top 5, no. Top 10, yup.

As someone else said, in three years are highest paid players are T. Williams, RGIII and Rak, we are doing something right.

Side note, from a Keim report:
"Finally, KC Joyner included a stat on linebacker Brian Orakpo: 'Orakpo posted a 2.3 percent mark in the disrupted dropback percentage metric that tracks how often a defender tallies a sack, interception, pass defensed or batted ball. That total ranked sixth among all linebackers last year and illustrates the kind of impact Orakpo can have.' "
Offseason Blueprint: Washington Redskins - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/blog/washington-redskins/post/_/id/5782/offseason-blueprint-redskins)

Well, we will have to agree to disagree. If you want to say he is not "elite", fine. No argument. To say "outside of sacks, I really don't think he's a very good player", well, that's a huge leap. I would suggest that it is also unjustified.

From a purely objective standpoint, he may not be worth 12M a year, but he is certainly a 8-9M/year player. Since coming in the league, he has consistently improved his game "outside of sacks" and is well thought of by his teammates who, if you go back and look at their comments, definitely considered him a top 10 OLB. Rak starts on every team that doesn't have a OLB named Ware, Suggs or Mathews. Is he top 5, no. Top 10, yup.

As someone else said, in three years are highest paid players are T. Williams, RGIII and Rak, we are doing something right.

Side note, from a Keim report:
"Finally, KC Joyner included a stat on linebacker Brian Orakpo: 'Orakpo posted a 2.3 percent mark in the disrupted dropback percentage metric that tracks how often a defender tallies a sack, interception, pass defensed or batted ball. That total ranked sixth among all linebackers last year and illustrates the kind of impact Orakpo can have.' "
Offseason Blueprint: Washington Redskins - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/blog/washington-redskins/post/_/id/5782/offseason-blueprint-redskins)

Wouldnt that mean he is #4 then if he doesnt start over only 3 guys? Therefore a top 5 guy.

Also, I think to many of you are still wrapped up in the whole cap being 120 mil or less. It is over 130 mil now and will be around 150 mil in 3 to 4 years. His value of 8-9 mil will go up as the cap does. I would agree that 11 mil is to much for him with 120 mil cap or less, but with where the cap is headed, he is worth 11 mil imo.

Well, we will have to agree to disagree. If you want to say he is not "elite", fine. No argument. To say "outside of sacks, I really don't think he's a very good player", well, that's a huge leap. I would suggest that it is also unjustified.

From a purely objective standpoint, he may not be worth 12M a year, but he is certainly a 8-9M/year player. Since coming in the league, he has consistently improved his game "outside of sacks" and is well thought of by his teammates who, if you go back and look at their comments, definitely considered him a top 10 OLB. Rak starts on every team that doesn't have a OLB named Ware, Suggs or Mathews. Is he top 5, no. Top 10, yup.

As someone else said, in three years are highest paid players are T. Williams, RGIII and Rak, we are doing something right.

Side note, from a Keim report:
"Finally, KC Joyner included a stat on linebacker Brian Orakpo: 'Orakpo posted a 2.3 percent mark in the disrupted dropback percentage metric that tracks how often a defender tallies a sack, interception, pass defensed or batted ball. That total ranked sixth among all linebackers last year and illustrates the kind of impact Orakpo can have.' "
Offseason Blueprint: Washington Redskins - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/blog/washington-redskins/post/_/id/5782/offseason-blueprint-redskins)

Well we went 10-6 w o him and 3-13 with him. Also as many have pointed out he was invisible the first part of the year when we still had a chance. He made a classic "contract push" when games were meaningless. Also, saying someone is a starting player at OLB puts him into the top 64 at their position plus there's over 100 starting LB's in the league. I'd personally rather upgrade the other LB positions and then find someone who may be an adequate downgrade for Rak. I don't think Orakpo is a true game changer at LB. A solid cog? Sure. Worth top 5 or 10 money at his position? No.

I honestly think that's why they franchised him. So they can keep him in the fold with an eye towards letting him walk in a year if he doesn't really turn a corner. If that's the case, like I said, I hope they go after OL and more help in the front seven with the remaining cap.

Or instead of looking at the last 8 games as a contract push, look at the first 8 as reacclimating himself to the game he was away from for a year.

Don't try to compare the redskins 2012 record to 2013 and put that on Orakpo as the reason we won 10 or lost 13. It doesn't make any sense. There are way to many factors that have nothing to do with Rak. I would argue if he was healthy all of 2012 we would have won a couple more games.

The guys back.

Or instead of looking at the last 8 games as a contract push, look at the first 8 as reacclimating himself to the game he was away from for a year.

Don't try to compare the redskins 2012 record to 2013 and put that on Orakpo as the reason we won 10 or lost 13. It doesn't make any sense. There are way to many factors that have nothing to do with Rak. I would argue if he was healthy all of 2012 we would have won a couple more games.

The guys back.

Definitely agree.

He's always played with a high motor, I don't buy the "he was just playing hard for a contract" BS.

How could you honestly? The guy plays a pretty consistent game. He has improved each year. And I totally agree that he always plays with a high motor.