Brian Orakpo
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NFL.com also recorded this segment with Brian Orakpo. The Texas defensive end talks about his roots and a bit about his playing style. Orakpo is another individual with good character and humble personality. Whether he figures in Seattle's draft plans will surely depend on whether the team views him as a potential every down 4-3 defensive end or more of an OLB in the 3-4.
He's also a leader, and a smart kid. Interesting info on him as far as 4-3 or 3-4:
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I'd rather go Crabtree up top and hope for English or Barwin than go Orapko up top and go with Nicks or Britt.
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I'd rather go Crabtree up top and hope for English or Barwin than go Orapko up top and go with Nicks or Britt.
I'd rather go Crabtree up top and hope for English or Barwin than go Orapko up top and go with Nicks or Britt.
My favorite Britt highlight:
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NFL.com also recorded this segment with Brian Orakpo. The Texas defensive end talks about his roots and a bit about his playing style. Orakpo is another individual with good character and humble personality. Whether he figures in Seattle's draft plans will surely depend on whether the team views him as a potential every down 4-3 defensive end or more of an OLB in the 3-4.
He's also a leader, and a smart kid. Interesting info on him as far as 4-3 or 3-4:
NFL.com also recorded this segment with Brian Orakpo. The Texas defensive end talks about his roots and a bit about his playing style. Orakpo is another individual with good character and humble personality. Whether he figures in Seattle's draft plans will surely depend on whether the team views him as a potential every down 4-3 defensive end or more of an OLB in the 3-4.
Seattle isn't going to take Orakpo. Even though Patrick Kerney's set to make $7M in '09, he isn't expected to be cut. They're still waiting for '08 1st Round pick Lawrence Jackson to develop. And if he doesn't, Darryl Tapp has proven himself capable of filling the void (5.5 sacks in '08).
Add in that Cory Redding's expected to play LE on running downs, and the Seahawks appear to be stacked at DE. My guess is that they're hoping to take Eugene Monroe at #4. If he's not available, they'll go with either Raji or Crabtree. QB could be an option, but I don't think it's likely.
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I'd rather go Crabtree up top and hope for English or Barwin than go Orapko up top and go with Nicks or Britt.
My favorite Britt highlight:
Aloysius said:
My favorite Britt highlight:He is a big kid! I wouldn't want a 6'3" 220 lbs safety stalking me over the middle!
This kid could be big YAC guy. Strong, with a stiff arm.
I've been reading some mocks where they are moving him into the first round. It seems now he won't last far into the seond round if he does fall into that round.
Aloy, didn't you say there may be some attitude problems with Britt?
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it seems opinions on orakpo's workout aren't unanimous.
from PFT:
Dissenting Opinions Emerge On Orakpo Workout
Earlier in the day, NFL.com’s Gil Brandt offered up a glowing review of Brian Orakpo’s Pro Day workout.
But not everyone feels that way.
Per one league source, some scouts viewed the linebacker/defensive end’s workout as “brutal.”
According to the source, Orakpo is regarded by some as having “great athletic abilities but bad football skills.” It’s prompting some to question whether Orakpo merits even a first-round pick.
just food for thought.
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Aloysius said:
My favorite Britt highlight:He is a big kid! I wouldn't want a 6'3" 220 lbs safety stalking me over the middle!
This kid could be big YAC guy. Strong, with a stiff arm.
I've been reading some mocks where they are moving him into the first round. It seems now he won't last far into the seond round if he does fall into that round.
Aloy, didn't you say there may be some attitude problems with Britt?
He is a big kid! I wouldn't want a 6'3" 220 lbs safety stalking me over the middle!
This kid could be big YAC guy. Strong, with a stiff arm.
I've been reading some mocks where they are moving him into the first round. It seems now he won't last far into the seond round if he does fall into that round.
Aloy, didn't you say there may be some attitude problems with Britt?
He's certainly got the over celebrating thing down to a tee.
Probably another guy that talks shit after a ten yard grab on third and thirteen.
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He is a big kid! I wouldn't want a 6'3" 220 lbs safety stalking me over the middle!
This kid could be big YAC guy. Strong, with a stiff arm.
I've been reading some mocks where they are moving him into the first round. It seems now he won't last far into the seond round if he does fall into that round.
Aloy, didn't you say there may be some attitude problems with Britt?
He's certainly got the over celebrating thing down to a tee.
Probably another guy that talks shit after a ten yard grab on third and thirteen.
He's certainly got the over celebrating thing down to a tee.
Probably another guy that talks shit after a ten yard grab on third and thirteen.
Are you serious? The kid comes in to play pass defense, probably only the first time perhaps, he has been asked to do that since he is a WR. He then comes up with a chance to deliver a big hit when he is usually the one on the other end of that. I would be celebrating too. Big whoop - the kid got excited for the play he made aside from his usual position.
If this was their regular safety doing this on the last play of the half, I would be concerned. But not someone who gets thrown back their once in a blue moon.
Relax.
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Aloysius said:
My favorite Britt highlight:He is a big kid! I wouldn't want a 6'3" 220 lbs safety stalking me over the middle!
This kid could be big YAC guy. Strong, with a stiff arm.
I've been reading some mocks where they are moving him into the first round. It seems now he won't last far into the seond round if he does fall into that round.
Aloy, didn't you say there may be some attitude problems with Britt?
Aloy, didn't you say there may be some attitude problems with Britt?
Reports were that he wasn't very well-liked by the other guys at the pre-Combine training facility he went to. He's said to have interviewed well at the Combine, but he may be too much of a me-first guy for Mangini's tastes.
He's very talented - almost a poor man's Calvin Johnson - but scouting reports say that he has Braylonesque bad drops. Haven't seen any in the little I've watched of him, but it's definitely a concern.
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Aloy, didn't you say there may be some attitude problems with Britt?
Reports were that he wasn't very well-liked by the other guys at the pre-Combine training facility he went to. He's said to have interviewed well at the Combine, but he may be too much of a me-first guy for Mangini's tastes.
He's very talented - almost a poor man's Calvin Johnson - but scouting reports say that he has Braylonesque bad drops. Haven't seen any in the little I've watched of him, but it's definitely a concern.
Aloysius said:
.but scouting reports say that he has Braylonesque bad drops. Haven't seen any in the little I've watched of him, but it's definitely a concern.
I've read this too. He wants to catch ball with his body instead of his hands and as a result has too many drops.
If there is a good chance he's a "Me first" guy then I don't want any part of him.
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the more we learn about orakpo, the more i like him. if he can stay healthy, i think he's gonna be a really good player. he's making me rethink my earlier assertion that larry english is the best pass rusher in this draft.
i've seen more of english because of senior bowl practices; his initial burst is insanely quick. i don't know if rak's quite as fast off the ball, but he likely has more strength than english and is a bit more seasoned because he played in a stronger conference.
the more we learn about orakpo, the more i like him. if he can stay healthy, i think he's gonna be a really good player. he's making me rethink my earlier assertion that larry english is the best pass rusher in this draft.
Orakpo's growing on me as well. I've watched three of the four '08 games in which he didn't notch a sack, and he was absolutely beastly in two of those. A stark contrast from the games in which I saw Clint Sintim do absolutely nothing & look terrible while doing it.
The Colorado game may have been Orakpo's worst game statistically - two tackles, zero sacks, zero tackles for loss. But if you watch this highlight reel, you can see that he was actually pretty dominant.
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I think he's going to be a beast in the 4-3 at DE but isn't going to be anything better than average if he moves to olb.
It's a gut feeling.
I don't want him in the 3-4.
I think he's going to be a beast in the 4-3 at DE but isn't going to be anything better than average if he moves to olb.
It's a gut feeling.
I don't want him in the 3-4.
I don't really share that concern. One of the most impressive things about the Colorado game clip above is how Orakpo runs step for step with RB-WR Darrell Scott on the trick play. Scott's a freshman who came out of high school running a 4.4 40. The more I watch of Orakpo, the more I see the absolutely freakish second gear he can use when he wants to (which, admittedly, he should be criticized for not using enough).
As that clip shows, he needs to work on his ball-tracking skills. But he reportedly looked great in LB drills at his pro day, and I haven't seen him have trouble making tackles in the open field.
I guess people are more concerned now about 3-4 OLB conversion because of Gholston's problems, but I think Orakpo is a much more flexible & fluid athlete than Gholston. He shows better hip bend when rushing the passer and - I think - will have an easier time transitioning to a new position.
I've heard people like NFL Network's Charles Davis caution that you may not want to draft Orakpo to play 3-4 OLB because, like LaMarr Woodley, it may take him some time to adjust to the new position. But if he's as good in year two as LaMarr Woodley was this year, why the hell wouldn't you take him at #5?
If both Orakpo and Crabtree are still available when we pick at #5, I'd have a very hard time choosing between those two guys.
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I think he's going to be a beast in the 4-3 at DE but isn't going to be anything better than average if he moves to olb.
It's a gut feeling.
I don't want him in the 3-4.
I don't really share that concern. One of the most impressive things about the Colorado game clip above is how Orakpo runs step for step with RB-WR Darrell Scott on the trick play. Scott's a freshman who came out of high school running a 4.4 40. The more I watch of Orakpo, the more I see the absolutely freakish second gear he can use when he wants to (which, admittedly, he should be criticized for not using enough).
As that clip shows, he needs to work on his ball-tracking skills. But he reportedly looked great in LB drills at his pro day, and I haven't seen him have trouble making tackles in the open field.
I guess people are more concerned now about 3-4 OLB conversion because of Gholston's problems, but I think Orakpo is a much more flexible & fluid athlete than Gholston. He shows better hip bend when rushing the passer and - I think - will have an easier time transitioning to a new position.
I've heard people like NFL Network's Charles Davis caution that you may not want to draft Orakpo to play 3-4 OLB because, like LaMarr Woodley, it may take him some time to adjust to the new position. But if he's as good in year two as LaMarr Woodley was this year, why the hell wouldn't you take him at #5?
If both Orakpo and Crabtree are still available when we pick at #5, I'd have a very hard time choosing between those two guys.
Aloysius said:
If both Orakpo and Crabtree are still available when we pick at #5, I'd have a very hard time choosing between those two guys.No you wouldn't Aloy....You know you'd go defense.....C'mon, just admit it!

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I think he's going to be a beast in the 4-3 at DE but isn't going to be anything better than average if he moves to olb.
It's a gut feeling.
I don't want him in the 3-4.
I don't really share that concern. One of the most impressive things about the Colorado game clip above is how Orakpo runs step for step with RB-WR Darrell Scott on the trick play. Scott's a freshman who came out of high school running a 4.4 40. The more I watch of Orakpo, the more I see the absolutely freakish second gear he can use when he wants to (which, admittedly, he should be criticized for not using enough).
As that clip shows, he needs to work on his ball-tracking skills. But he reportedly looked great in LB drills at his pro day, and I haven't seen him have trouble making tackles in the open field.
I guess people are more concerned now about 3-4 OLB conversion because of Gholston's problems, but I think Orakpo is a much more flexible & fluid athlete than Gholston. He shows better hip bend when rushing the passer and - I think - will have an easier time transitioning to a new position.
I've heard people like NFL Network's Charles Davis caution that you may not want to draft Orakpo to play 3-4 OLB because, like LaMarr Woodley, it may take him some time to adjust to the new position. But if he's as good in year two as LaMarr Woodley was this year, why the hell wouldn't you take him at #5?
If both Orakpo and Crabtree are still available when we pick at #5, I'd have a very hard time choosing between those two guys.
Aloysius said:
I don't really share that concern. One of the most impressive things about the Colorado game clip above is how Orakpo runs step for step with RB-WR Darrell Scott on the trick play. Scott's a freshman who came out of high school running a 4.4 40. The more I watch of Orakpo, the more I see the absolutely freakish second gear he can use when he wants to (which, admittedly, he should be criticized for not using enough).As that clip shows, he needs to work on his ball-tracking skills. But he reportedly looked great in LB drills at his pro day, and I haven't seen him have trouble making tackles in the open field.
I guess people are more concerned now about 3-4 OLB conversion because of Gholston's problems, but I think Orakpo is a much more flexible & fluid athlete than Gholston. He shows better hip bend when rushing the passer and - I think - will have an easier time transitioning to a new position.
I've heard people like NFL Network's Charles Davis caution that you may not want to draft Orakpo to play 3-4 OLB because, like LaMarr Woodley, it may take him some time to adjust to the new position. But if he's as good in year two as LaMarr Woodley was this year, why the hell wouldn't you take him at #5?
If both Orakpo and Crabtree are still available when we pick at #5, I'd have a very hard time choosing between those two guys.
Okay my friend, no sitting on the fense. Orakpo, Crabtree, Raji or trade down? come on, who would make the biggest impact or be the biggest difference maker for the Browns? Personally, I am a little torn myself, but I've stated Crabtree because of our WR situation and the value of OLBs later in the draft. Selecting, not knowing what would be available your next pick if you passed on a guy or who's the best player available player for this team with our needs and limited draft picks is a tough call.
Your opinion is appreciated and could start a nice thread. Got to keep it real with what we have. We can't specualte that we get two more picks by trading Edwards or Quinn or any of that off the wall stuff. How would Orakpo fit with Wimbley and how would Crabtree fit with Edwards. who would make the biggest impact?
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I'm legitimately on the fence here...though Mr. Crow knows well that, when it doubt, I'm going to go defense.
Still need to see more of Crabtree before deciding which guy I like more. As of now, I'd probably go with Osackpo.
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I am very leary of Orakpo. 1st rounders, expecially defenders, have not worked out well recently.
2008 - Sweed to PIT. So far, jury is out. But he don't look like a guy that will break out to me.
2007 - Griffin to TEN. Started to come around last year with the picks on that all around good TEN. Let's see what he does this year with Haynsworth missing on that D.
2007 - Ross to NYG. Has done a decent job. But for where he was taken, you'd think he'd do better than Wright, who was taken in round 2.
2006 - Young to TEN. Nothing needs to be said.
2006 - Huff to OAK. Really hasn't done much. Has some tackles, but 1 sack and 1 INT in 3 years.
2005 - Benson to CHI. Nothing needs to be said.
2005 - Johnson to KC. Really hasn't shown to be anything but average at LB.
So in the last 4 drafts, that is 7 guys taken in the 1st round. Of them, only 2 have shown much of anything, and it really isn't a whole lot they have shown. That isn't exactly a good track record for guys coming from their to the pros.
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I am very leary of Orakpo. 1st rounders, expecially defenders, have not worked out well recently.
2008 - Sweed to PIT. So far, jury is out. But he don't look like a guy that will break out to me.
2007 - Griffin to TEN. Started to come around last year with the picks on that all around good TEN. Let's see what he does this year with Haynsworth missing on that D.
2007 - Ross to NYG. Has done a decent job. But for where he was taken, you'd think he'd do better than Wright, who was taken in round 2.
2006 - Young to TEN. Nothing needs to be said.
2006 - Huff to OAK. Really hasn't done much. Has some tackles, but 1 sack and 1 INT in 3 years.
2005 - Benson to CHI. Nothing needs to be said.
2005 - Johnson to KC. Really hasn't shown to be anything but average at LB.
So in the last 4 drafts, that is 7 guys taken in the 1st round. Of them, only 2 have shown much of anything, and it really isn't a whole lot they have shown. That isn't exactly a good track record for guys coming from their to the pros.
Masters said:
I am very leary of Orakpo. 1st rounders, expecially defenders, have not worked out well recently.2008 - Sweed to PIT. So far, jury is out. But he don't look like a guy that will break out to me.
2007 - Griffin to TEN. Started to come around last year with the picks on that all around good TEN. Let's see what he does this year with Haynsworth missing on that D.
2007 - Ross to NYG. Has done a decent job. But for where he was taken, you'd think he'd do better than Wright, who was taken in round 2.
2006 - Young to TEN. Nothing needs to be said.
2006 - Huff to OAK. Really hasn't done much. Has some tackles, but 1 sack and 1 INT in 3 years.
2005 - Benson to CHI. Nothing needs to be said.
2005 - Johnson to KC. Really hasn't shown to be anything but average at LB.
So in the last 4 drafts, that is 7 guys taken in the 1st round. Of them, only 2 have shown much of anything, and it really isn't a whole lot they have shown. That isn't exactly a good track record for guys coming from their to the pros.
Limas Sweed was not a first rounder. He went in the second round. Of course, if you want to go further back you have Casey Hampton, Roy Williams and Shaun Rogers (a second rounder).
I'm a Texas alum and even I would not be enough of a homer to say that you're wrong. I think however, that to say that you wouldn't pick a guy from Texas because of this list is like saying you wouldn't pick an OSU player because of Maurice Clarett or Vernon Gholston. Brian Orakpo is probably the best defensive player that the Longhorns have had in ten years. I don't know that this makes him a 34 OLB. I just can't help but see 43 DE written all over him. I could be wrong.
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I'm legitimately on the fence here...though Mr. Crow knows well that, when it doubt, I'm going to go defense.
Still need to see more of Crabtree before deciding which guy I like more. As of now, I'd probably go with Osackpo.
Aloysius said:
I'm legitimately on the fence here...though Mr. Crow knows well that, when it doubt, I'm going to go defense.
Still need to see more of Crabtree before deciding which guy I like more. As of now, I'd probably go with Osackpo.
Okay, so we're both saying we would trade down...........................LOL
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