Ken Harvey Talks About Redskins' Brian Orakpo at DE/LB
by Kevin Ewoldt on Dec 18, 2009 3:29 PM EST
in Interviews
36 comments
I am certainly ready for some non-Bruce Allen/Vinny Cerrato discussions. You? A big tailgating topic is why haven't the Redskins moved Orakpo to DE full-time? Ken Harvey and I spoke earlier about his personal experiences and thoughts yesterday:
Ken Harvey: In Arizona when I was drafted, all my career [at the University of California] I was a pass rusher . It's all I did. That's how I made my name, and I assumed that's why they drafted me. I get to the pros, and they say "Well, you don't look big enough to be a linebacker. We're going to make you a 3rd down cover guy." I've never covered in my life. Didn't know how to cover. I get to practice and people are juking me off my feet. Because I had a decent 40 time, they said "he's suppose to cover somebody." So all of a sudden, I made a purpose intentionally every day in practice to beat their offensive line so they knew I was a pass rusher. Because if I didn't, they would have made me a 3rd down cover guy saying "he can't cover anybody" and my career would have been over with. I would have been labeled a bust. Once you get a title with you, that title goes with you everywhere you go. That decision could have ruined my career had I not destroyed their offensive line in practice all the time.
Awesome that my recorder crapped out for this next part, but we next talked about Orakpo. I asked him about what all fans think: Why not have Orakpo play every down as DE?
Harvey mentioned that there is a beating the body endures consistently taking on 300 pound run blockers. Having him as LB reduces that punishment while also increases the number of blitz schemes and rushing lanes for Orakpo (since he is moved around). We saw this against Oakland since two of his sacks were from the LB position. Orakpo last week laughed in an interview when asked if he was too small to play DE full-time. It's clear Orakpo, like Ken Harvey, wants to go after the QB. With Ken's success at LB, no one will hear me complaining anymore about how the Redskins are using Orakpo.
Ken Harvey: That game against Oakland was every Linebacker's dream. Banged up line. Quarterback that doesn't know what he's doing.
Kevin: So you would have gotten four sacks?
Ken Harvey: (with a big smile) "I woulda had five!"
Ken Harvey: 6'2" 237 lbs.
Brian Orakpo: 6'3" 260 lbs.
Note: The SoberRide® program, which Ken Harvey is promoting, will be offered from 10:00pm to 6:00am nightly, now through January 1, 2010. To receive a free cab ride home (up to a $50.00 fare), patrons may call 800-200-8294 (TAXI)
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I think people get too worried about the OLB title.
When Orakpo lines up a SLB, almost always it is in rushing downs, and most of those he is attacking a gap or matched up on a back. In passing downs, obviously he is at DE and rushing the passer again. Very rarely is he at SLB in coverage (they can’t be completely transparent).
And it's hard to design plays
against players when you are not sure where the player will line-up.
Orakpo got 4 sacks without Haynesworth being in the game.
Add Haynesworth to the game and it could have been a record.
I read a break down of the 4 sacks and each one was setup a little different and he used different skills sets, strength and speed to get it accomplished. VERY VERY GOOD!
haynewho?
hanynesworth playing is like the other team called for a penalty….nice when it happens.
i like the guy. dont count on him playing more than a couple games a season.
by les boulez bomber on Dec 19, 2009 2:31 PM EST up reply actions
Fat Albert
well, at least he beats the pants off Jason Taylor.
The lion didn't become the King of the jungle by courting the favor, or earning the admeration of lesser mammels
by hoosherdaddy137 on Dec 21, 2009 8:19 AM EST up reply actions
Wow
I thought there were more people in my camp. I just feel like Orakpo belongs at End every down. It is such a waste to not have him in the QB’s face every play possible. I know, I know, everyone thinks he’s “Too small” to play End every down. Well, here are a fe wguys who prove that theory wrong:
Dwight Freeney – 6’1, 268
http://www.nfl.com/players/dwightfreeney/profile?id=FRE417537
Robert Mathis – 6’2, 245
http://www.nfl.com/players/robertmathis/profile?id=MAT227229
Osi Umenyiora – 6’3, 261
http://www.nfl.com/players/osiumenyiora/profile?id=UME444955
Trent Cole – 6’3, 270
http://www.nfl.com/players/trentcole/profile?id=COL192262
Elvis Dumervil – 5’11, 248
http://www.nfl.com/players/elvisdumervil/profile?id=DUM179959
Andre Carter – 6’4, 253
http://www.nfl.com/players/andrecarter/profile?id=CAR609667
Sure, all those numbers are give or take, but they are all comparable to
Brian Orakpo – 6’3, 260
http://www.nfl.com/players/brianorakpo/profile?id=ORA355963
I should add...
Ken Harvey didn’t say he agrees with making him a LB…he just said he understands it since players with that much athletic ability…you want to make them versatile.
"It was one of those things where everyone in the building was suddenly excited again," Cerrato said. "And all the women in the building were the most excited. They couldn't believe we were getting the guy from "Dancing With the Stars."
by Kevin Ewoldt on Dec 18, 2009 4:25 PM EST up reply actions
yeah
I understand the notion. But I think Orakpo’s natural talent is rushing the passer. I mean, Lavar came in as a multi talented LB who was very good in the pass rush. But Orakpo is a totally different player than Lavar was. Lavar was built to play SLB. Orakpo isn’t. I don’t think he’s as fluid in space. Regardless, of that though, he is SUPPOSED to rush the QB EVERY DOWN. I mean, I can’t remember a rookie having this much pass rushing success since Jevon Kearse. But I don’t remember Kearse floundering around the field chasing down tight ends.
Merriman plays 3-4 OLB which is pretty different
I’m with CJ. I think he should line up at DE next year. I’m cool with him this year but I think in the future we can get more from him starting at DE and having an average LB on that side who has better coverage and sideline to sideline range. Most of his sacks this year have come with him lined up as a DE over the LT(with Carter getting some help by lining up over the RT). He’s more than big enough for the rush end spot and you can still move him around as a DE. Rakpo is a frachise type DE in my mind.
by BayAreaBullet on Dec 19, 2009 1:28 AM EST up reply actions
Hybrid
Several of the players above play both LB and DE too
It’s a testiment to his ability to be able to play both…IMO he should be a DE who plays LB
Not a LB who plays DE
I would be
OK with that. As long as he has his hand down 90% of the time. But I disagree. I think that Carter and Dumervil are the only players on here that spent any real time at LB. Hell, the Giants put the BIGGER Mathias Kiwanuka at LB, so Umenyiora could stay at End.
umm
None of those people play LB and DE, they are all defensive ends.
Carter ...
Was used as a LB in San Francisco
one year and it didn't work very well....same for Dumervil when he was in 3-4
and in 3-4 the OLB rushes 85-90% of the time but if you do that in a 4-3 you leave holes in the pass game.
by BayAreaBullet on Dec 19, 2009 1:30 AM EST up reply actions
he’s playing some linebacker because vinny did not field enough serviceable linebackers (OLB that is).
i hardly think blatche is cutting edge in his use of players or worried a 22 year old is going to wear down
by les boulez bomber on Dec 19, 2009 2:35 PM EST up reply actions
EXACTLY
he’s playing some linebacker because vinny did not field enough serviceable linebackers
Just because he’s a great athlete doesn’t mean he’s a great linebacker. I DO THINK, however, that he will be a great defensive end. Putting him at linebacker is just holding him back. He doesn’t have the skillset to cover tight ends, let alone runningbacks. All having him in coverage will do is make him look stupid time and again, which could shake his confidence, and will NOT garner him respect around the league. Which means the “star” we thought we had won’t materialize. But, forget about the personal accolades – having him in coverage hurts the team. Plain and simple.
It's not like he's excelling at the LB part of his role
He’s just excelling at the rush aspect of his role. And most of that has come as a hands down DE. As a linebacker he is average maybe but he is already one of the best DE’s in the league.
by BayAreaBullet on Dec 20, 2009 12:55 PM EST up reply actions
agreed. does not make much sense to me either. at DE, we need him aggressive and attacking. so why make the guy cover people, which is basically watch and react. talk about stealing his mojo.
also agree with the comment below. he is not really nothing special at LB. though i do not have a problem if they want to position him as a LB as kind of a 5th lineman and rush him from various spots. i think that is a good idea on occassion.
i think that is pretty much what they’ll do. he def excels as an end.
watching the bucs game. they are def drafting the top O lineman. their line is horrible. (I think there are only 2 highly rated left tackles in this draft i think).
by les boulez bomber on Dec 20, 2009 5:27 PM EST up reply actions
I like to think of him as a Terrell Suggs type player.
DE/LB hybrid. You’ll remember in the combine he was fast, jumped higher, and stronger than almost every other linemen and linebacker. I still want him rushing the passer 90% of the time, but he can play play coverage to disguise.
People are getting confused
Suggs plays LB in a 3-4, which is basically an end because he can blitz every play. We play a 4-3, completely different.
Switch to a 3-4 and build around Orakpo?
Look at the Cowboys and what a dominant pass rusher can do. Besides Ratliff, their defensive players aren’t very talented. Ware makes them that much better than they actually are.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laydODN6xVk
Have to Change Personnel
We don’t have a nose tackle to play a 3-4.
Why switch when our D has a good foundation
we need better CB and FS play which stays the same and our front 7 is playing well and don’t need to learn new skill sets and such.
by BayAreaBullet on Dec 19, 2009 1:31 AM EST up reply actions
Count me in the
if it ain’t broke don’t fix it department.
Yeah, but
At one point, CRT televisions and ten pound cell phones were considered “working” so to speak, and didn’t need to be fixed. At least, at the time that’s what everyone thought. Now we have HDTVs and Iphones. My point is, if we can get better results from Orakpo being a full time DE, why not at least try it? If it doesn’t work out, so be it.
I think its really a moot point
I am sure he will be full time DE next year it just all depends at what end spot with Jarmon recovering from an ACL and no other run ends under contract next year. I seriously think the ideal is an average or better LB at the SLB spot and him rushing full time with his hand down.
by BayAreaBullet on Dec 19, 2009 1:35 AM EST up reply actions
hahahahaha funny but misleading
At one point, CRT televisions and ten pound cell phones
I get what your saying, but when Smaller Phones came in, nobody went
“Oh I know the smaller ones are the same price, but I want a great big brick to carry around all day”
3-4 and 4-3 there is still debate about which is better, their is no debate that a HD Flatscreen is worse that 54" CRT TV
Pommylee
That's pretty much my point
At one point, everyone thought that the 10 pound cell phones were all the rage, and they looked like they were the best thing since sliced bread. However, once the cell phones got smaller, and became more advanced, the 10 pound phones that everyone clamored for at one point became obsolete.
The same concept can pretty much be applied to Orakpo. We all can say “why mess up a good thing? He has 11 sacks.” However, if we move him to DE permanently, who’s to say he wouldn’t have 15 sacks by now? Essentially, what I’m saying is that, why be satisfied with a “good thing” when you can have a “great thing?”
The competition for ROY at linebacker
As a defensive end Orakapo’s sack numbers look good. Compared to the top rookie linebacker as a tackler or pass defender, he does not compete. For the team Rak’s
dual role maybe the better choice.
by Jefferson1935 on Dec 21, 2009 8:22 AM EST up reply actions
Which is better
I honestly think a 3-4 can be more effective, however, I think its madness to take the skins D and change it so dramatically. Look at what happened to the chiefs this year, Im tired of “rebuilding” seasons. I think the D should be added to, not taken away from, Get a strong, or even an alright secondary built, and this D will be in the top 5 yet again, this time, with takeaways.
The lion didn't become the King of the jungle by courting the favor, or earning the admeration of lesser mammels
by hoosherdaddy137 on Dec 21, 2009 8:27 AM EST up reply actions
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