DE/LB has 11 sacks, tied for the team lead
ASHBURN – The first sack featured his power, as Brian Orakpo ran through two blockers to reach the quarterback. Another highlighted his footwork, as he stunted to the middle, wasting no steps along the way, for a clear path. And his other asset, speed, capped his day; twice ducking under the tackle en route to sacks three and four.
This is what Orakpo does best. His speed and strength are why he was a first-round pick. They’re also why he now has 11 sacks and has muscled his way into the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year conversation.
But, for a while, Orakpo said he was trying too hard to do other things. He’d watch film of his upcoming opponent and try to tailor his moves to beat that player. The coaches wanted something different.
“They sat me down and said, ‘We just need you to go. Just do what you need to do to get to the quarterback,’” Orakpo said. “That’s what I’ve been doing. It’s been working very effectively.”
You think? Orakpo is tied with teammate Andre Carter for fourth in the NFL with 11 sacks. He and Carter now are the NFL’s most prolific sack tandem. And Orakpo was just named the NFC Defensive Player of the Week for his four-sack performance vs. Oakland. It came without defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth in the game. One sack came as a linebacker; three came while rushing from end.
It helps that Washington’s offense is more productive, forcing opponents to pass more and thereby giving the Redskins’ defense more chances at sacks. It helps, too, that Orakpo is used in different ways, rushing as a linebacker and as an end.
“Brian’s a very mature rookie,” Redskins linebacker London Fletcher said. “Very focused. He understands what he’s here for. It’s all football to him. He has a tremendous work ethic. If he makes a mistake he’ll try to get it corrected right now. It pays off for him. He got four sacks in a game and could have gotten more. He’s very disruptive from play one.”
After Sunday’s performance, his name will be mentioned among the top candidates for Defensive Rookie of the Year. Houston linebacker Brian Cushing, whom Orakpo befriended last offseason, is likely the front-runner. He has 112 tackles, 70 solo, as well as nine passes defensed, three interceptions and two and a half sacks.
“It’ll be a good race,” he said. “We talk about it all the time. We’ll see. Last man standing, basically.”
Also, Buffalo rookie safety Jairus Byrd, a converted corner, leads the NFL with nine interceptions. Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews Jr., and St. Louis linebacker James Laurinaitis also are possibilities.
But, regardless, Orakpo has proven worthy of the 13th overall pick last April. And he’s showing the Redskins what they hoped to see.
“His aggressiveness, his burst,” coach Jim Zorn said. “That’s where he is skilled.”
After the Nov. 22 loss in Dallas, when Orakpo nearly sacked quarterback Tony Romo on the game-winning touchdown pass, he was upset. The coaches told him to revert to his form at the University of Texas.
Their advice, he said, was simple: “Just get off the ball and make something happen.”
And that’s what he did Sunday; his final two sacks were a result of simply turning the corner on the tackle.
“He’s always had a great get-off,” Carter said. “Speed, in this business, kills.”
