Rookie LB/DE on pace for double-digit sacks
ASHBURN – He has the sack dance planned; he even dubbed it the “Rak.” Brian Orakpo just needs the right occasion; like in a game where his team is winning. Which leads to a good news-bad news scenario.
Recommended Stories
The good news for Orakpo is that he’s on pace for a double-digit sack total. So he’ll have more chances to unveil his celebratory moves. The bad news is that his team is 2-6, accumulating too many injuries offensively and could struggle to win another game. It’s the latter that stings Orakpo.
“I wake up depressed, I’m mad, I’m irritable,” he said. “2-6 is not a good thing. I’m not a guy who will get used to this.”
Just another day in the life of a 2-6 team.Chad Rinehart will start in place of Will Montgomery at right guard. Rinehart had started two games there earlier this season, but was benched while also dealing with a shoulder issue.
Meanwhile, right tackle Stephon Heyer (knee) was limited.
Betts’ absence is critical with starter Clinton Portis (concussion) already ruled out for Sunday’s game vs. Denver.
“Ladell and Stephon are both concerns,” Redskins coach Jim Zorn said. “[But] I’m always optimistic; I think they’ll play.
“Ladell was looking like he’d be able to go and we just pulled back on him to give him another day.”
As for Rinehart, he called the last four games frustrating because he did not play nor did he feel like he had a chance to compete for the starting job.
In the past few weeks he said he focused on his pass sets, keeping his hands in tighter and initiating more contact with defensive linemen.
“I was too tentative in my pass sets, waiting for them to do their technique vs. me initiating the contact,” he said.
Has he improved?
“We hope so,” offensive coordinator Sherman Smith said.» Punter Hunter Smith (groin) will test his leg in practice Friday. He also said the injury felt the same as it did earlier in the week. If it continues to bother him, or if it’s re-aggravated, then he’ll likely be placed on injured reserve sometime soon.» Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth ($7,500) and safety LaRon Landry ($5,000) were fined for their role in Sunday’s sideline melee in Atlanta. Corner DeAngelo Hall was not fined. Falcons coach Mike Smith received a $15,000 fine. Hall and Haynesworth declined comment.
But he, and the Redskins, could get used to the performance of the rookie linebacker/defensive end. He is second on the Redskins with 5 1/2 sacks and has recorded at least half a sack in five of the last six games. And he’s coming off his first two-sack performance in the loss at Atlanta.
He’s not far off the pace of former rookie defensive players of the year in terms of sack totals. Carolina’s Julius Peppers (12 in 2002); Baltimore’s Terrell Suggs (12, 2003); San Diego’s Shawne Merriman (10, 2005) all won the award with double-digit sack totals. Houston end Mario Williams, who had 14 sacks his second season, had just 4 1/2 as a rookie.
“He’s relentless,” Redskins secondary coach Jerry Gray, the defensive spokesman, said of Orakpo. “He can have double-digit sacks every year. A lot of people don’t understand how big and strong and powerful he is. He doesn’t play like a rookie when he pass rushes. You see moves that a young guy generally doesn’t have. It’s more instinctive.”
The Redskins have used him well, lining him up as a rush end on the right side, next to tackle Albert Haynesworth. Against Atlanta, he wedged his way between two blockers, one of whom had to pay extra attention to Haynesworth, en route to his sacks.
They’ll also rush him as a standup linebacker with a three-man front.
“My role has expanded tremendously,” he said. “[Rushing] is coming more natural. Now I’m getting good timing with Albert and we can run different stunts and beat guys on the edge and I know how much time the quarterback will have.”
Orakpo is still finding that comfort level at linebacker; he wants to improve laterally and on pass drops. But he sees this role continuing beyond this season.
“I like to say ‘hybrid,'” he said. “I see myself doing what I’m doing now. … I’m getting better [at linebacker]. Over time it will be very natural.”
And the role prevents him from taking a pounding as a full-time end.
“When he’s fresher, he’s a better pass rusher,” said defensive line coach John Palermo.
But he wants the sacks to be meaningful.
“I wish,” he said, “it would turn into wins.”
