Life isn’t so simple anymore for top pick
ASHBURN – In college, Brian Orakpo knew the routine on each play. It was easy: line up, make a move and charge at the quarterback.
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Life isn’t that simple anymore. Not when he has to read the tight end, drop into coverage, read other receivers coming into his zone and then not bite on the first route that comes his way. He also has to learn man coverage, zone coverage and how to take on blockers. It’s different. And it’s why the transition from defensive end in college to linebacker in the NFL can be a bumpy one.
“There are way more things to [read],” said Orakpo, who already is working with the starters. “Linebacker is so much more difficult as opposed to end where I’m getting off the ball and making something happen.”
Orakpo has flashed more at end in training camp than at linebacker, playing the right side while Andre Carter moves to the left. That’s natural: Orakpo recorded 22 sacks at the University of Texas. Orakpo even played defensive tackle on one snap Monday, with Albert Haynesworth shifting to right end.
“He doesn’t seem like a rookie,” said left tackle Chris Samuels, who has faced Orakpo often in practice. “He has the potential to be as good as [Dallas linebacker] DeMarcus Ware. I know that’s saying a lot because he hasn’t played a snap yet, but the way he rushes is similar to DeMarcus — great speed off the edge and great strength.”
But Ware plays in a 3-4; Orakpo will play linebacker in a 4-3, which means his responsibilities will be different. Orakpo occasionally played linebacker at Texas, but he wasn’t facing NFL offenses.
So the Redskins are teaching him the basics. Linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti said he first taught Orakpo, and other rookies, where to line up based on the offense’s formation. Olivadotti has tutored him on what it means if, for example, the tight end stands straight up. Former Redskin Marcus Washington made a similar transition when he entered the NFL.
“His eyes are going to be totally different,” Olivadotti said. “You have to teach them what to look. [But] he can move the way we want; that’s why we have him at linebacker.”
Other subtleties must be mastered. In the past, Orakpo lined up six inches from a blocker. Now it’s about four or five yards. That requires different footwork before impact.
And he must learn to decipher what Olivadotti calls sucker routes. Receivers will run short routes in his area, conning him to come up; then the quarterback throws to the area he vacated. He knows the rule: if the receiver gets in front of him too fast, don’t budge.
“It’s playing disciplined,” he said.
Orakpo looks good now, but even his coach knows no judgment can be reached. Teams will want to test his ability to play the run; or if he has a second move at end; or if he can play containment.
Even the Redskins still need to see this.
“We have to see him in games,” Olivadotti said. “He is progressing. I like where he’s at.”
Redskins notes
» The Redskins had a handful of players sit out during the afternoon practice. Defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth had a scheduled day off. Coach Jim Zorn said Haynesworth will be getting another synvisc injection, which is often used for those with arthritis in the knee. Defensive tackle Anthony Montgomery (swollen knee), fullback Eddie Williams (hamstring), corner Carlos Rogers (calf strain), defensive end J.D. Skolnitsky (hamstring), receiver Malcolm Kelly (rest) and receiver Roydell Williams (finger) either did not practice or were limited.
» Tempers flared a bit in the afternoon practice. After one play in the nine-on-nine session, a scrum developed and there was some shoving and pushing. Fullback Mike Sellers then threw his helmet at defensive tackle Kedric Golston and shouted, “I’m trying to break up a damn fight!”
