Rookie Brian Orakpo is a beast
When the Redskins selected Brian Orakpo in the first round of April’s draft, they knew they were getting a player that could get after the quarterback. But they probably didn’t figure that they were getting a game-changer right off the bat.
Thus far, the defensive rookie of the year candidate has 11 sacks on the year. On Sunday, he ranked up six tackles, four sacks and forced a fumble in the Redskins’ 34-13 stomping of the Raiders in Week 14.
Orakpo has been outstanding in his first year, which is quite a testament to his abilities both as a player and as a student of the game because he had to learn how to learn the linebacker position this summer after playing end at Texas. It usually takes most rookies a season or two to adjust to a new position, but Orakpo has picked it up right away.
He faces stiff competition in the Bills’ Jairus Byrd and the Texans’ Brian Cushing, but Orakpo has to be the leader of the defensive rookie of the year award. Who would have thought that Orakpo would have made a bigger impact this season for the Redskins than massive free agent acquisition Albert Haynesworth.
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9 interceptions. 9. Byrd is leading the league. And you have the audacity to say that Orakpo is the defensive rookie of the year?
Wow, I realize you might be going by the logic that 11>9 and this is reason for going with Orakpo(which is great math for 4th grader), … but the league leading thing or the tieing a three game record thing clearly trumps Orakpo.
I am not even entirely sure that Orakpo has Cushing beat to be honest.
Byron,
People disagree all the time. You don’t need to put my opinion down in order to make yours heard. That strategy might work for a 4th grader, but as adults it makes you sound condescending and like the ultimate crybaby.
It’s going to be a tight race between Byrd, Orakpo and Cushing. Maybe I overstated things by saying Orakpo was leading the way, but his performance on Sunday certainly turned some heads.