ChiefStock: Workout Warrior Brian “Rak” Orakpo
Texas defensive end Brian Orakpo is getting a lot of buzz around these parts these days. Texas Teammate Roy Miller says he’s gone from Steve Urkel to the black Arnold Schwarzenegger since arriving at UT. You know what, that’s fine. But are we scouting for the sport Vince Lombardi made famous, or the one that Vince McMahon did?
When I see Rak, I see Vernon Gholston. I see Mike Mamula. I see a workout warrior — not necessarily a great football player. Whereas Jared Allen’s body and game had a lot of room to improve coming out of Idaho, can Rak get any stronger or faster? Is anybody else worried that he only had 10.5 sacks playing on that defensive line in the pass-happy Big 12? What are his chances of reaching double digit sacks next year playing on the Chiefs D-line?
Something about Rak just gives me pause. I live in Austin, so I watched quite a bit of Longhorns football compared to other collegiate teams. I was never blown away by his play like I was his workout ability.
Nonetheless, this video is definitely worth checking out and we will be keeping an eye on Rak Daddy. He’s not in our “circle of trust” by any means, though…
My name is Jeremy and I agree with this assesment. No Mamula’s or Gouhlstons here please.
January 9th, 2009 at 2:20 pmI completely agree as well. In fact, when I look at other mock drafts, I use how high they have him ranked as a litmus test for how useful their mock is. I am looking for a guy who is going to get bigger and faster when he gets here. I think Orakpo has peaked and not near high enough for a third round pick.
January 9th, 2009 at 3:00 pmthis is the one. the one we need. every game i have seen him play,(live in fort worth) which is all of them this year, he has dominated every tackle he has faced. the man plays awesome vs. the run, and is always and i mean always pressuring the qb when he rushes. maybe twice he was burned on the screen this year. he also drops back and plays the flats like a beast. the man chases every play. he’ll make a tackle 7 yds down field on the oppisite side.no gholston here boys. gholston did one thing, blitz. orakpo is all around stud. trade back if possible if crabtree is there to 6-9 and pick him up. even if we have to take him at 3 we should.
January 9th, 2009 at 3:01 pmMichael Johnson is someone I expect to fit workout warrior category. His athleticism exceeds his production. I am starting to look at Everette Brown as possibly the best DE in this class. Unlike most of his Forida State teammates, he has already graduated.
January 9th, 2009 at 3:03 pmPlease no. Oh my goodness please, no.
First, nothing is more ignorant in the NFL than picking someone based on impressive workouts. Nothing (well, except for maybe signing Pacman Jones). Jared Allen benchpressed 225 an embarrassing 13 times at the combine (that’s fewer than I did as an average NAIA BASKETBALL player for pete’s sake) and it didn’t exactly curb his career.
Second, star players from Texas don’t generally translate into stable NFL stars for whatever reason–see Cedric Benson, Vince Young, Derrick Johnson, Roy Williams, Ricky Williams, Michael Huff. And most of those guys were much more impressive on the field than Orakpo was.
Defense with #3 pick? YES (or OL). But pick someone based on what they did on the field!
January 9th, 2009 at 3:08 pmhe has produced on the field! 2008 Brian Orakpo Bronko Nagurski Award! 2008 Brian Orakpo Vince Lombardi/Rotary Award! 2008 Brian Orakpo Ted Hendricks Award! He played in 11 games, had 15.5 tackles for loss, 4 forced fumbles, 10.5 sacks! not productive? the freaking video only shows his workout habbits. just because a stacked guy who loves to get stronger everyday actually produced on the field, we call him just a workout warrior? if he was fat or goofy looking we’d embrace him? horseshit! i wouldn’t mind ol or everette or curry or maliuga, i’m just saying don’t just label this guy as a workout warrior, but as a workout warrior that is a hustler, finesse/bull rushing hybrid freak warrior is all. not at 3, but if we must.
January 9th, 2009 at 3:40 pmi love you all
Anyone who evaluates a player upon things other than what they did on the field is ridiculous.
A player must have football talent, not work out talent.
All the combine should do is add some gloss to the player, not stock.
January 9th, 2009 at 4:00 pmTrue, but if you remember a lot of people/”experts” said the Chiefs reached for Tamba Hali when they took him where they did.
Were the Chiefs right for taking him for his on-field production or was everybody else right when they saw his poor work out?
Was his poor season due to no help, was it due to nagging injuries or were the “experts” right?
January 9th, 2009 at 8:01 pmpc9165:
I don’t know what your point is, but I can answer your question about whether the Chiefs reached for him. They did.
January 9th, 2009 at 8:14 pmHes a bust, arms are too short!
January 9th, 2009 at 8:51 pmThe experts were right about Tamba. The only good thing you hear about Tamba is that he plays hard. I’m glad Tamba plays hard, but is that really a compliment? Shouldn’t we expect all guys to have a good motor? I have grown frustrated by a sentiment I have heard that Tamba would be good with a great DE because he is only a complimentary part and can only get sacks with a top end rusher on the other side. You don’t waste a first round pick on a guy that can’t do it without another great end. So having said all that. Hali was a reach. Now I digress, to what I don’t know, but I digress.
January 9th, 2009 at 8:57 pmWell my point was you all were talking about “impressive workouts don’t matter, it’s all about on-field performances.”
And I was just saying it didn’t work out too well going by on-field performance with Hali.
Maybe a combination of both football talent and work out talent is what’s needed.
January 9th, 2009 at 10:31 pmMy plan is this:
January 10th, 2009 at 1:09 amSign Suggs DE, sign Lance Moore WR, sign OT Jordan Gross.
Draft: Trade down to #10 With San Fran. get their second rounder.
R1 #10 S Taylor Mays USC
R2 #34 LB Brandon Spikes Florida
R2 #43 LB Dannell Ellerbe Georgia
R3 #67 OG Herman Johnson LSU
R4 #98 OC Antione Caldwell Alabama
R5 #131 LB Darry Beckwith LSU
R6 #162 DE Michael Bennett Texas A&M
R7 #194 QB ?
Merlin – I’m with you on Everette Brown – seems to me to be a little more complete player than either Orakpo or Johnson.
Honestly, I don’t want to even think about drafting a DE until I see what happens in FA.
January 12th, 2009 at 12:13 pmAaron Maybin is the best pass rusher at the DE position if he chooses to come out early. He is really fast off the line.
January 12th, 2009 at 4:20 pm102 – why take Mays (or alternatively, Moore) with our first pick? We need a good SS more than we need a FS. The only college SS truly worthy of a 1st round pick is Darrell Stuckey and he’s decided to stay in school for another year. If we’re picking #10, we should be able to come away with either Laurinaitis or Maluaga – either makes infinitely more sense.
January 12th, 2009 at 5:05 pmGood chance that three LB are gone at 10, Mays is good, Page is average and a FA. How many long plays did the Chiefs give up this year?
January 12th, 2009 at 8:04 pmI want to sign proven guys at DT and DE. Moore at wr. Draft should be on need after FA. Mays is a potential game changer, as is Curry.
January 12th, 2009 at 8:42 pmI have rethought this and have a new draft.
Trade first #3 down to good ole Al Davis #7 and pick up Oakland 2nd and 4th. Trade Tony G and Oakland’s 4th for Philly’s 1st rounder #22 (they have two picks).
R1 #7 LB Rey Maualuga USC
R1 #22 OT Eben Britton Arizona
R2 #34 OG Hermann Johnson LSU
R2 #40 DE Connor Barwin Cincinnati
R3 #67 RB Rashad Jennings Liberty
R4 #98 DT Ron Brace Boston College
R5 #131 SS Otis Wiley Michigan State
R6 #162 LB Antonio Appleby Virgina
R7 #194 Q ?