Orakpo seems to not bother with coverage or the run
Oh you noticed too?
He's improved against the run. He's acceptable. He's still lost in converage.
It is interesting. Most analysts I've read think Orakpo is a very good player, but here, everyone thinks he's practice squad caliber.
We don't think he's a practice squad player. He's a 4-3 DE playing as a 3-4 OLB. He's a good pass rusher. He may be very good and Haslett is simply holding him back. Though D Hall is blamming Shanny. But he can rush the passer.
The thing is, getting a 3-4 OLB to simply rush the passer isn't that difficult. 15 teams are running a 3-4. Of those, 10 OLBs have 9.5 sacks or more. So, essentially, a third of 3-4 OLBs are able to produce at Orakpo's level. On top of that, Orakpo has made it through one season as a full time starter.
Good (maybe great) pass rusher
Okay against the run
Awful in coverage
Struggles to stay healthy and consistent through the year
How much are you willing to pay that OLB. Is he worth 10 million a year? Would you give him a Demarcus Ware, Clay Matthews, Terrell Suggs type deal?
Then there is Rob Jackson. Personally, I think if he had gotten the same playing time in 2012 that Orakpo got this year, Rob Jackson would have had 8+ sacks. And this season, they basically took a steaming crap all over Jackson because of his suspension. So at this point, we don't have Orakpo without franchising him and we don't have a capable backup because the Skins staff pissed him off.