Packers watching orakpo closely

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from pft

Orakpo Impresses At Texas Pro Day
Posted by Aaron Wilson on March 25, 2009, 7:07 p.m.

Versatile outside linebacker/defensive end Brian Orakpo headlined the University of Texas’ widely attended Pro Day with a strong workout, according to Gil Brandt of NFL.com.

Regarded as a potential target for the Cleveland Browns with the fifth overall pick, Orakpo drew particularly close interest from Green Bay Packers General Manager Ted Thompson and Miami Dolphins defensive coordinator Paul Pasqualoni.

At 6′3″, 262 pounds and with excellent mobility, Orakpo is considered perhaps the top pass rushing talent available in the draft. The Packers are converting to a 3-4 primary defense under the direction of new defensive coordinator Dom Capers, and the Dolphins also run a 3-4 alignment.

At the Longhorns’ campus workout, Orakpo registered a 10′10″ broad jump, a 4.45 in the short shuttle and a 7.26 in the three-cone drill.

“Thompson would never tip his hand, but I think that Green Bay would probably be interested in someone like him for their new scheme,” Brandt wrote. “I know Thompson was impressed with Orakpo and expressed surprise at how big his upper body is.

“Of course, the Dolphins use a 3-4 as well and Pasqualoni seemed to like Orakpo too. I think the consensus on Orakpo is very positive. The one question mark on him is that he’s one of those guys that appears to play hard 90 percent of the time, but takes a vacation the other 10 percent.”

At the NFL Scouting Combine, Orakpo ran the 40-yard dash in 4.63 seconds, bench pressed 225 pounds 31 times and posted an eye-catching 39.5-inch vertical leap.

Meanwhile, running back Chris Ogbonnaya bench pressed 225 pounds 28 times and had a 34.5-inch vertical leap.

Wide receiver Quan Cosby reportedly caught the ball very well from CFL quarterback Drew Tait at the workout.

Offensive tackle Cedric Dockery, the younger brother of Redskins offensive guard Derrick Dockery, pulled his hamstring while running a 5.4 in the 40-yard dash.

Defensive tackle Roy Miller registered an impressive 4.93 in the 40-yard dash at 6-1, 312 pounds.

Plus, defensive end Henry Melton posted a swift 4.64 in the 40-yard dash. He turned in a 10′1″ broad jump and a 34.5-inch vertical leap.

[Dylan McKay]

Write it down, Henry Melton, round 5

[digitaldean]

Write it down, Henry Melton, round 5

Stats on Melton....
Name: Henry Melton
College: Texas Number: 37
Height: 6-4 Weight: 269
Position: DE Pos2: FB/LB
Class/Draft Year: Sr/2009
40 Time: 4.65 40 Low: 4.59 40 High: 4.76

Rated number 28 out of 202 DE's
All Big 12 Honorable Mention.

Was a RB briefly (scored 10 TB as freshman).

[digitaldean]

Honestly, I think Cleve. will have Orakpo before we get a shot at him.

[wist43]

I doubt TT is interested in Orakpo... not his type of pick. I'm expecting TT to do his best to trade down.

[Joemailman]

If Cleveland takes Orakpo, we get Malcolm Jenkins. If they take Jenkins, we'll get Orakpo.

[The Leaper]

I doubt TT is interested in Orakpo... not his type of pick. I'm expecting TT to do his best to trade down.

He's a physical specimen...much like Harrell or Collins, both defenders that Thompson has taken high. How can you say it isn't his type of pick? Hawk was also a pretty solid physical specimen, although certainly not freakish.

[Lurker64]

I'm really thinking that if Thompson decides to go defense in the first (probable if there's not a T there he loves), he'll take either Orakpo or Maybin if he wants an OLB; otherwise Raji or Hood if he wants someone on the DL.

All four of those are picks I'm reasonably comfortable with. I don't see Jenkins as a probable pick.

[Waldo]

I'm really thinking that if Thompson decides to go defense in the first (probable if there's not a T there he loves), he'll take either Orakpo or Maybin if he wants an OLB; otherwise Raji or Hood if he wants someone on the DL.

All four of those are picks I'm reasonably comfortable with. I don't see Jenkins as a probable pick.

I agree. Jenkins is very much not a TT type pick. Orakpo is though. TT's high D picks have all been physical specimens.

Hawk ran one of the fastest SS's a LB has ever recorded (very important test for a LB), the fastest at the combine of all positions that year, and jumped 40". Those are pretty freakish #'s. Hawk ran faster than Malcom did on OSU's track.

[packers11]

pft.com

Dissenting Opinions Emerge On Orakpo Workout
Posted by Mike Florio on March 25, 2009, 10:59 p.m.

Earlier in the day, NFL.com’s Gil Brandt offered up a glowing review of Brian Orakpo’s Pro Day workout.

But not everyone feels that way.

Per one league source, some scouts viewed the linebacker/defensive end’s workout as “brutal.”


According to the source, Orakpo is regarded by some as having “great athletic abilities but bad football skills.” It’s prompting some to question whether Orakpo merits even a first-round pick.

If this sounds familiar, it should. There’s a chance that Orakpo could be the latest in a line of “looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane” players, including past first-rounders like Vernon Gholston and Mike Mamula. (Then there’s Alabama’s Andre Smith, who as one reader pointed out after Smith’s recent shirtless sprint “plays like Tarzan, looks like Jane.”)

Even Gil Brandt, who is regarded by many as having a bias in favor of Texas football, acknowledges that Orakpo is “one of those guys that appears to play hard 90 percent of the time, but takes a vacation the other 10 percent.”

It’s the kind of attitude that could put a coach or a G.M. on vacation 100 percent of the time if they pick Orakpo, and if he doesn’t deliver.

[Tarlam!]

[quote="packers11"]pft.com

Dissenting Opinions Emerge On Orakpo Workout
Posted by Mike Florio on March 25, 2009, 10:59 p.m.

Ranked 7th overall on this site:

http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/top64.php?draftyear=2009

Ranked 10th overall on this site:

http://profootball.scout.com/a.z?s=127&p=9&c=12&nid=83&lnid=124&yr=2009

[PackerPro42]

From what I've seen of Orakpo, I'd have to say that the scouting reports are right. I don't think he'll be able to transition to an OLB and as a DE he's to small for a 3-4. He also doesn't have a wide array of moves as a 4-3 DE that would warrant his "pass rush specialist" title that so many people give him. In his bowl game he was virtually a non-issue, however he did pick up one meaningless sack at the end of the game.

If TT is going to pursue a DE/OLB prospect I sure hope it's Brown. From what I've seen of him, he has the better first step and a better variety of moves. If anyone should garner the "pass rush specialist" title it should be this guy. I believe he'd play a vital roll as the Packer's rush OLB and he'd play a similar roll that Suggs plays. IMO he's a better football player than Orakpo and a more intriguing prospect for TT to go after with the #9 pick.

[wist43]

Have Brown crossed off my list... and not just b/c he's from Florida State.

He's smaller than listed, and doesn't seem to be able to get the edge consistently... I'll look at him some more as we get closer to the draft, but at this point I certainly don't want him at #9.

[PackerPro42]

I'm not saying that I'd like TT to draft him, but I think he's a better football prospect than Orakpo. I'd don't really like either of them as a #9 pick and you can definitely scratch Maybin off my list.

[DonHutson]

I doubt TT is interested in Orakpo... not his type of pick. I'm expecting TT to do his best to trade down.

He's a physical specimen...much like Harrell or Collins, both defenders that Thompson has taken high. How can you say it isn't his type of pick? Hawk was also a pretty solid physical specimen, although certainly not freakish.

I agree with Leaper. Orakpo is known as a leader and a high character guy. He's been highly productive against elite competition. He seems relatively safe in that he might not have the ceiling that other guys have, but he probably won't be a total bust either.

You could have said all that about Rodgers, Hawk, and Nelson when they came out, so I would tend to think those are the characteristics Ted looks for in that first pick in addition to the physical traits.

I siad it awhile back, and I still think Orakpo is probably the MOST Ted like pick out of the guys that might be there.