Orakpo says TCU can't hang

by UT_BKC on Nov 20, 2009 3:11 PM CST

Switched this to a post.

http://espn.go.com/blog/nfceast/post/_/id/6913/orakpo-hopes-cowboys-remain-confused
On ESPN, at the end it says that Orakpo wants to make it clear that TCU can't hang with us. Good pr Rak!

It also talks a little about how he is playing well and improving. He has 7 sacks this season to go with 32 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss and a pass defended.

The sack number seems crazy to me. Usually, double digit sacks is a big deal, and maybe it still is, but it seems like there will be a lot of people doing that this year. I count 14 people with 6 or more sacks right now that could hit double digits (Dumervil and Allen are tearing it up at an unbelievable pace). Still, that is great to see for his rookie year.

It mentions that he is a canidate for rookie of the year. I'm glad he's in the discussion (and I was hoping he would win it going into the season), but I think Cushing is just playing too well for Rak or anyone else to get it.

Our other rookies:
Melton - not sure he's played
Miller - Looks like he's doing well for a rookie and getting some PT with 21 tackles, 2 sacks, and a tackle for a loss
Obongnayaaa - Yeah, I know that's wrong, but I think it's close enough. Not getting much PT.
Cosby - returning kicks and blocking like a badass
Ryan Palmer and Cedric Dockery - does anyone know if they made rosters and how they are doing?

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Cushing is playing great?

Wow!
He’s a linebacker making tackles…..amazing. Isn’t that kinda what he’s supposed to do and in position to do?
Color me not impressed.
I’d way rather that rookie db with 6 picks or Rak get defensive rookie of the year than the dbag from USC.

by SneezyBeltran on Nov 20, 2009 3:41 PM CST reply actions

He’s got the 6th most tackles in the league. He also has 4 turnovers himself (2 ints and 2 FF) and he caused a safety.

Byrd is certainly in the conversation, but Cushing’s efforts are large part of the reason the Texan’s D went from the worst in the league to respectable (Pollard being the other). Without Cushing the Texans have at least 2 more losses.

I was against the pick when they made it, but you have to be a raging-‘anti homer’ to not see that Cushing is number 2, at worst, for D-RoY. As much as I wanted him to win it, Rak is not going to beat out Byrd or Cushing unless he starts getting at least a sack/game in his last 7 games.

by UT_BKC on Nov 20, 2009 4:30 PM CST up reply actions

What an ignorant post

by goingforthecorner on Nov 20, 2009 4:37 PM CST up reply actions

You said it ...

I can’t stand USC and don’t gave a damn about the Texans but what Cushing has done as a Rookie is tremendous. If he keeps playing like he has been, he will be a unanimous ROY.

by Loisaida Horn on Nov 20, 2009 7:01 PM CST up reply actions

Why is it ignorant?

Cushing’s getting a lot of opportunities to make tackles, and he’s making them. I wouldn’t consider that anything out of the ordinary. See below.

8 picks in a season = much more impressive, if you ask me, even if the QBs have been trying to pick on him. To Cushing’s credit, though, he has a couple of picks and 1.5 sacks, so it’s not like he’s being a read-and-react guy. He’s maximizing his ’roid potential.

by burntorangehorn on Nov 21, 2009 1:44 AM CST up reply actions

First of all...

arent there two “Rookie of the year awards”?

One for the AFC and one for the NFC. I may be mistaken, but for some reason I feel that there are two. Secondly, I’m not a USC fan by any means; however, give credit where credit is due. If you’re going to complain because a LBer makes tackles but isn’t making picks and/or sacks, then I can never expect you to give Muckleroy any praise. Because that is what he does. Muck is a mop up guy, and he is EVERYWHERE on the field. Same goes for Cushing. He plays with a great motor and intensity that no Texan fan expected him to have. Hell, he didn’t even play like that at USC.

Regardless, Rak can get the award for the NFC, Cushing gets it for the AFC. Utopia. Enjoy.

Get off your knees Greg, you're blowin' the game.

by kriess on Nov 21, 2009 7:21 AM CST up reply actions

There's offensive and defensive ROY

Not one each for the AFC and NFC.

by burntorangehorn on Nov 23, 2009 10:16 AM CST up reply actions

Ah I see

Thanks

Get off your knees Greg, you're blowin' the game.

by kriess on Nov 23, 2009 11:25 AM CST up reply actions

If you follow the Texans at all

you’d know what a difference Cushing has made to the defense. He’s taking advantage of all the opportunities he’s getting to tackle. Better than MANY linebackers in the league. There’s a reason why Muschamp says stats are for losers.

by goingforthecorner on Nov 21, 2009 2:33 PM CST up reply actions

Okay...

…then why pay so much attention to the tackling stats?

by burntorangehorn on Nov 23, 2009 10:16 AM CST up reply actions

I don't really follow the Texans much

But I’ve followed Cushing for a while. I haven’t been terribly impressed, to be honest. I’ve seen what little of the guy one can see from out here in MD; fortunately I’ve seen a whole lot of ‘Rak, who has been an impact defender for Washington. I guess it could be UT homerism, but I’d take him over Cushing for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

by burntorangehorn on Nov 23, 2009 11:11 AM CST up reply actions