Rak is Back

Texas Taps

Texas Taps

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Means to an end
 
nothing against Rak because i love watching him play, but he has done nothing on the field to warrant this kind of publicity. He's never even really had what most would consider a very good year. I can see him getting 8 sacks this year if he stays healthy, but some of the numbers thrown around in the papers and on this board are pretty ridiculous. Like a lot of highly recruited horns, the potential is there but it needs to be shown on the field before I get too excited.

I still remember summer reports from Ketch about players like Marco Martin and George Walker. By Ketch's account, you would have thought Martin was going to be an all-americian.
 
i wasn't comparing Ketch and Bohls at all. Not really even talking about Bohls here either. I'm talking about the pub Rak has received this off-season. Espn had an article saying he was slotted to be drafted in the top 10 next year. While he is a physical freak, the sensationalism coming from the media is a tad bit ridiculous. Like I said, i hope the kid lives up to his potential and has a breakout year.

With regards to Martin, Ketch's hype of him during the 2004 summer was AFTER his high-school injury. Foolish? Maybe get your facts straight before jumping on someone.
 
Not only is comparing Ketch to Bohls invalid, so is comparing Orakpo (a fairly under-the-radar recruit who has shown flashes of brilliance while playing behind two starting NFL DEs) to Marco Martin (a stud recruit who had his career absolutely demolished by a cheap shot that blew up his knee in his last high school game). Foolish post all around.

As for Orakpo's stats, his 5.5 sacks last year are pretty solid considering he only played in 9 games (remember one of those 9 games he played sparingly b/c of the injury). Not to mention that's exactly as many as Robison had his senior year. I don't thinks it's a big jump to assume that, if healthy, he can get double digit sacks, or at least match the 8.5 sacks that Crowder put up his senior year.
 
who was comparing Rak to Martin? I was using it as an example of getting too hyped up based on off-season praise. Rak has been a good player, but he's yet to be dominant. Like I said, 8 sacks is within reach for him. 20 is a ridiculous number for anybody to achieve.
 
The Link

Rak's bio on MBTF shows a pretty good body of work.

I recall the Arky State chop block that hampered his 2007 season. He fought through it and came back to be the Defensive MVP in the Holiday Bowl?

He's known as a workout warrior in the off season. He's on the Bronco Nagurski and Ronnie Lott trophy watch lists for 2008.

I hope no one else takes a cheap shot at his knees this season and he can finally realize his full potential.
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If you can't see that using the example of a player who never had a chance to live up to the incredible hype he received due to injury with one who has played very well when not injured -- matching, statistically, the play of one of the greatest athletes at any position and a current NFL star in the making -- is foolish then I don't know what to say to you.

I don't think the 20 sacks tossed out above was what anybody thought he'd really achieve. 8.5 sacks would match the production of Tim Crowder, an NFL starter. He could do worse.

Dogging out Orakpo for getting a little pub is silly. He's a good player with a chance to be a star. That's really all any story on him has said.
 
20 sacks was thrown out there for fun. NCAA leader in 07 was guy from Indiana with 16. Long and Gholston each had 14. Generally 10-12 is a great great year. 12+ is outstanding.

In 05 Rak was Big 12 frosh of the year. As top backup he got little playing time but showed something with 4 TFL, 9 pressures and a FF. In 06 his soph season he was limited due to Robison and Crowder's senior campaigns. Managed 6 TFL, and 4.5 sacks though playing 2nd string. Plus DL was limited in 06 due to poor pass defense which allowed the QB to get rid of the ball quicker. It was what he showed in 05 and 06 that had the promise of big things in 07. He looked great out of the gate. Even though missing 4 games with injury and not being 100% afterwards he managed 5.5 sacks, 9 TFL, 12 QB pressures. He had an amazing Holiday bowl. If he is healthy I think most that follow him expect him to have a great season with 10-12 sacks. He could exceed those #'s.

The guy only really started in 07 and had a big injury. Now he is back fully healthy and looking to wreck havoc. I don't care if the guy is underrated but don't tell me that he is overrated.
 
Everybody talks about this team's lack of starpower.

Well, here's a guy that can help a lot with that on D. We post a lot of sacks, historically, but the perception is always that we have trouble getting to the passer. I share that perception, and I think it has to do with our DL play, for the most part. We've been very solid there, but we haven't had a bona fide disrupter in awhile. BRob was probably as close as we have come to that style of player, and he was really really good. The general talent and experience level on BRob's teams was higher, though, and he might have stood out a little less as a result.

I can definitely see why people are excited about a player with experience who benches over 500 pounds and has a 42 inch vertical while running a sub-4.7 40. Those measurables alone probably make the guy a first day draft pick because he's a DE.

Some people expect a big year from the guy. Me too, if he stays healthy. This guy is NOT Sergio Kindle, god bless him.
 
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