Ex-Texas Longhorns star Brian Orakpo could sack up rookie award

By CHAREAN WILLIAMS

Brian Orakpo won three national awards — Lombardi (top lineman), Nagurski (top defensive player) and Hendricks (top defensive end) — as a senior at Texas. It seemed as if he did it all in Austin.

"I never had four sacks [in a game]," he said in a telephone interview. "I never even had three in college, so four is a huge number for me."

Orakpo embarrassed Oakland Raiders tackle Mario Henderson last week in the Washington Redskins’ 34-13 victory. His four sacks tied a team record and were the most by an NFL rookie in 22 years. Orakpo’s 44 yards in losses were the most since the league began keeping that statistic in 1994.

"It was an honor," said Orakpo, who was named NFC defensive player of the week. "I just played with relentless effort, trying to get to the quarterback and make plays."

Orakpo, the No. 13 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft, has 11 sacks this season. It is the most for any rookie and ties him for fourth in the NFL.

Orakpo is a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate, as are Houston linebacker Brian Cushing, Green Bay linebacker Clay Matthews and Buffalo safety Jairus Byrd.

"We’ll see," Orakpo said. "We’ve got three games left to really showcase what I can do. Hopefully, I’ll be in the conversation."

Orakpo, a defensive end at UT, is the Redskins’ starting strongside linebacker, but he plays right defensive end on passing downs. According to the Washington Times, Orakpo played 62 of 71 plays against the Raiders. He played 27 snaps at linebacker and 35 at end. He rushed the passer 36 times, played the run 20 times and was in coverage six times.

He admits playing linebacker on first and second downs at times has been frustrating.

"It was a huge adjustment, not having played it throughout my career," Orakpo said. "This being the first time, I had to learn it on the fly. But as the season has progressed, I’ve gotten better at it. The coaches believed I could do it, and I’ve been excelling so far."

The other Barber

Houston Texans free safety Dominique Barber and his brother, Marion, are nothing alike. Dominique calls Marion a "free spirit" and a "shy guy." He describes himself as someone who could "sell meat to a vegetarian."

Dominique is trying to sell the Texans that he is their answer at free safety.

He replaced John Busing as the starter last week against Seattle and made four tackles, broke up a pass and earned praise from coach Gary Kubiak.

"It feels good," Barber said in a telephone interview. "It’s been a long road. I’ve been able to develop over the past few weeks. I’m just glad I have my starting job back."

Barber started three of the first four games before a high ankle sprain sidelined him. He made five tackles in the second half of the game against Jacksonville on Dec. 6 to win back his job.

"I look at every day as a competition," Barber said. "I never feel comfortable saying I’m the starter, or I’m this or I’m that. Every day is a battle. I just try to go into the facility and try to get better every day and not look at it as, 'Hey, I’m the starter. I’ve got my spot.’ I always look at it as we’ve got to get better."

After a slow start this season, the Texans rank 13th in total defense.

MVP

It is a three-quarterback race for the MVP award. Earlier this month, The Indianapolis Star polled 35 of the 50 voters, and Peyton Manning was slightly ahead of Drew Brees and Brett Favre.

Manning won the award for the third time last year. Favre also has won it three times, though not since 1997. No player has won it four times. Brees has never won the award.

Last week, I asked Brees whom he would vote for if he had my vote.

"That’s no fair," he said, laughing. "I don’t have a vote. I’m just trying to win football games. I think the other two guys, Peyton and Favre, those are two of the best to ever play the game. I feel honored to be considered in the same running as those two."

Charean Williams, 817-390-7760

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