Browns might have rusher in Orr
Jeff Walcoff, Staff Writer
05.07.2008
During the 2008 offseason, the Browns went in search for, among other things, an outside linebacker to team with Kamerion Wimbley, Antwan Peek and Willie McGinest and aid the team's pass rush.

With one of the team's quietest moves of the offseason, they might have found him.

On March 21, a full three weeks after the Browns traded their second-round draft pick to the Packers for Corey Williams and dealt their third-round pick and Leigh Bodden to the Lions for Shaun Rogers, the team signed free agent linebacker Shantee Orr.

Orr played for the Texans from 2003-07 before he was released by the team in November. He joined the Jacksonville Jaguars for the final month of the '07 season and appeared in three games.

Orr was overseas vacationing in France when he got the word that the Browns were interested.

"When I got back, it was the first place I came," he said. "I was fresh off the airplane. It was a quick little turnaround."

Orr, who is from Detroit but lives in Houston, said the mid-March weather was a bit of an adjustment.

"It rained. It snowed. It sleeted," he said of his visit. "It did everything in one day. It reminded me of home. I thought, 'Man I'm going to have to get used to this weather.'"

On the field, Orr's situation is not dissimilar from that of Peek's a year ago. Peek also came from the Texans and found himself having to do some extra homework and preparation after the team converted from a 3-4 to a 4-3 defense in 2006.

Both players excelled in the 3-4. In 2005, Peek managed 57 tackles and 6 sacks, but barely played the next year in the 4-3. Orr led the Texans in sacks with 7.5 in '05, also contributing 47 tackles.

"That year he and I were like a tandem," Orr said. "It was a one-two punch."

The next year in the 4-3, Orr's production was limited to 27 tackles and 1.5 sacks.

Now, the trip to Cleveland gives Orr the chance to get back in a 3-4 defense.

"I've been yearning to get back into a 3-4 all this time," he said. "Now I'm just excited to be here."

The Browns finished tied for 12th in the AFC last season with 28 sacks. The hope is that with the additions of players like Orr, as well as Williams and Rogers on the defensive line, will fortify the front seven and increase that total.

"I'm pretty sure that's why they brought me here, to add more spice to the flavor," Orr said. "They said they needed more sacks and more pressure. I'm just coming in to complement the other guys."

Next week when organized team activities (OTAs) begin and the team takes the field for practice, Orr will find himself playing the 3-4 for the first time in a few years.

He said he expects to be rusty but said similarities in the terminology already are helping him adjust.

"It's a good group of guys here," Orr said of his impressions of the team so far. "Everyone accepts you well. Everyone seems to work together. There's a lot of camaraderie."

Where he might not get as friendly of a reception is among local fans that root for the Ohio State Buckeyes.

Orr appeared in 35 games at defensive end for Michigan from 1999-2002 and was teammates with Browns receiver Braylon Edwards for two years.

He said he's ready for the ribbing from Buckeye fans.

"It's going to come," Orr said. "I didn't get that much in the South but coming back up in the Midwest there's going to be a lot of it. Hopefully (new Michigan head coach Rich) Rodriguez can turn things around."

If Bell works out at ILB I still would like to see Williams tried at OLB. IMO he would be an outstanding outside rusher not having to worry about getting caught up in traffic. He has good feet and uses his hands well. Also is very strong and has some cover skills.

Either way, I think Williams will be used at both ILB and OLB spots. Thompson was the guy before and I think Stewart swung both ways in 06. It's important to have one versatile guy who can fill in at both, kind of similar to a guy who can swing from guard to center.

I look at Orr's build and think he could play inside, too.

I would wanna get my four best on the field, especially if they could play together for several years... like Williams, Jackson, Bell, and Wimbley.

quote:

Originally posted by shepwrite:
I look at Orr's build and think he could play inside, too.

I would wanna get my four best on the field, especially if they could play together for several years... like Williams, Jackson, Bell, and Wimbley.

If our defensive line comes as advertised then that LB group could be very very nasty indeed....

With a front 7 like that, having a defensive backfield that's a little green will matter very little. It's easy to cover anybody when you only have to do it for 3 or 4 seconds. When you get to the 6-10 second range (which happened a lot last year) then things get dicey...

I've been saying for years that secondary play is overrated, it's completely dictated by your front seven. Teams like NE, Pitt, etc. know this and stockpile their fronts with players year after year.

It's a domino effect: the front 3 or 4 stuff the run, backers adjust accordingly. Put teams in situations where you can get after the QB on second or third and longs and the secondary has a much simpler job to do. RAC is obviously from the same approach as the aforementioned and it's no coincidence that NE keeps letting FA's in the defensive backfield go.

I'll say again that I believe Pool is the most important cog in this year's backfield improvement. He has to make the calls and act instinctively. If he comes around and plays to his potential, the rest will all fall into place.