Blache lobbies for Pro Bowl players

Redskins Defensive Coordinator Greg Blache has once again broken his media silence, this time to speak up on behalf of some of his players he believes deserve Pro Bowl honors. The discussion with the Washington Post is described as “blunt” [when is any discussion with Blache described differently?] and on the condition that he not be asked about his decision to not address the media unless it suits him to do so.

London Fletcher don't need no helmet

First up is MLB London Fletcher, who, according to the NFL, is tied for 2nd in the league with 118 tackles. Blache believes Fletcher has damaged  his chances over the years by focusing on football instead of self-promotion. Despite leading the NFL in tackles over the past decade, Fletcher has never been voted to the Pro Bowl.

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“The thing that hurts London is that he doesn’t act like an idiot every time he makes a tackle,” Blache said. “He doesn’t bring that attention to himself. He’s a football player, not a showman. He takes great pride in his football, and he has great respect for the game. He acts the way a professional is supposed to act, and consequently, it’s cost him.”
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So London has been hurt over the years by his own character, his own professionalism, his class, his own respect for the game.”
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“He is our coach on the field, as far as getting guys aligned, making checks, recognition, calling out offensive sets,” he said. “The guy is smarter than a lot of assistant coaches that I’ve worked with.”

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Carter & Orakpo are a dynamic duo - Photo by Brian Murphy

Next up is DE Andre Carter, who is tied for 4th in the NFL with 11 sacks and leads all defensive ends with 10 tackles for loss. In his 9th season, Carter has also never been named to the Pro Bowl.

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“Andre is the player every coach wants. He wants to do things exactly like you ask him,” Blache said. “If I have a criticism of Andre, it’s that he sometimes tries too hard to please you. Andre is a great piano player, and sometimes I have to tell him: ‘Dre, it’s like you’re playing the piano. Close your eyes and play. Feel the music, feel the game. Just play.’ And when he does that, he’s awesome.”

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Finally, rookie SLB/DE Brian Orakpo, who is tied for 4th in the NFL with 11 sacks, a number that leads all rookies.

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“No disrespect to them, but the other rookies in this class — the other rookies in last year’s class — he’s heads and shoulders above them,” Blache said. “This guy walks in here, and he prepares like a man. A lot of the rookies, you have to worry because they’re talking about all these things that are unrelated to football. They know more about Gameboys than game plans. That’s not what he’s about.”

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Blache added that although he normally has no patience for rookies, he loves Brian Orakpo and thinks he has a brilliant future.

Interestingly, Blache apparently made no mention of DT Albert Haynesworth, who — for all the focus on his gigantic contract — was having a very good season before missing 3 of the last 4 games.

Read it all at

http://dcprosportsreport.com/2009/12/15/blache-lobbies-for-pro-bowl-players.html