Brian Orakpo got off to a strong start in his second season, but tailed off in the second half of the year. (Photo: Associated Press)

Today’s Redskins’ roster evaluations feature the only other unit that was impacted as dramatically as the defensive line by the switch to the 3-4, and that’s the linebackers.

Defensive ends Andre Carter, Lorenzo Alexander, Chris Wilson and Rob Jackson all had to scrap blitzing out of a three-point stance and learn to rush the passer out of a two-point stance, and they had to learn how to drop back into pass coverage while matching up with tight ends, running backs and slot receivers. Rocky McIntosh, previously an outside linebacker, had to move inside to man the middle with London Fletcher.

Another change was that in the 4-3, linebackers didn’t have to take on as many blockers. The plan in the 3-4 was for the down linemen to move laterally to shove blockers aside and open gaps for the linebackers, but it didn’t always happen that way and Fletcher and McIntosh’s paths to the backfield weren’t free and clear all that often.

Some of the Redskins’ linebackers still produced at a high level statistically. Meanwhile, others struggled and it was clear that they weren’t right for the position.

Here’s a look at how Washington’s linebackers did this season.

OLB Brian Orakpo/Rob Jackson/Chris Wilson -- As a rookie, Orakpo split time between linebacker and defensive end, produced 11 sacks and made the Pro Bowl. This year he had the bulls eye on him, and teams knew to double up on him. This year he played exclusively as a linebacker, but he felt like he made a good transition and was comfortable rushing the quarterback while standing up. Orakpo got off to a strong start, posting seven sacks in the first eight games. He would’ve had more had he not been held often. Despite that strong showing, defensive coordinator Jim Haslett believed that Orakpo could have had even more and wanted to see more multiple sack games. Orakpo tailed off in the second half of the season and had only 1.5 sacks in the last eight games. Part of the problem was he was banged up, but another thing was also revealed about Orakpo: he needs to develop more moves so offensive linemen can’t predict what he is going to do and read him as easily. Orakpo continued to get held -- some times it was called, many times it wasn’t -- but teams also found ways to fend him off after studying him on film. Next year he needs to take the next step and expand his bag of tricks and be a force throughout the season. … Jackson spent the first 14 games on the practice squad, but had a strong season debut in place of Orakpo against Jacksonville. He had a sack and a forced fumble and a couple of quarterback hurries. The Redskins had been searching for someone to bring pressure opposite Orakpo all season long, and it took Orakpo getting hurt to see that maybe Jackson was their man. The second-year Kansas State product had struggled in the transition from end to linebacker early on, but based on that showing, as well as some of the pressures he brought the following week, it looks as if the Redskins may have a prospect with real potential in Jackson. … Wilson was a solid special teams player but saw limited action as a linebacker. At times, the Redskins blitzed in from the middle in nickel packages, and he was able to generate some pressure. The problem for he and Jackson was the fact that they played the same position as Orakpo, so opportunities were hard to come by.

ILB Rocky McIntosh/Perry Riley -- McIntosh quietly had a pretty strong year against the run, recording a career-high 110 tackles. He had two sacks and three pass deflections. McIntosh struggled in pass coverage at times. He was good at tracking his man but had trouble judging the ball when it was in the air and would get turned around the wrong way and the tight end or running back he was covering would make the catch. Whether or not McIntosh, who is a free agent this year, remains in the Redskins’ plans is debatable. Coaches are high on rookie Perry Riley, and they might be able to find a stronger inside linebacker option through free agency. … Riley, a rookie out of LSU, appeared in just eight games this past season, but he showed some flashes that he could be a playmaker. His most extensive playing time came in the preseason against the Jets when he recorded seven tackles. He came up with a couple of key stops against Dallas in Week 15, but needs another round of OTAs and training camp in the defense to help his growth.

ILB London Fletcher/H.B. Blades -- Fletcher had yet another strong season for the Redskins, recording a team-high 136 tackles to go with three forced fumbles and 2.5 sacks. Early in the season, it appeared that Fletcher was suffering from not having as many defensive linemen in front of him to take on the blockers, but he soon turned the corner and once again performed at a high level despite being 35 years of age. He also was the Redskins’ best cover linebacker, notching a career-high 11 pass deflections and an interception. … Blades is a strong special teams contributor and a solid backup. He made one start, but wasn’t a better option at the inside linebacker spot next to Fletcher than was McIntosh.

OLB Lorenzo Alexander/Andre Carter -- This pair of converted linebackers experienced mixed results this season. Carter had played outside linebacker once in his previous nine seasons, but wasn’t fond of it because dropping into pass coverage was so unnatural for him and because he wasn’t quick enough to stick with many receivers and tight ends. He was hopeful that his duties in this system would be different and that he wouldn’t be asked to drop into coverage as much. He admittedly felt lost out there, unaccustomed to playing in space and rushing standing up rather than using the leverage of a three-point stance. Carter was replaced in the starting lineup by Alexander on the fourth game of the season and after that was used primarily on passing downs. He was permitted to rush from a three-point stance, but still struggled to generate the pressure the Redskins needed from the side opposite Orakpo. Carter said that previously in his career, as an end he was able to wear an offensive tackle down on first and second downs, and then put a move on him to get to the quarterback on third downs. This year, however, because he was at linebacker that took the field only in the nickel, he didn’t have the advantage of doing that. Further expounding Carter’s frustrations were the fact that he was coming off of an 11-sack season as a defensive end and because of the switch and the bad fit at linebacker, he mustered only 2.5. … Alexander had a solid season for a guy that previously was a defensive tackle that switched to end and then moved to linebacker. Having played on special teams for years, he was more used to playing in space than was Carter, and thus replaced him in the starting lineup. Alexander posted a career-high 57 tackles and two forced fumbles. But like Carter, he struggled to bring pressure from a two-point stance and mustered only 1.5 sacks. And he too struggled in pass coverage. He was better at it than Carter, but definitely wasn’t great.

Overall grade -- C
Fletcher and Orakpo showed that they can thrive in any system, Orakpo just needs to expand his repertoire in the coming year so he develops into more of a force. Otherwise, the Redskins have some real needs on the linebacking corps. McIntosh could probably make some strides in his second year as an inside linebacker, but that’s if he wants to remain here rather than return to an outside linebacker role a 4-3 scheme, and if the team wants him back. Carter and Alexander both had great attitudes and are hard workers. Rather than make a stink like Albert Haynesworth, they played to the best of their ability. The biggest needs on the Redskins’ defense this offseason is a dominant nose tackle and another strong pass-rushing linebacker to line up across from Orakpo. Jackson will try to make the case that he is that option, but it wouldn’t be a surprise at all to see Washington draft or sign a free agent OLB.