Some good quotes in this article from the UCLA coach.
| “Physically, he’s an extremely strong player,” McClure said. “At 270, I’d use him inside at times knowing he’d hold up against any offensive lineman we see. He’s got great strength, great mobility. ‘Owa’ can play anywhere on the line of scrimmage and he has. He can line up anywhere from the ‘9’ technique to head up on the tight end to outside an offensive tackle on a ‘5’ technique. |
Sounds to me like a Tuck-clone.
That's what I see on the field with Odi. I really believe we found one of the best defensive players in the draft in round 3.
He's going to help us instantly too. I'd bet on him starting this year and DE and we will use him like a young Tuck and move him inside on pass downs.
A little more from the article....
Odighizuwa played the “Buck” end position in UCLA’s defense, the same spot Datone Jones and Seattle’s Cassius Marsh occupied. McClure said the staff sticks their most athletic defensive end here.
And ‘Owa’ is actually further along than the first-rounder Jones was in several areas, he said.
“At this point in their careers, he’s a little bit stronger than Datone,” McClure said. “He probably has a little bit more upfield speed than Datone. He’s quite a bit leaner than Datone. Owa’s body fat is right around 6%. When he steps on the stage at Indianapolis, people are going to think they’re at a bodybuilding competition. He’s going to blow everyone away. |
This was before the combine and he did workout like a champ. Tuck had an exceptional workout. Odi's was even better. He was faster, stronger, quicker, more explosive with longer arms and bigger hands than Tuck.
This is the next great Giant defensive player and we will see it early. They won't be able to keep him off the field early in 2015.
Odi article - (
New Window )
Odi is very technique advanced for a college DE. Showing spin, rip and bull rush ability.
The biggest issue I see is his running the arc with leverage toward the QB. Part of it maybe technique but part of it may be due to the hip surgeries. Normally you see a 'lean' into the tackle which allows the defender to maintain a tighter trajectory without getting pushed past the QB. However Osi when speed rushing is much more upright though it looks like he is trying to lean into the Tackle as much as possible. Subsequently, without the leverage gained by that ideal lean, he gets pushed wider outside the pocket. This may limit his full potential as a pass rusher off the edge.
However I am not the medical expert so perhaps there is a chance he regains full hip flexibility in the future.
In the 2nd and 3rd rounds we added two guys who we were all split on drafting in the 2nd! To be able to add both of them is tremendous.
His measurables are better than Tucks. He's longer, stronger, faster, and more explosive. And Tuck was an elite measurables guy too.
The sack numbers mean nothing. Was the guy consistently disruptive? Yes. Does he have a game and AA that will work when moving up to the NFL? Yes again.
He is not raw. He will start early. Selvie, Moore, Ayers, Wynn? These guys won't be able to keep him off the field.
He's a beast vs the run. Excellent at the LOS even vs 330lb OL. They moved him inside on short yardage. He simply had a bigger impact at his position than he probably would have had at OLB.
One of this best games was vs Virginia. His stat line: 2 tackles. However, they moved him all over and he was in the backfield all day. Several hits on the QB. One hit lead to a pick 6 INT.
Production is about not about sacks.
During the game vs U VA, Odi is "making" play after play after play, although he barely registers a sack or tackle or TFL for his efforts, but his "pressures" on the QB are like 75% of his rushes, and one easy pick six came off one of Odi's pressures.
The analysts talk a lot about how "smart and aware" Odi is, and IMO he may be more like Tuck in that way than any other. This kid has a very, very high FBIQ.
He would not qualify for Tuck's "weeblie-wobbly" nickname that Osi bestowed on Tuck; he doesn't have THAT type of athleticism, it appears. But he's good with his hands, is quick off the ball, and you can see his strength very well at times with the commentators' help - like on one spin move where a backward thrown elbow absolutely jacks up his opposing OT.
RSP film room No. 29 ODI - ( New Window )
Odi - ( New Window )
Other assorted quotes from Boylhart....
Q: How did you learn so much about the history of the Giants?
A: Honestly it sounds crazy, but I watched a lot of defensive linemen and particularly the Giants defensive line. I always felt like they were the best in football for a very long time. From Justin Tuck, to Osi Umenyiora, to [Michael] Strahan obviously and [Mathias Kiwanuka] who I don’t think is on the team now. I watched a lot of them. When I started watching professional football, it started with the Giants and I forget what year it was that they played the Patriots in the Super Bowl, and that is when I really fell in love with them and it inspired me to be better as a defensive lineman. I watched a ton of these guys as much as I could. Jason Pierre-Paul – the year he broke out and had 16.5 sacks. I watched a lot of them.
Q: Is this the perfect team for you because of the impact the defensive linemen have?
A: Yeah, anytime you are in a ‘43’ system and your linemen are asked to attack up field and wreak havoc it is always exciting. I feel like my skill set is definitely fitting for that type of defense, so I am excited about it. I think it is going to be great for me and I am going to bring a lot to the defense. Working hard every day and staying versatile and staying coachable.
Because being at left or right DE doesn't mean a damn so far as "more room to operate" is concerned, but playing in a 4-3 front he won't be double teamed as much - unless the opposition specifically calls for it.
Which, BTW on the RSP film room tape, is what happened starting in the 2nd quarter vs U VA; the coaches decided Odi was too disruptive to handle one on one...
Bench: 24 Vert: 37 1/2" Broad: 9'10" 3-Cone: 7.33 SS: 4.29
Owa Odighizuwa 6034 267lb Arm: 33 3/4" Hand: 11" 40: 4.62 Bench:25 Vert: 39" Broad: 10'7" 3-Cone: 7.36 SS: 4.19
Odi with better numbers across the board but very close in every area.
He has Tuck-like versatility too. That's what he's going to bring to NYG this year.
As Joey said, it is cool that a guy many of us liked pre-draft is on the team. He's an easy guy to cheer for with his hustle and style.
Still, there are things Tuck did physically that I'm not sure come through in combine numbers. For one, Tuck had impossible balance on his feet. He didn't get knocked down easily at all. He could shed blocks and bounce off guys and still get wherever he wanted.
Before Odi, we were very thin at DE. He will start rookie year.
Bench: 24 Vert: 37 1/2" Broad: 9'10" 3-Cone: 7.33 SS: 4.29
Owa Odighizuwa 6034 267lb Arm: 33 3/4" Hand: 11" 40: 4.62 Bench:25 Vert: 39" Broad: 10'7" 3-Cone: 7.36 SS: 4.19
Odi with better numbers across the board but very close in every area.
He has Tuck-like versatility too. That's what he's going to bring to NYG this year.
As Joey said, it is cool that a guy many of us liked pre-draft is on the team. He's an easy guy to cheer for with his hustle and style.
But Kevin - how many consecutive backwards hand-springs can he execute?
Because being at left or right DE doesn't mean a damn so far as "more room to operate" is concerned, but playing in a 4-3 front he won't be double teamed as much - unless the opposition specifically calls for it.
Which, BTW on the RSP film room tape, is what happened starting in the 2nd quarter vs U VA; the coaches decided Odi was too disruptive to handle one on one...
I think the "more room to operate" refers to the TE usually lining up next to the RT, so the RDE doesn't need to worry about getting chipped coming off the edge.
No nickname, but he did have this to say....
You're damned right! For ten bucks a year, I want to read something like, I call him Double O, because he has a License to Dominate.
During the game vs U VA, Odi is "making" play after play after play, although he barely registers a sack or tackle or TFL for his efforts, but his "pressures" on the QB are like 75% of his rushes, and one easy pick six came off one of Odi's pressures.
The analysts talk a lot about how "smart and aware" Odi is, and IMO he may be more like Tuck in that way than any other. This kid has a very, very high FBIQ.
He would not qualify for Tuck's "weeblie-wobbly" nickname that Osi bestowed on Tuck; he doesn't have THAT type of athleticism, it appears. But he's good with his hands, is quick off the ball, and you can see his strength very well at times with the commentators' help - like on one spin move where a backward thrown elbow absolutely jacks up his opposing OT. RSP film room No. 29 ODI - ( New Window )
THis is an excellent video and shows alot of his strengths as well as the potential 'stiff hips' issue. Hopefully it is something that can and will improve as that would make him potentially very dangerous as an outside pass-rusher.
Quote:
:<)
You're damned right! For ten bucks a year, I want to read something like, I call him Double O, because he has a License to Dominate.
That's better than any nickname Bolyhart would craft.