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Be honest here, did you want Azeez Ojulari

M.S. : 5/2/2021 8:13 am

Or, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah?

I'm way, way happy about getting an EDGE guy like Ojulari at #50 PLUS extra draft capital, but if truth be told, I preferred Notre Dame's "Streak of Lightening."  
Azeez  
robbieballs2003 : 5/2/2021 8:14 am : link
If the injury concerns check out.
azeez  
Chip : 5/2/2021 8:16 am : link
better size
Shit I wanted Azeez at 20  
Rjanyg : 5/2/2021 8:18 am : link
Getting him after trading down from 42, I am beyond psyched. My 2nd favorite player in the draft.
I want who best fits the Giants personnel  
blueblood : 5/2/2021 8:21 am : link
and that was Ojulari.
My primary target....Yes.  
George from PA : 5/2/2021 8:22 am : link
.
I rather have  
cokeduplt : 5/2/2021 8:22 am : link
An edge rusher than another Jabril peppers
Did I want a glorified  
BigBlueJ : 5/2/2021 8:26 am : link
Strong box safety or a legit edge to put along side L. Williams... hmmm

JOK is not Devan Bush.
Yes  
Mike in NY : 5/2/2021 8:35 am : link
Although JOK and Ossai were also on my short list. I probably would not have traded down from 42 and just drafted Eichenberg. I liked what JOK has shown, but with Peppers on the roster and McKinney as depth I did not see a fit. Ojulari was only in that tier because of injury concerns. Before that, I would have been fine taking him at 20
I preferred JOK  
adamg : 5/2/2021 8:37 am : link
But I'm not unhappy with taking AO with the trade down. That was a great way to hedge the bet on his health. A future 3rd? Could yield a better player than we got in the 2nd.
RE: I rather have  
Gmanfandan : 5/2/2021 8:42 am : link
In comment 15249909 cokeduplt said:
Quote:
An edge rusher than another Jabril peppers

Unless he becomes another Troy Polamalu - I definitely didn't want Ojulari at 11 - at 50? sure. But I think JOK has a way higher ceiling and a lower floor - so I guess Ojulari is the safer pick but JOK was a more exciting one.
Azeez  
UberAlias : 5/2/2021 8:50 am : link
For me.
JOK...  
Brown_Hornet : 5/2/2021 8:51 am : link
...
RE: Azeez  
Anakim : 5/2/2021 8:58 am : link
In comment 15249901 robbieballs2003 said:
Quote:
If the injury concerns check out.


Same. If Ojulari wasn't cleared medically, I would've opted for JOK. But medicals aside, Ojulari was the BPA.
.  
HMunster : 5/2/2021 9:04 am : link
I don’t think there was a bad option.  
Big Blue Blogger : 5/2/2021 9:11 am : link
After adding Miami’s 2022 third-round pick, I would have been happy with any of the players selected between 50 and 53: those two, plus Cosmi and Radunz.

TBH, there really wasn’t anyone taken between 42 and 49 that I preferred to Ojulari. Obviously, there’s some extra risk with the knee. That’s priced in.
...  
ryanmkeane : 5/2/2021 9:17 am : link
Yes
I have thought Azeez was a perfect fit  
Peter from NH (formerly CT) : 5/2/2021 9:20 am : link
for the Giants defense from the beginning. I was shocked when they didn't take him at 20. To get his after a trade down in the second round? Homerun.
Azeez and I’m not even a big fan of his game  
Tuckrule : 5/2/2021 9:21 am : link
JOK is a scheme specific type fit. You can’t build a defense around him we have that player in peppers who’s a much better version. Same exact discussion as Simmons last year but to a lesser extent.
One player is a huge need and  
LauderdaleMatty : 5/2/2021 9:25 am : link
The other has two similar players on the roster. Also Azeez Was easily the highest rated guy on the board of the knee checks out
Determining which Edge Rushers will be successful at the next  
chick310 : 5/2/2021 9:29 am : link
level is without question difficult. It may only be behind QBs amongst all the position players from a scouting perspective in my view.

Looking forward to seeing Ojulari getting around our tackles in spring and summer practices. Are we having spring practices?
J.O.K.  
allstarjim : 5/2/2021 9:32 am : link
Is basically Peppers in our system. We're already loaded back there. So yeah, wanted Ojulari.
I wanted Azeez but not at 11  
MadPlaid : 5/2/2021 9:43 am : link
I was thinking he would be a good target if the Giants traded down, and when they did, I figured he would be on the short list of options. They went with Toney, and I thought Azeez was going to be picked up by someone else well before our 2nd round selection. I wasn’t aware at the time of the concerns about his knee.

I was surprised Ojulari was still available when the 2nd round started. And, he kept lingering. I was hopeful he’d still be available at 42, but I was doubtful. Then, they traded down again, which I loved, and I was sure that was it, he couldn’t possibly be available at 50. Beyond thrilled that the Giants were able to ultimately select Ojulari when they did. Incredible value where we got him.

I was sold after watching DDiehl's podcast on ERs  
ColHowPepper : 5/2/2021 9:44 am : link
where he had Azeez as his #1, even ahead of Phillips. Watched the tape, saw the fluidity, the explosiveness and different moves, hell yes.

robbie in his thread this AM makes a good point on whether Giants have enough d (DL + OLBs) to stop other teams' running game at the edges. I didn't see a lot of tape of AO against the run, so for starters, he may be more situational than a 3-down guy.
Wanted him since January  
greek13 : 5/2/2021 9:55 am : link
Shocked - It happened
I HATE injuries...  
x meadowlander : 5/2/2021 9:59 am : link
...zero interest in any medical concerns.

Same goes for 170lb WR's who will never play a full season.

They just extended the season to boot.
Definitely Ojulari everything considered......  
Simms11 : 5/2/2021 10:16 am : link
I would have been ok with Paye at 20 as well. The more I looked into Ojulari the more I wanted him and if he does compare to OSI, which some of the Giants former players thought, then all the better. We needed that Edge defender desperately and he seemed to be the best of the bunch.
Yes but not at number 11  
Rick in Dallas : 5/2/2021 10:21 am : link
Great value at number 50 plus a 3rd round pick next year.
one variable to consider  
Giantsfan79 : 5/2/2021 10:51 am : link
is his potential impact on Andrew Thomas. They could both support and push each other to kick ass.

My broader opinion is the Giants entered the draft with the need to improve their edge, and while Ojulari may ultimately not be that guy, I don't think any of us can complain with rolling the dice on him as that guy.

At least this seems like the opposite approach to addressing the edge position compared to drafting a Clint Sintim.
Here is my concern with Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah  
Vin_Cuccs : 5/2/2021 10:59 am : link
I know this has been reference already, but his weight… It baffles me! How can someone hold up at the point of attack as a linebacker weighing only 215 pounds? Apparently he weighed as little as 210 during the season! For a linebacker!

I know some make the argument that he’s more of a joker or wildcard on defense, as the bulk of his snaps came lined up over a TE, or even at CB at Notre Dame, but we saw how that experiment worked last year with Isaiah Simmons.

Not that he won’t be good, but I just think he needs a lot of development and refinement, and he doesn’t have a true position.
Absolutely.  
Section331 : 5/2/2021 11:00 am : link
I thought he might have been the pick at 20, so to get him in the 2nd rd was fantastic.
Azeez  
UConn4523 : 5/2/2021 11:01 am : link
JOKs size is definitely an issue. Maybe he overcomes it but he doesn’t have the upside Azeez doesn’t.
Not  
AcidTest : 5/2/2021 11:07 am : link
at #11. I also probably would have passed at #42. My thinking was that he was a first round talent so his knee injury must be bad if was still available at that pick. COVID - 19 also prevented the Giants from personally examining him. But he was cleared by Dr. Andrews, and the rumor was that the Steelers would have taken him six picks later. So it's certainly understandable that the Giants took him.
azeez  
GiantsFan84 : 5/2/2021 11:09 am : link
you need to think of the snaps for each. ragland is more than capable of filling those run game snaps and he is better at run defense than KOH

for passing downs, they will use 3 CB and 3 S and the only LB on the field will be martinez. they isn't a role on the team for someone like KOH
I did not.  
Angel Eyes : 5/2/2021 11:43 am : link
I wasn't high on his knee condition or how well he'd stack up against offensive tackles given he's on the small side (in some mock draft guides he's listed as a linebacker instead of an edge rusher). I wanted Carlos Basham instead as a crash end who reminded me of Michael Strahan but the Giants passed on him.
The Giants essentially play a 3-3-5  
Jarvis : 5/2/2021 11:58 am : link
Graham had 5 DBs in on 75% of snaps last season. Georgia also plays a 3-3-5 with AO being the outside linebacker. We essentially have 6 DBs that have starter potential on the roster prior to this draft (when we traded up for another in the 3rd). McKinney, Peppers, and Ryan (who we just re-signed) could all start together with Bradberry and Jackson. Perhaps Holmes instead of peppers on obvious passing situations. This doesn’t even include Love. JOK is a safety in a 3-3-5.

I believe that AO is a better fit and feels a glaring need as both players that started at that position at the beginning of last season missed the majority of the season with injuries (and never were that great to begin with). If the Giants tried to run a 3-3-5 with JOK at a LB position, the defense would be terribly undersized. At a safety position he replaces Peppers who was one of our best performers last season.
I would take someone else  
ghost718 : 5/2/2021 12:29 pm : link
I watched an interview with JOK,and while he's talented,it didn't sell me at all.

Azeez,the fact the Giants are doing Osi comparisons,I don't think that's a good sign.
No, I wanted Tryon at #20 or after another small trade down  
JonC : 5/2/2021 12:30 pm : link
Longer, more multiple and instinctive.
Knowing that there will never be another, I am always looking for the  
Ivan15 : 5/2/2021 12:59 pm : link
Next LT. Rush, drop in coverage, set the edge.

JPP kept me happy for a while. Maybe Ojulari can also.
I wanted Azeez  
90.Cal : 5/2/2021 1:11 pm : link
10th player on my whole entire big board... Toney was 23rd. When Azeez starts looking like Osi in Blue everyone will say how much they loved the pick then...
Very happy with Ojulari  
Greg from LI : 5/2/2021 1:50 pm : link
As long as his knee checked out, I have no concerns. He can really get after the QB.
Azeez  
Amtoft : 5/2/2021 2:00 pm : link
Fact is we don’t play a lot of LBs like JOK with Martinez in the middle. We needed Pass rusher and Azeez without the knee stuff is a sure fire first
RE: No, I wanted Tryon at #20 or after another small trade down  
Amtoft : 5/2/2021 2:02 pm : link
In comment 15250227 JonC said:
Quote:
Longer, more multiple and instinctive.


Tryon was not as good as people here made him out to be. When people played Washington they didn’t fear Tryon
Azeez  
Rave7 : 5/2/2021 2:20 pm : link
Ojulari.
RE: RE: No, I wanted Tryon at #20 or after another small trade down  
JonC : 5/2/2021 3:10 pm : link
In comment 15250411 Amtoft said:
Quote:
In comment 15250227 JonC said:


Quote:


Longer, more multiple and instinctive.



Tryon was not as good as people here made him out to be. When people played Washington they didn’t fear Tryon


It's about upside, the Bucs saw it too. If Ojulari struggles versus the run like I think he will, it will limit his value.
I like AO  
PwndPapi : 5/2/2021 3:13 pm : link
Loved JOK. I didn't think either were worthy of the 11th pick.


I don't have a problem with him in the 2nd. Reminds me of another EDGE we drafted in the second round (4 spots higher) in 2003.
A 215lb linebacker?  
Jint Fan in Buc Land : 5/2/2021 5:07 pm : link
Highlight reels are fun but you've got to introduce reality afterwards.

Where does he play when you have Peppers Ryan and X? At linebacker? What year did the last successful 6-1 215lb linebacker play?

Look at how far he slid. He's got talent but that size really makes it hard to utilize him.
RE: I like AO  
chopperhatch : 5/2/2021 5:18 pm : link
In comment 15250508 PwndPapi said:
Quote:
Loved JOK. I didn't think either were worthy of the 11th pick.


I don't have a problem with him in the 2nd. Reminds me of another EDGE we drafted in the second round (4 spots higher) in 2003.


I too love JOK'sJOK's game, but as has been mentioned, how do you keep a 215 lb LBer when you already have almost the same player in Peppers?

I love Ojulari. I didnt like the talk of him at 11. I would've been OKAY with him at 20...even though I liked Paye more. At 50 I was going nuts at my parents house.
RE: A 215lb linebacker?  
Ten Ton Hammer : 5/2/2021 5:28 pm : link
In comment 15250613 Jint Fan in Buc Land said:
Quote:
Highlight reels are fun but you've got to introduce reality afterwards.

Where does he play when you have Peppers Ryan and X? At linebacker? What year did the last successful 6-1 215lb linebacker play?

Look at how far he slid. He's got talent but that size really makes it hard to utilize him.


a guy with that frame in an NFL strength program would not add size?
Well, for one thing  
PwndPapi : 5/2/2021 5:53 pm : link
Peppers contract is up soon. For another, he's a big hitter in spite of his size. And Jesse Armistead was not much bigger when he entered the league.
Papa and Diehl  
ryanmkeane : 5/2/2021 7:49 pm : link
made a good point about Ojulari. As the Giants defense was currently constructed, they didn’t have hardly any pure edge rushers who can beat a guy 1 on 1 on the outside and get to the QB by himself. A lot of it had to be manufactured. Well - now we have a guy that can there there on his own, and then you also have to deal with Leonard Williams.
At the start of the 2nd RD thread...  
Jim in Tampa : 5/2/2021 8:04 pm : link
Before any picks were made, I listed BOTH players at the top of my wish list, thinking that we'd be lucky if either was available.
RE: The Giants essentially play a 3-3-5  
Eric from BBI : Admin : 5/2/2021 8:22 pm : link
In comment 15250168 Jarvis said:
Quote:
Graham had 5 DBs in on 75% of snaps last season. Georgia also plays a 3-3-5 with AO being the outside linebacker. We essentially have 6 DBs that have starter potential on the roster prior to this draft (when we traded up for another in the 3rd). McKinney, Peppers, and Ryan (who we just re-signed) could all start together with Bradberry and Jackson. Perhaps Holmes instead of peppers on obvious passing situations. This doesn’t even include Love. JOK is a safety in a 3-3-5.

I believe that AO is a better fit and feels a glaring need as both players that started at that position at the beginning of last season missed the majority of the season with injuries (and never were that great to begin with). If the Giants tried to run a 3-3-5 with JOK at a LB position, the defense would be terribly undersized. At a safety position he replaces Peppers who was one of our best performers last season.


Quality post.
Tuckrule  
JonC : 5/3/2021 1:51 pm : link
I got it wrong on the projected top Edge at #11, they were being overvalued ahead of the draft. I was actually right about Ojulari being overrated tho, and that Rousseau and Tryon would go in the 1st round.
Ojulari  
Thegratefulhead : 5/3/2021 1:57 pm : link
I liked his production in the SEC. I liked that his best at the end of the year. Young man showing growth. I preferred him over Paye if we were taking an edge at 11. I like his first step. It has to be honored and we can teach him moves to work off that. That first step isn't something you can teach. You have it or not. He also has legit bend. Knees could be a problem. I love the pick at 50. Crazy good.
RE: I was sold after watching DDiehl's podcast on ERs  
Ten Ton Hammer : 5/3/2021 1:59 pm : link
In comment 15249996 ColHowPepper said:
Quote:
where he had Azeez as his #1, even ahead of Phillips. Watched the tape, saw the fluidity, the explosiveness and different moves, hell yes.

robbie in his thread this AM makes a good point on whether Giants have enough d (DL + OLBs) to stop other teams' running game at the edges. I didn't see a lot of tape of AO against the run, so for starters, he may be more situational than a 3-down guy.


He's well-rounded. Not just a rush guy. He has some coverage in him too. Watch Skinner's take on him.
I'm ok with picking him at #50  
JonC : 5/3/2021 2:04 pm : link
didn't want him at #11/20. I would've picked Tryon or Rousseau at #20, both were reasonable swings for the fences. Ojulari's gonna have his work cut out for him adapting to playing the run in the NFL, especially when they start out running right at him. But I'll grant they targeted him early and reeled him in which speaks well of his pro prospects. Get in the weight room and start getting stronger, young dude.
I was very fond of Ojulari, too...  
bw in dc : 5/3/2021 3:26 pm : link
but not at #11, even before I knew about the medical. I just didn't think he showed enough - like Paye.

So getting him when we did seemed like excellent value for a position of need. And I've always subscribed to the view that Graham doesn't need a high end investment to get pressure and sacks.

I'm bullish this will be a good fit. Fingers crossed the knee holds up and AO's game gets more refined.

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