Azeez Ojulari

AO's a dud.

In comment 16304051 JonC said:

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AO's a dud.

Agree Edge is a big priority (the best teams have multiple Edge pass rush threats). AO might turn out to be a good rotational player, if he can get past the injuries.
Right now I don't think he's 100% healthy. Hopefully we'll see him in better shape after the bye.

An ER to compliment Thibodeaux is needed. Ojulari is either injured or under performing.

He's always been a guy I never quite saw it with. Even in 21' when he was a rookie, he was a guy you had to convince yourself that he could turn out well.

...not a reliable guy and he was washed out of running plays yesterday. For a guy that’s gained a ton of strength he looks like a weakling on the Edge. Haddy, is a guy that is washed up and he’s looked better then Ojulari lately! What’s that tell you?! Very disappointing to see a guy with so much potential not make it. Edge is a Huge need next year as well.

In comment 16304103 jeff57 said:

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An ER to compliment Thibodeaux is needed. Ojulari is either injured or under performing.

I think his self-esteem is okay. Another ER to help get after the opposing QB would be good though.

is indeed a need this coming off-season. My hope is a draft pick and a rotational vet not named Oshane Ximines to be part of the team. While we may still target QB, just not Williams or Maye like most want, with our 1st rounder it adds Verse, Turner and Latu to the equation lo

are not part of the long-term solution on the EDGE.

In comment 16304149 M.S. said:

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are not part of the long-term solution on the EDGE.

I forgot Oshane was even on the team lol.

even when Azeez played in a few games last year, he was the best pass rusher on the team.

This year has been a disaster for him.

But there is no reason to get rid of Ojulari. They can’t count on him to start but he is still a good pass rusher who is cheap next season. The last thing I want to see is Jihad Ward or Ximines playing at OLB again next season. Hopefully one of the two 2nd round picks addresses ER.

last year. Always hurt, that takes a toll after a while.

Good way to start with a new team,

we know about the injuries, and there have been more than a few whispers about his ability to play through pain and discomfort. If you watch Okereke's INT return, Ojulari is kind of going along with him to block, but he's plodding his way through and never even gets involved to block anyone. He's a shell of whatever we expected and the flashes from his 1st 2 seasons are gone.

I think he needs to take this offseason and drop weight. I keep thinking of when I sat next to Mother Dunn 20 years ago when he was handling the clock & I was scoring fouls at a kids basketball game and we were talking. He was talking about Tim Carter and how guys who are too tightly muscled get hurt easily. Ojulari packed on more muscle the past couple of years and it's been injury after injury since then. Dropping 10-15 pounds might be a career saver for him.

In comment 16304209 Matt in SGS said:

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we know about the injuries, and there have been more than a few whispers about his ability to play through pain and discomfort. If you watch Okereke's INT return, Ojulari is kind of going along with him to block, but he's plodding his way through and never even gets involved to block anyone. He's a shell of whatever we expected and the flashes from his 1st 2 seasons are gone. I think he needs to take this offseason and drop weight. I keep thinking of when I sat next to Mother Dunn 20 years ago when he was handling the clock & I was scoring fouls at a kids basketball game and we were talking. He was talking about Tim Carter and how guys who are too tightly muscled get hurt easily. Ojulari packed on more muscle the past couple of years and it's been injury after injury since then. Dropping 10-15 pounds might be a career saver for him.

agree matt. he'd probably also do better as a situational pass rusher instead of an every down end.

In comment 16304209 Matt in SGS said:

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we know about the injuries, and there have been more than a few whispers about his ability to play through pain and discomfort. If you watch Okereke's INT return, Ojulari is kind of going along with him to block, but he's plodding his way through and never even gets involved to block anyone. He's a shell of whatever we expected and the flashes from his 1st 2 seasons are gone. I think he needs to take this offseason and drop weight. I keep thinking of when I sat next to Mother Dunn 20 years ago when he was handling the clock & I was scoring fouls at a kids basketball game and we were talking. He was talking about Tim Carter and how guys who are too tightly muscled get hurt easily. Ojulari packed on more muscle the past couple of years and it's been injury after injury since then. Dropping 10-15 pounds might be a career saver for him.

I think the Giants want him to play defensive end; he's listed as such on their site and I seem to remember a graphic from a TV broadcast (might have been Washington) where he's listed as a defensive end. The problem seem to have started with him bulking up since a lot of his injuries seem to have resulted from strains (both calves, at least one hamstring).

In comment 16304166 Eric from BBI said:

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even when Azeez played in a few games last year, he was the best pass rusher on the team. This year has been a disaster for him.

I agree, when he's on he is a good pass rusher. It's the injuries. I sure we hope we take a flyer on some ERs this upcoming draft.

But he looked a LITTLE more active and motivated yesterday, the little I did notice him.

Or I guess I could reword it, I didn’t see him loafing as much yesterday. So maybe it is the injury or game shape slowing him down.

Talent wise, they’re keeping him on the roster at his cap space next year no matter what.

I feel for the kid, but he's basically unavailable, isn't able to give full effort, and now is considerably behind in his pro development. His presence on the roster would not stop me from drafting an edge early in 2024, especially if we're out on the QBs, etc.

Watching his get off yesterday, both against the run and pass, he seemed slow out of his stance, there was no notable explosion or quickness (which WAS his game coming out of college). Either he's still playing hurt, or the injuries have taken away what was special about him.
Either way, he has to be a "non-entity" when planning for next year.

In comment 16304166 Eric from BBI said:

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even when Azeez played in a few games last year, he was the best pass rusher on the team. This year has been a disaster for him.

He should be a rotational player only, he doesn't seem to have the health to play all out all game, but he would be great depth. Can never have enough pass rushers..

In comment 16304149 M.S. said:

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are not part of the long-term solution on the EDGE.

Nor the short term despite being on the team. Both are useless

Azeez was a beast in his brief time on the field last season. Pre-season, while he loves Thibs, Banks was most exuberant about Azeez. He predicted 15+ sacks if he stayed on the field.

So yeah, besides him not being able to stay on the field, something is off this year. He's just not the same player.

Edge is a def need.

In comment 16304149 M.S. said:

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are not part of the long-term solution on the EDGE.

Agree. Both are JAGs who will be gone and no one will miss them.

In comment 16304166 Eric from BBI said:

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even when Azeez played in a few games last year, he was the best pass rusher on the team.

I strongly disagree with this. Ojulari doesn’t have the elite quickness and acceleration of the very good pass rushers. Many of his sacks come in clean up duty.

I also suggested a couple of days ago that Ojulari maybe realized in college that his body was breaking down. So he smartly declared for the draft earlier than he really should have to try and salvage the situation monetarily and make some money before he was forced to retire. That’s speculation but it fits the facts.

what are we looking for with a bookend opposite Thibodeaux, a SAM linebacker-type jack-of-all-trades (think Carl Banks) or a power 4-3 DE like Strahan who can defend the run and rush the passer?