2020 NFL Draft - EDGE Thread

[WNCRavensFan]

Movin' on, gotta crank em out if I make it by draft day

JULIAN OKWARA #42 NOTRE DAME
6'4", 252 at combine



This is a long ass video but it's regarded as some of his best tape.

0:10 beats his man cleanly to the inside for a pressure
1:50 engages LT with power-to-speed rush to force QB off his spot
2:30 looks bad on this play but actually does his job, VA coaching won this
3:00 his blocker trips and falls so, lucky sack, but shows very nice acceleration to the QB
4:38 showing off size/speed combination after diagnosing the QB rollout
6:40 loses the hand battle vs LT
7:40 they run his direction; hold his own but unable to shed block, others clean up
8:06 on the RT this time and definitely loses trying to run through him
9:15 shows a tightly wound spin move here, could have been a sack w/ decent coverage
10:45 nice play. ignores the chip block, speeeed rushes around RT showing bend, sack. highlighted
11:24 again the speed rush beats the RT. Very nice dip. Has discovered an exploit
11:40 oof, driven into the ground by the RG.
12:03 RT beginning to respect Okwora's speed a bit more, backpedals almost into the QB
12:38 unusual looking move, doesn't get there first but it is a pressure
14:15 driven back by RT on a run play
15:10 play design creates this pressure by forcing the FB over to cover the inside blitzer. but my what closing speed
15:55 pure unadulterated speed rush. highlighted

Yeah... pretty impressive tape indeed. Identified as speed-type pass rusher, possible weakness vs run but overall he did okay in this game.

[WNCRavensFan]

now he gets matched up against some big boys: Georgia bookends Andrew Thomas and Isaiah Wilson.

0:19 pounded by LT, loses footing on run play
0:27 covering the flat; saw this a bit in the VA tape too
0:45 he doesn't do much but check out the DT next to him!
1:06 there it is - the launch, the dip, the bend vs the RT. Not much bend this time but not needed. highlighted
1:14 aaand blown waaay back by the RT the next play
1:20 blown up again on the run play
1:31 now getting pushed around by WR/TE #17
2:18 blasted back by LT now. gonna need a cold tub
2:26 my goodness, he put a move on Isaiah Wilson who was caught off balance expecting the outside speed rush. Like seeing this kind of counter
4:15 Thomas shows a lot of skill containing him. Cool play to watch
4:51 not showing good run D here. other players are, but not him

ANALYSIS

Okwara is a speed rush specialist through and through. If matched up against a slow OT he will be able to beat him to the outside with the classic dip and bend. Beyond that... I don't see a very good edge setter in the run game. Sometimes he's blown back yards downfield by just one blocker. He also needs to refine his game plan because if his speed rush doesn't work, not much happens.

He actually reminds me of Chaisson a bit; unfortunately he's a bit less athletic, explosive, bendy, -insert buzz word here- and I think Chaisson is better even against the run. Okwara looks a little bit top heavy at his height and college playing weight.

That said, as a designated outside pass rusher, he should excel in that role, and that's a very important role.

Grade: Late Rd 2
Comp: Cliff Avril

[edromeo]

Edge Numbers from PFF

Player	PASS-RUSH	RUN STOP	3RD DOWN	P-R WIN RATE	RUN STOP
A Epnesa	87.8	76.4	78.7	17.5	6.6
YG.Matos	81.8	82.9	76.6	18.9	6.8
Ter.Lewis	88.2	88.6	77.1	20.7	12.6
J.Okwara	90	64	67	23	2.7

[edromeo]

now he gets matched up against some big boys: Georgia bookends Andrew Thomas and Isaiah Wilson.

ANALYSIS

Fast ball pitcher.

He can turn the corner w/ speed. Has above average bend: 36, 107, 408
Not great against contact - 18, 20
Not strong at the POA - 117, 124, 420
His best play vs the run - 308

Doesn't display the ability to convert speed to power
Can get stalemated due to lack of counters if speed fails or quick set early
Was effectively blocked by TE in the run game

Maybe it was the quality of the Georgia OL but he only seemed to generate 1 pressure that I say 107s
(I like how Fromm just ignored the pressure and pretended it wasn't there...reminds me of Koy Detmer)


Neither here nor there: Fromm 2 nice throws 410 & 448

[ravensfan7716]

Whoh! Hold the phone!

Did you see the piece Tony Lombardi wrote in the RSR - Lombardi's Way column that begins with a story about why Suh wasn't interested in the Ravens (hope I get the link right https://russellstreetreport.com/2020...ardis-way/suh/ ). One of the later stories in the column was about a draft scam Gross-Matos perpetrated on the Pats. The story says that G-M was doing a virtual workout for Pats and used a relative who bears a resemblance to run the 40 for him. But he got busted. If true (I mean nobody could be that dumb, could they?), that will cost him much more than the millions he hoped to gain. Just incredible.

And I take back all the good things I said about him ^^^.

Lets see who picks this guy on draft day. If this guy falls, and somehow the Patriots end up drafting him anyway we will know its all more bullshit and lies by the #1 cheater in football Bellicheat.

If I was this kid, I would hire a lawyer and sue their ass unless there is actual truth to this. If so, that is definitely beyond stupid and worrisome for any team to make him a round 1 or round 2 pick.

[NjRavensFan]

Lets see who picks this guy on draft day. If this guy falls, and somehow the Patriots end up drafting him anyway we will know its all more bullshit and lies by the #1 cheater in football Bellicheat.

If I was this kid, I would hire a lawyer and sue their ass unless there is actual truth to this. If so, that is definitely beyond stupid and worrisome for any team to make him a round 1 or round 2 pick.

Bro that was Tony’s April Fool’s Day article. This isn’t a thing.

[202Belden]

Would like to read opinions on Joe Gaziano, Northwestern.

[edromeo]

Would like to read opinions on Joe Gaziano, Northwestern.

Haven't made it to him yet.

[WNCRavensFan]

EDGE discussion begins at the 15-minute mark through the end of the vid.

I get pretty much all of it but I am way off of Simms' evaluation of Terrell Lewis. Did I have the right uniform number?

[WNCRavensFan]

Okay, here's my guy leading into the tale of the tape, let's see if the grade stays Rd 2:

CURTIS WEAVER #99 BOISE STATE
6'2", 265 at combine



0:17 not looking good in pursuit
0:59 Seminoles take advantage of his poor pursuit speed this time
1:22 interesting wiggle through the line, it looks like he diagnoses the play but doesn't get there
2:05 not doing well against this option offense
2:18 slow get off; very quick fake out-and-in w/ good hands, gets a pressure
2:42 fights through block with a rip move but it takes too long
3:00 slides right by LT for TFL engulfing both QB and WR
4:09 splits between two smaller blockers with a surprising move to get a pressure... but, QB throws a TD anyway
4:29 feel like a better athlete would have tipped the ball
4:35 nice tandem rush w/ DT, both OL are beat
4:52 I can see that he sees the screen early, but no impact on play
5:03 oof. ankles broken by Akers
5:11 interfered with just enough on the stunt to prevent the sack
6:00 H-O-L-D-I-N-G my god refs
7:08 okay, I think he's playing hurt. Maybe a strained knee
7:30 good effort this time
7:43 blocker tries to lunge at him, he sidesteps and makes the QB pay. highlighted
8:07 trying the rip move on the outside, looks painful
8:22 totally beats the LT with surprising dip and bend but manhandled HOLDIIIIING

So, I find out that he was hurt during the season vs New Mexico. This was the very first game of the season, so I am assuming he was healthy.

It's worth noting that I often see Weaver as a DE in an odd front in this game. I'm wondering if he's playing heavier than 265.

[WNCRavensFan]

Note - I was going to post the Washington vid, which is underwhelming, but he played injured in that game so I want to add another healthy one.



0:40 gets outside leverage on TE who is too small for him, redirects RB
1:18 looks like an effective cover of the leaking RB, bottom of screen
1:33 actually makes the tackle on this busted play
1:52 freeze this frame, then watch the play
2:08 has this move where he jabs his blocker and chucks him to the side
2:22 great, so he's gimpy in this game too
3:39 not playing with the strength that I imagine he's capable of
4:07 sniffs out the deception and cleans up
4:28 seeing more drops into coverage than I thought I'd see
7:13 coverage pressure but he covers a good amount of turf to affect the throw
8:56 how does he get clear of blocks so often? Nobody blocked him
10:11 just like last game, a surprising 4th Q speed rush blows by the RT
10:42 spin move... then reverse spin move to mirror the QB... and sack. highlighted
11:11 outside dip-fake to spin move and sack the QB again. love it


ANALYSIS

I'll give him some credit - he may have been playing hurt all year. It looks like he's playing on one good leg. Considering that, I may have to look at some 2018 tape. As it is, I see a football player that needs better conditioning. Not an athlete that can't play football. He's very instinctive and reactive and understands Xs and Os. He has an arsenal of moves including jabs, dips, rips, swims and spins. I didn't think I'd see flashes of good bend. I think there's an NFL athlete in there somewhere and if that's the case, he can be a very good technician on the edge.

Alas, he really really needs to get in the weight room. Or on a treadmill. Or both. I wonder if being hurt affected his conditioning, and while I credit him for playing hurt, I wonder if he'll be one of those guys that's dinged up all the time. The COVID business hurts him here because it will be time removed from an NFL program. And that drops his draft stock for me.

Grade: Rd 3
Comp: Emmanuel Ogbah, 2" shorter

[WNCRavensFan]

If you got time, could you add Kareem Khalid to the list. I see him mentioned as a perfect fit for us by Brett Kollman.

If time allows, Alex Highsmith, please.

Would like to read opinions on Joe Gaziano, Northwestern.

Noted, all. Added to OP