I heard it watching tape on him, I don't remember where, the only thing I can find on that is NFL.com profile where they mention he is a former CB.
DB doesn't necessarily mean CB. I'll post the link in a few, but I found that he was rated as a safety when he came out of high school.
Yes, I do. I've watched a few game tapes of Grafton High School games. In those games, Obi Melifonwu was shadowing the other teams wide receiver as a cornerback, and looked natural doing so. I surmise that's why NFL teams that have interviewed him talked about playing CB. Besides his off the chart measurables, he has some comfort with playing the CB position. Most notably the Titans, which someone reported on Twitter. http://draftwire.usatoday.com/2017/04/03/titans-work-out-uconns-obi-melifonwu-at-corner/ I haven't watched ALL of his games at Grafton High School, so there's a possibility he played some corner and safety due to injury or scheme. If that's the case, then you're both right. Otherwise, I'll stick to what I saw on tape, read from his biographies, and the various other reports.
Player Background Obi Melifonwu is a 6-4, 195-pound Safety from Grafton, MA. He is ranked No. 1513 in the country by 247Sports. Melifonwu is the No. 10 recruit in Massachusetts (MA) and is the No. 108 Safety in the nation. Melifonwu has a 247Sports rating of 79, making him a 2-star prospect. He has committed to Connecticut Huskies. http://247sports.com/Player/Obi-Melifonwu-14578?Institution=12734
This is a bit scattered, you say things that are well know to all about no draft pick being perfect, but then you say I'm looking for a perfect prospect, but that isn't true, I just think he's got coverage issues that aren't great for a FS, while we already have a decent FS in McDonald. I'm not taking what you said and putting it in a negative light, I'm just pointing out what I think are negatives about drafting that player, and also pointing out that he isn't viewed as being as good a prospect as you are trying to make him out to be, that there is a reason the superfreak athlete is projected as a late 1st early 2nd pick. You feel he'll make a better FS than SS, and as I said, that's your opinion, and that's fine, but at the same time you also have to realize that you are in the vast minority with that theory that he's a better FS than SS. As far as who I'd pick, the best DL, LB or CB left on the board, or if all the guys I would pick there are gone, then I'd trade down if I could.
I see Peppers' return ability brought up, but if he is going to potentially become an all-star safety ... do you want that guy returning? Seems like a potentially dangerous addition to his duties. That said, I would love to pick him up - bit concerned about the lack of INTs, but the guy is a gamer and goes hard, leads by word and example, and is very talented and flexible. We could use some of those. A safety complement for Jones I think can really help this D. Look at what a team like Seattle put together and you can see the impact. Those guys are involved and set a tone. As far as offense, especially Guard, while you cannot really complain too hard, at some point we simply HAVE to be able to find starters in mid-late rounds on the OL. It just cannot continue to be the premium resource sponge it has been. Trade down could be advantageous if we are looking S. I don't see the top 5-6 making it to our round 2 pick, but we could see guys like Peppers, Obi and Budda sitting in late round 1. Maybe a trade with a team like the Chiefs who might be seeking a QB and may want to sneak ahead of Houston. Or trade with Houston if Mahomes makes it to us. Pick up an extra mid rounder or two, still get a great player.
What I'm getting at is I know he is a late first-round prospect, and that's kind of where we are picking; that back third of the first round. Now we're even talking about trading back and him being a possibility there. I know he has issues, that's implicit with realizing he'll be available at the 22nd pick. I was up front about concerns with his game on the first page of this thread. Your claiming I'm blowing him up to be some kind of flawless pick, when I never said anything like that. I do, however, believe his ceiling is high and was stressing that I could get behind that pick for a multitude of potential reasons he could succeed in the NFL. Anybody that's experienced with the NFL draft knows to take every prospect with a grain of salt, every single one of them. I'm saying there would be worse picks than Melifonwu at the projected spot we're picking right now; and I don't think that would count as being overdrafted on his athletic traits. Dion Jordan was overdrafted on his athletic traits. I don't really care for position rankings either, because good NFL teams know which players will augment their teams the best. We'll see how much bearing CBS rankings have when the actual draft is over and done with.
I spent the afternoon looking at this kid and was disappointed. I looked at his combine numbers and thought that this guy would be a beast. Considering his frame, I expected him to lay the wood down while defended, but almost never saw hard hits. What was worse was that I saw that he easily got moved and took poor angles way too often. I never really saw how his combine numbers translated to on the field production. He is the classic example of looks like Tarzan plays like Jane. I'll pass.
It does look like he tackles funny, but it's probably because he's so tall. However, his tackling production was one of the best in college football. If that's what you got out of his film I'd suggest you look at some other games. Seriously, he's going to be a great S in the NFL and is more than deserving of a first round pick. I'd be elated to get him at 22
If you wanna see a bigger guy at defensive back, check out Kevin King from Washington. I understand that we are comparing a corner to a safety, but just watch how he uses his body/athleticism. Honestly, I fell in love watching him play. If you get a chance, take a look at him, and let me know what you think. Seriously, I could see him being the type of guy that we are looking for. I would not be mad if we took him at 22.
Bigger as in physically? Because King is about an inch shorter and 25 pounds lighter than Obi. I do like what I've seen from King, but I haven't watched much tape on him. I'll try to look at some over the next day or so.
Definitely has the flexibility to play both, at least in my opinion. I like Obi myself, but not at the #22 slot. If we trade down, then he's a prime candidate (along with TJ Watt who I also really like). Just depends on the action and maneuvering around us. My criticism is similar to tirty8, in that he plays soft at times considering his combination of size and speed. Reminds me a little bit of Zach Cunningham, in that they both have bad habits with arm tackling, tackling high, and not using their legs to follow through with a power tackle at times. That can obviously be coached through reps and practice, but it's a concern at the next level. If we stand pat at #22, and say that Derek Barnett, Reuben Foster, or Haason Reddick happen to slide down - then I take one from that trifecta. I'm still back and forth on Foster, because of the talent vs red flags. Not wild about having a player on our team in the NFL Substance Abuse Program right from jump street, and don't know whether or not he was telling the truth about the virus (I'm skeptical). That said, he's too talented to just completely dismiss, so I hope that the front office does their due diligence in uncovering every stone possible. Then again, he might not slide as much as expected and it's just a moot point. Only time will tell. All in all, I do like Obi Melifonwu. He has a lot of potential and could make for a dynamic situational nickel corner (something we really need). I'm not completely sold on him as a free safety (I'd like to see him be more instinctual and trust his natural abilities, along with a willingness and better tackling), but he could get there with some seasoning, coaching, and scheme fit. As I said, I like him a lot better in a trade down scenario. I wouldn't be unhappy with the pick at all, just tossing out my ideal scenario on draft day. Should be interesting.
In 2012, his senior year in high school: Obi Melifonwu Grafton, MA (Grafton Memorial Senior) Safety Ht 6-4 Wt 195 Birth Date 4/5/94 CLASS OF 12 http://247sports.com/Player/Obi-Melifonwu-14578?Institution=12734
I saw you post it earlier, thanks. Which is why I concluded by saying before you posted them with: "I haven't watched ALL of his games at Grafton High School, so there's a possibility he played some corner and safety due to injury or scheme. If that's the case, then you're both right. Otherwise, I'll stick to what I saw on tape, read from his biographies, and the various other reports."
This was a different year posting and not the same one as before. Do you have links to what you saw? I've been looking and can find him playing RB only in High School
Depends on the situation and players involved, yeah? Blind side hit on a QB for instance, should yield higher results than an average running play up the gut. Kickoff and punt returns, there's a lot of violent collisions. Suppositions can be fun, until they ultimately happen one way or the other. I guess this all stemmed from the finesse (soft) player vs ferocious (big hitting) player. Which one would would you rather have, all things being equal? Me, I'm taking the more physical player - especially if we're talking about the defensive side of the ball. The Dolphins need more "nasty" and "snarling" dogs on the defensive side. We've lacked that kind of attitude, explosiveness, and mentality for a while. I'm not completely opposed to taking someone labeled as "finesse," but if I had my pick between a finesse or physical player, then I'm taking the more physical player 10 times out of 10.
Obi is not a huge hitter, but he gets the job done. I don't see any major problems with his tackling you are blowing things out of proportion and while he doesn't go for the huge hit he is very aggressive in coming up in run support. Sent from my F3111 using Tapatalk
No, I don't sorry. I was only privy to some of the game footage (DVD) because one of my relatives coaches at Southbridge. Otherwise, I probably would have never watched it and doubtful there's many Youtube videos of the games (I haven't searched it) - unless some parents, scouts, or relatives were kind enough to upload them. Yeah, most of it was of him playing RB, so I assume he slanted toward something like a 75/25 split, or thereabout. Not really certain without having been there, or knowing their coaching staff at the time.
What am I blowing out of proportion? I just pointed out a flaw with his tackling. I said that I liked him, lol.
I have to agree. He's no Ronnie Lott, but he's a great tackler and doesn't shy away from contact at all. I think most know I'm a huge Peppers fan, but the more I watch and read about Obi the more I like the kid. He can definitely be a very special player if he's coached right.
The point was big hits are overrated. Numbers would show that to be true or not. You've turned this into a different thing.
Now I'm going to defend him a bit, lol, but I saw some plays where he popped some guys good, but there were a lot of plays where he is more passive than you'd like, but when he has it all straight he brings the wood. The having it all straight bit is what worries me, he can run with a guys pretty good, but any zone stuff he's kind of shaky diagnosing, at times, he guesses wrong on occasion and like you also mentioned can take bad angles. When he knows exactly what he's doing he plays good, one man comes into his zone, he's on that, but crossers get him rubbernecking, if he has a good clean shot at a guy he'll take it, but if he has to work through a little traffic he's less aggressive. What I see is a guy who can play his *** off when variables are limited, but the more variables the less sure of himself he is.
You can have fumbles without big hits. Big hits also can lead to some stupid missed tackles. Just check the "big hits" of Buffalo against Miami in the second game.
I don't think they're overrated. You see it time and time again, a big hit can energize a team or cause a turnover. Happens all the time on defense or special teams, and been happening that way for a long time. I wasn't the one that brought this up, the other guy did. Then you asked me a question, to which I responded. That's some fuzzy revisionist history.
And on the flip side of the coin, many big hits have turned momentum or made for a turnover. I don't really think there's a right or wrong answer in this, only a difference in the general philosophy.
Revisionist history? WTF? I already understood you thought they weren't overrated. You had made that clear already. No one is saying big hits don't potentially cause a fumble or aren't exciting. No one. You were asked how often big hits happen and of those that do happen, how many cause fumbles/TOs? Instead of answering those questions in any way, you went on a rambling, non-specific diversion that had nothing to do with the question asked of you.
All of this is fair, I have no problem with where you're coming from. This is why I don't want him at SS. A lot of people see him fly up to the LOS and tackle a running back, therefore he must be a strong safety, but usually he is running unabated to the ball carrier. A lot of plays in the box he gets jarred from the point of attack. That's why I want him covering his first year, and why I think he projects better as a FS, at least a year or two down the road. There's more plays of him making rangy plays in the back or flying up, without having to deal with trash, and making plays than him blasting through a blocker at the LOS and making a backfield tackle.
Haha. Sorry for the confusion lost in written text. I mean big in the sense that he is considered a big defensive back. What I like about King is that he plays like a big defensive back - physical, aggressive - he uses his body. This is really what I expected to see from Obi. Take a look at let me know if you agree or disagree.
I think that this is a fair assessment, honestly. I would be shocked if he was the best player available at 22, and I would be a bit disappointed if we took him. There are other safeties that I think are considerably better, and if they are there, I would certainly consider taking them (considering who else is available). I think there will be better players available at positions we need when we are on the clock.
