Post vids, notes on Alex Okafor here. There are postive reports on his performance in Senior Bowl practices. Thought I'd give him a watch. Alex Okafor, DE - Texas (Games Watched: 2012 - WVU, OSU, Oregon State) - Good first step, slow second gear by comparison - good balance - don't like that they are running it at him, and by him effectively (like RIGHT past him, a foot away, over-and-over) - needs better extension when blocked, so he doesn;t lose sight of the runningback - lets OL get in close to his body - boy he gets upfield fast on the first two steps on the pass rush - slaps OL's hands away well when bending arc - Not a guy who will beat you by first dipping shoulder and bending outside edge, but instead needs to jolt the tackle with body and hands contact first, THEN separate and dip shoulder under and bend arc. Must use his strength with quickness to beat tackles. Not a pure speed guy. - seems to get too upright when he goes inside, loses leverage and can't generate inside power against Guards and Center. Does little inside. - does get push on RT's in pass pro. - causes fumbles. like that. - tends to not be the first guy to arrive at plays. don't love that. So-so instincts and not great anticipation. - Who is #44? That guys is a great Pass Rushing 3-4 OLB. Always says a lot when I am watching film focusing on one player and another one keeps jumping out at me, stealing the thunder. What concerns me is, he barely gives RTs a lot to handle. I wonder what happens when I need to flip him to RDE on a passing down to let Wake rush over LDE. I want to know this guy can give tackles a problem o either side, and RT's simply aren't as good as most LTs in pass pro. I want to see Okafor against the best. Plus, as a strongside DE I expect him to be better against the run. This guy allows runs right past him consistently. Where is the awareness? Worth a late second, imo. No higher. Rather have Ansah.
[video=youtube;ExvDtq8Whq0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExvDtq8Whq0[/video] [video=youtube;6TTs4tJbtvg]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TTs4tJbtvg[/video]
To be fair, as I watched a little more, I watched him make two nice sacks on the QB, one with speed outside, a hand punch then shoulder dip to bend the arc. And another with power, walking the tackle back. I still can't say I'd go more than a late second rounder for him, and with the talent in the second round of this draft, he'd be one of my lower priorities for the second round. For example, I'd rather have Tank Carradine or Stedman Bailey with our 2b because I feel Okafor's value ceiling is mid second, and floor is bottom of the second.
color me not impressed from this short video. I agree that he is worth a late 2nd (someone will take him before that)…. not worth our first at all
I haven't given a Tank-Jones argument much thought but Carradine could very well be #2. Initially I'm more going off Coyle's style of defense and who we'd likely prioritize opposite Cam. In that regard I could see Datone being coveted.
He's a good all around DE. He's a good power pass rusher. He makes big plays. How many times did he strip the QB in just your two videos? I counted 3. He can play the run well too. His sacks (12.5), QB pressures (20), forced fumbles (4), and tackles for loss (18), are darned good production out of your starting DE. Ziggy may have more ceiling, but Alex is more polished and ready right now, and while his ceiling may not be as high, IMO, his floor isn't as low either.
Agree with MrClean, and from what Jeff Ireland said in his media time this week, I think he'd agree too. Given what he said about getting immediate impact out of your first round picks, if it comes to picking a DE in the 1st round, I think it'd be Okafor over Ansah. Just look at his 1st round picks in his time in Miami: Jake Long - started from day one. Vontae Davis - was a contributor from day one and was starting by week 5/6. Jared Odrick - was a starter from day, but got hurt and missed the remainder of that year. Mike Pouncey - started from day one. Ryan Tannehill - started from day one. I don't think Ezekiel Ansah starts from day one in Miami. He's a better run-stopper than a pass-rusher at this point. But Miami already has that in spades with Jared Odrick, Koa Misi, Olivier Vernon, and Derrick Shelby.
I think the ansah cannot rush the passer argument is just an incorrect one. Sure, ansah may be the best de against the run in this draft, but he CAN rich the qb. He needs coaching on techniques. How can we expect him to use his stance, frets and hands to beat the blocker when he allegedly does know what a 3 point stance is? But let's not act like he wasn't a playmaker on a top 5 defense at BYU. I think ansah will have a bigger impact from day 1 than okafor. The pocket shrinks with ansah, no other way around. On the other hand, okafor, IMO is overrated by some on this forum. I think he is a more polished passrusher than ansah but I don't see anything he does more effective
I never said he couldn't rush the passer; he's just better at stopping the run right now than he is at rushing the passer. Given what Jeff Ireland said about getting an immediate impact out of his 1st round pick, I simply think Okafor is more for Miami than Ansah at this point. Ireland's in a "show me" year, and I don't think Ansah is going to come in and give you what Aldon Smith gave the 49ers as a rookie. Smith didn't start, but he had like 14 sacks as a 3rd down pass-rusher. I don't think that's Ansah at this point in time, thus I don't think Jeff Ireland is going to pick him at #12.
It seems like this argument became an either/or thing between Alex and Ziggy. The pro Ziggy contingent led by Bpk, seems to diss on Alex as part of the overall argument to build up Ziggy. To say Alex looks no better than a late 2nd, especially based on the WVa and Oregon St games, seems very inaccurate to me. I like them both, though I agree with you that given the choice, which he should have at 12, Ireland would more likely take Alex. Doing that mock draft using CBS Sportline's rankings, I took first Ansah in my initial mock, then changed to Alex in the 2.0 version. In real life, I'd rather have Sheldon Richardson be on the board and take him, but in the overall rankings we used for our mock draft thing, he was ranked above 12 overall.
Sheldon Richardson intrigues me. But, for me, he's only an option if Miami doesn't re-sign Randy Starks or acquires some other DT in free agency leading up to the Draft. As for pick #12, I'd take a chance on Cordarrelle Patterson if Miami hasn't signed a receiver in free agency whose name isn't Brian Hartline. I doubt that Jeff Ireland would take that same chance. I really almost think that I might try and trade down and see if you can get another 2nd and/or 3rd rounder. To me, that seems to be where the most value is in this draft class as it's really not all that top-heavy. I'll get roasted for this, but if Miami's content to stay at the #12 pick, to me, the best player there is Chance Warmack. I could see Dee Milliner if he fell, but even then, I think he's only that highly rated because the CB class isn't the greatest. I'd feel okay about taking Alex Okafor there, but even then, I'd feel like I left some value on the table.
Malliciah Goodman from Clemson is getting no love and he should be. Oh and check him out and see how he does in space, and when you wow, that guy is agile look up and see that is 270 lbs. He too need work, but he's long lean and very athletic. I wouldn't be surprised to see him pushing to get into Rd 1 by the time April comes as guys like Jordan, Ansah and others fall
Let me correct anyone who things I love Ansah to the point of being biased towards other players. I was honestly very excited to finally watch Okafor. He sounded exactly like what I want and love in a DE, so what you are hearing, if anything, is my own disappointment that he didn't live up to my expectations/hopes. And if Tank Carradine had not injured himself, I think I am touting him neck and neck with, or actually ahead of Ansah. Plus, I love Ansah's game, but am totally grounded when it comes to his shortcomings. I have consistently said I would not be on board with taking I'm at 12. It's too high for a guy with his question marks and shortcomings.
I think Sheldon Richardson could be a great 3-4 end very quickly, or a superior interior 4-3 pass rushing DT once he gets experienced and gains weight to be more of a 2008 Randy Starks.
The last two drafts, both 1st rounders, Pouncey and Tannehill, were also the most obvious, most correctly predicted prior to draft day, 1st rounders I can ever recall Miami making, other than Jake Long. IMO, the most obvious choice right now, still addressing need, most polished, ready to be a starter, but also not the most dynamic, is Keenan Allen. He is a safe pick, ready to start, also a need pick. That all screams obvious Ireland choice to me. He's not the highest upside WR, but also the least likely to be a complete bust. If I do another mock draft in that thread, I think I'll give him to Miami at 12.
I would be disappointed if Ireland took Keenan at 12. It's poor value. He is not elite. The second round WR are almost as good if not as good. On the one hand you could argue it would be Jeff playing 'safe'. Or you could argue it would be him caving to pressure, from fans, maybe the owner, to get his own butt off the hotseat and put explosive weapons out there. Either way it would be poor use of resources and sub-optimal returns from the draft as a whole compared to selecting a different player at 12 and solving WR in rd 2 and free agency.
