Kristofer O'Dowd of Southern California ~ 6.4/300
"A tall, long center who sits into his stance well and can snap and step quickly off the line.Does a nice job getting his hands up and long arms into blocks and initially can dictate on contact. Has the ability to consistently gain inside leverage in the run game and generate an initial push off the football. However, he allows himself to get too upright into blocks and fails to continue to drive defenders off the football.
Showcases a good burst off the football and can quickly get into linemen off his frame and seal on perimeter runs. But looks to lumber a bit anytime he’s exposed to space and will struggle to break down on contact. Uses his long arms to stick to linemen well on slide down blocks, but isn’t the type of athlete who can cleanly stay on to athletic defenders through the play.
Possesses a good first step off the snap in the pass game and uses his length well to keep linemen from initially getting into his frame and bullying him off the ball. Does a nice job instantly dropping his base and has the ability to anchor vs. even bigger defensive linemen. However, he isn’t overly fluid on contact, has a tendency to get overextended and upright in his lower half and will allow opposing linemen to disengage laterally from his initial punch.
However, he does have the ability to redirect and get his hands back on defenders once they gain a step inside, keeping them from cleanly making their way up the field. But he doesn’t strike me as a guy who can consistently slide his feet and stay on blocks through contact one-on-one at the next level. Also, he’s had a really tough time staying healthy during the course of his career and his medical report is something worth monitoring. He will play through pain, but there is a lot of tape of him out there where he just looks banged up.
Impression: I don’t think he’s the type of athlete or top-tier center prospect many are making him out to be. And I honestly can’t see him excelling in any area of the game at the next level. Looked more like a reserve type center to me."
Showcases a good burst off the football and can quickly get into linemen off his frame and seal on perimeter runs. But looks to lumber a bit anytime he’s exposed to space and will struggle to break down on contact. Uses his long arms to stick to linemen well on slide down blocks, but isn’t the type of athlete who can cleanly stay on to athletic defenders through the play.
Possesses a good first step off the snap in the pass game and uses his length well to keep linemen from initially getting into his frame and bullying him off the ball. Does a nice job instantly dropping his base and has the ability to anchor vs. even bigger defensive linemen. However, he isn’t overly fluid on contact, has a tendency to get overextended and upright in his lower half and will allow opposing linemen to disengage laterally from his initial punch.
However, he does have the ability to redirect and get his hands back on defenders once they gain a step inside, keeping them from cleanly making their way up the field. But he doesn’t strike me as a guy who can consistently slide his feet and stay on blocks through contact one-on-one at the next level. Also, he’s had a really tough time staying healthy during the course of his career and his medical report is something worth monitoring. He will play through pain, but there is a lot of tape of him out there where he just looks banged up.
Impression: I don’t think he’s the type of athlete or top-tier center prospect many are making him out to be. And I honestly can’t see him excelling in any area of the game at the next level. Looked more like a reserve type center to me."
"The first center to start as a true freshman in program history, O'Dowd quickly made a name for himself with the Trojans.
But the theme of his college career became struggles with injury, which may have made more of an impression on NFL scouts than his play.
O'Dowd twice dislocated his right knee and underwent shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum after the 2009 season. He possesses very good size for the position and despite a slew of injuries, remains athletic enough to handle pass protection. His lack of ideal strength and physicality in the running game means that his best fit in the NFL is most likely to be with a zone-blocking team.
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Positives: Ideal size. Athletic enough to consider moving to guard in the NFL and has experience at the position. Quick into his set and maintains balance. Bends at the knees and plays on the balls of his feet. Good lateral movement to mirror defensive tackles. Long arms and strong hands to control his opponent. Good strength and balance to anchor against the bull rush. Plays with good leverage despite his frame. Good quickness to get to the second level, but has only adequate change-of-direction agility and balance when adjusting to moving targets. Quick enough to slide laterally and seal the defender in the running game. Quick first step to vacate his zone to block downfield. Gained the respect of the coaching staff and his teammates by playing through various injuries throughout his career, including only missing one game in 2009 after dislocating his kneecap in the spring.
Negatives: Has a quick first step, but struggles with balance once he gets into the open field and has to find his target. Is too often late getting to the spot, as a result. Relies on technique against power and can be knocked backward (see Oregon State). Has struggled with durability throughout his career and could be red-flagged by teams because of his multiple surgeries."
But the theme of his college career became struggles with injury, which may have made more of an impression on NFL scouts than his play.
O'Dowd twice dislocated his right knee and underwent shoulder surgery to repair a torn labrum after the 2009 season. He possesses very good size for the position and despite a slew of injuries, remains athletic enough to handle pass protection. His lack of ideal strength and physicality in the running game means that his best fit in the NFL is most likely to be with a zone-blocking team.
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Positives: Ideal size. Athletic enough to consider moving to guard in the NFL and has experience at the position. Quick into his set and maintains balance. Bends at the knees and plays on the balls of his feet. Good lateral movement to mirror defensive tackles. Long arms and strong hands to control his opponent. Good strength and balance to anchor against the bull rush. Plays with good leverage despite his frame. Good quickness to get to the second level, but has only adequate change-of-direction agility and balance when adjusting to moving targets. Quick enough to slide laterally and seal the defender in the running game. Quick first step to vacate his zone to block downfield. Gained the respect of the coaching staff and his teammates by playing through various injuries throughout his career, including only missing one game in 2009 after dislocating his kneecap in the spring.
Negatives: Has a quick first step, but struggles with balance once he gets into the open field and has to find his target. Is too often late getting to the spot, as a result. Relies on technique against power and can be knocked backward (see Oregon State). Has struggled with durability throughout his career and could be red-flagged by teams because of his multiple surgeries."
"Bio: All-Conference selection after his senior and sophomore seasons, when he was a full-time starter. Struggled with numerous injuries throughout his college career, primarily ailments to his knee and shoulder.
Positive: Hardworking college lineman with limited upside for the next level. Intense, keeps his head on a swivel and works well with teammates. Blocks with good leverage, quickly gets his hands into defenders, and shows terrific explosiveness. Stays square, effectively redirects to linebackers on the second level, and uses all his assets well.
Negative: Must improve his blocking balance. Not a lineman who gets much movement in the middle. Multiple surgeries have thrown up medical red flags.
Analysis: O'Dowd was a terrific college blocker when on the field but has been sapped of his strength and ability due to numerous injuries. Will be downgraded by a number of teams and must quickly produce this summer to get out of camp."
Positive: Hardworking college lineman with limited upside for the next level. Intense, keeps his head on a swivel and works well with teammates. Blocks with good leverage, quickly gets his hands into defenders, and shows terrific explosiveness. Stays square, effectively redirects to linebackers on the second level, and uses all his assets well.
Negative: Must improve his blocking balance. Not a lineman who gets much movement in the middle. Multiple surgeries have thrown up medical red flags.
Analysis: O'Dowd was a terrific college blocker when on the field but has been sapped of his strength and ability due to numerous injuries. Will be downgraded by a number of teams and must quickly produce this summer to get out of camp."
"Positives:Heady, good instincts for the position... Explosive... Good length... Good pass blocker, quick first step... Quick pass set... Uses his hands well... Good footwork, good lateral movement and slide... Blocks with solid leverage in pass protection... Does a nice job redirecting... Very solid run blocker... Adequate strength at POA... Can generate solid power... Plays with a solid base... Very good contact balance... Gets to the second level and seals linebackers okay... Brings his feet along with him... Solid flexibility and body control but not good... Carries his pads well... Plays with good technique... Good mental toughness... Aggressive, gives a good effort... Good fit as a Guard in a ZBS.
Negatives:Plays a little high at times, allows defender under his pads... Loses a lot of battles for leverage... Needs to get stronger and show a little more consistency at POA... Doesn't anchor well against bull rushers... Not a bigtime pile mover, doesn't get a lot of movement... Doesn't get much leverage drive blocking... Hands are quick but lack much pop, little violence to his game... Doesn't look very fluid in space, will overextend, reach and lunge... Struggles to hit moving targets... Not a great finisher... His durability (inability to stay healthy) will hurt his draft stock."
Negatives:Plays a little high at times, allows defender under his pads... Loses a lot of battles for leverage... Needs to get stronger and show a little more consistency at POA... Doesn't anchor well against bull rushers... Not a bigtime pile mover, doesn't get a lot of movement... Doesn't get much leverage drive blocking... Hands are quick but lack much pop, little violence to his game... Doesn't look very fluid in space, will overextend, reach and lunge... Struggles to hit moving targets... Not a great finisher... His durability (inability to stay healthy) will hurt his draft stock."
"Strengths: O'Dowd is an intelligent player who plays with great awareness. Plays with good leverage and has good footwork to put himself to make blocks on defenders. Gets good hand placement on his blocks and continues to drive his feet when he locks onto a block. Gets to the second level effectively and stays under control to pout his hat on a defender. Peels off double team blocks well to pick up linebackers and seal them off. Great awareness in pass protection, keeping his head on a swivel. Picks up stunts and blitzers well. Consistently gives great effort. Has shown the toughness to play through pain.
Weaknesses: Adequate strength at the POA, but he will struggle against stronger defenders, especially when lined up directly over him. Not going to shock defenders with his initial punch. His height doesn't allow for him to have great range in pass protection. Has battled injuries his entire college career, missing a large number of games in multiple seasons.
Projection: Third or fourth rounder if he clears medically. O'Dowd is one of the top centers in the nation and should be at least a solid backup because of his intelligence, technique, and effort. He'll battle for a starting spot in the right situation."
Weaknesses: Adequate strength at the POA, but he will struggle against stronger defenders, especially when lined up directly over him. Not going to shock defenders with his initial punch. His height doesn't allow for him to have great range in pass protection. Has battled injuries his entire college career, missing a large number of games in multiple seasons.
Projection: Third or fourth rounder if he clears medically. O'Dowd is one of the top centers in the nation and should be at least a solid backup because of his intelligence, technique, and effort. He'll battle for a starting spot in the right situation."
"Center is one of the most difficult positions to project in any draft and the 2011 edition is no different. Few centers are drafted in the early rounds of the draft. One has to show a special quality others lack; that quality factor surrounds USC's big Kristofer O'Dowd. Especially because in college football rarely does a true freshman becomes a starter at C in one of the most dominant units in the nation. But O'Dowd did just that, starting three (he saw significant time in four more) games in 2007. Named a full time starter before spring practice 2008, the Tucson, Arizona product started all 14 games for the Trojans. His play earned him All PAC-10 team honors.
O'Dowd is smart and competitive and consistently maximized his talent. He has shown the flexibility to pass block with good leverage against straight-line rushers and can use his hands to lock up defenders. His great awareness and instinct for the position will impress any scout.
He spent his senior year improving his strength, but can still struggle to hold off against explosive, power rushers. O'Dowd is limited some athletically and can have trouble moving in traffic. O'Dowd had good intangibles and the athletic talent to warrant some consideration in the early part of Day 2. If he is able to show more strength, he could move up."
O'Dowd is smart and competitive and consistently maximized his talent. He has shown the flexibility to pass block with good leverage against straight-line rushers and can use his hands to lock up defenders. His great awareness and instinct for the position will impress any scout.
He spent his senior year improving his strength, but can still struggle to hold off against explosive, power rushers. O'Dowd is limited some athletically and can have trouble moving in traffic. O'Dowd had good intangibles and the athletic talent to warrant some consideration in the early part of Day 2. If he is able to show more strength, he could move up."
Fanatical FootBall Fiend on Kristofer O'Dowd
When I evaluate any prospect, 1% of it derives from my own analysis of The Tape, and 99% of it is my evaluation of the evaluators: Those guys, quoted and linked, above, whose expertise DWARFS mine.
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Kristofer O'Dowd displays excellent Launch Speed: His initial burst is excellent. However, he's not a natural Croucher, so his ability to Anchor and sustain is, frankly, dependent on his Adversary. He lacks Power to move opposing Grizzlies in the Run Game, and he lacks Strength to thwart them in the Pass Game. And his Lateral Agility is also limited, which, combined with his lack of a natural Crouch, compromises his Viscosity: He may or may not be able to stick to the Block. He also lacks the Flanking Speed to be an effective Puller or Trapper.
His Launch Speed is vital, but simply not enough to overcome his weaknesses, barring a dramatic improvement in his Game: His lack of Strength, Power, and Agility ~ to say nothing of health issues ~ is very likely to prove to be crippling to his career. And yet he is generally ranked as the 2nd Center in this Draft Class.
BUST.
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As always, the preceding thoughts were regurgitated, derivative tripe, adding no value whatsoever, while in fact obliterating intelligent thought and offending the spirit of all decent men. You are now stupider for having read it, and are encouraged, in the strongest possible language, never to expose your eyes to this Site again.
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Kristofer O'Dowd displays excellent Launch Speed: His initial burst is excellent. However, he's not a natural Croucher, so his ability to Anchor and sustain is, frankly, dependent on his Adversary. He lacks Power to move opposing Grizzlies in the Run Game, and he lacks Strength to thwart them in the Pass Game. And his Lateral Agility is also limited, which, combined with his lack of a natural Crouch, compromises his Viscosity: He may or may not be able to stick to the Block. He also lacks the Flanking Speed to be an effective Puller or Trapper.
His Launch Speed is vital, but simply not enough to overcome his weaknesses, barring a dramatic improvement in his Game: His lack of Strength, Power, and Agility ~ to say nothing of health issues ~ is very likely to prove to be crippling to his career. And yet he is generally ranked as the 2nd Center in this Draft Class.
BUST.
***
As always, the preceding thoughts were regurgitated, derivative tripe, adding no value whatsoever, while in fact obliterating intelligent thought and offending the spirit of all decent men. You are now stupider for having read it, and are encouraged, in the strongest possible language, never to expose your eyes to this Site again.
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