Dragon ~ Owamagbe Odighizuwa ~ Los Angeles Bruins ~ 6033/267
Regarding Dragons
Throughout the FootBall World, Defenses are in the process of undergoing spectacular Disruption and Revolution. Old Roles are getting dramatically transformed, and virtually every Front 7 ~ or Front 6!! ~ Defensive Job Description is transitioning into an Hybrid Role where the Defender is asked to excel in multiple Roles and multiple Fronts.
For that reason, and in order to offer NomenClature that speaks not to archaic, obsolete "Positions", but rather to Skill Sets that accurately reflect the dynamic Changes of the 21st Century Game and the Roles they have spawned, I have undertaken to craft Terminology that is designed to break Skill Sets down as they really are.
Defensive Coordinators have, since Time Immemorial, employed highly creative terminology in devising Defenses and in designating Assignments. In that Spirit, I have admittedly indulged myself considerably in devising the following NomenClature. It is undeniably colorful, but I like to think that there's an underlying Logic, as well:
Dragons ~ This is my terminology for Players who may've played either Defensive End or what you Earthlings call "OutSide LineBacker" in College, and who in any case possess the Size to player either at the next level. They would generally be deployed as Ends in a 43 or as "OutSide LineBackers" in a 34, and have even been known to get deployed as Interior Rushers in the Nascar Package. The Prototype would generally be somewhere around 6050/265 or so.
Of course, where and how any given Coach chooses to deploy his Players is his Business. Players that I characterize as Dragons may often or even routinely line up anywhere, on any given Down. My only purpose is simply to identify what I perceive as Skill Sets, to distinguish types, if you will, and perhaps create a universal Point of Reference.
Dragons in a 43 are Defensive Linemen, but Dragons in a 34, for instance, are off the Line and may be asked to drop into Pass Coverage from time to time, so that capacity ~ observed or inferred is going to be part of my Evaluations.
When evaluating Dragons, this is how I break down the Attributes to which I pay most particular attention:
Power: Above all: Core Power. Torso Power is important, but Core Power, from the Knees to the Ribs, is absolutely crucial. All the upper body strength in the world still fails if you can't dig in your heels. But Core Power enables a Defensive Lineman to project Power in the Passing Game and to reject Power in the Running Game.
Agility: Launch Velocity, Acceleration, and above all: Fluidity or Core Agility. Core Agility is even more essential to sustained good Health ~ and to sustained good FootBall ~ than Core Power. The ability to react with Serpentine smoothness is a tremendous asset in all Aspects of the Game, and certainly in the Hand to Hand Combat that characterizes Trench Warfare. All the Power in the World goes only so far if you're stiff and lumbering out there.
Combat Skills: Paw Power, Mechanics ~ Hand Speed & Positioning ~ and of course: Frame.
Intangibles: Processing Speed and Motor. Processing Speed or Diagnostic Velocity is about how quickly and effectively one Reads & Reacts to how the Rapidly Roiling Tactical LandScape effects Blocking Schemes, and Motor is about Endurance and Drive: How much Work has been put into Conditioning, and how it manifests itself.
Run Defense: Power, Agility, Combat Skills, Navigating Traffic, Processing Speed, Motor, and Tackling.
Pass Coverage: Agility, Processing Speed, and Catch Point Capacity.
Pass Rush: Power, Agility, and Combat Skills.
Broken down into SubCategories, it'd go something like this:
Broken down into SubCategories, it'd go something like this:
Power
* Core Power ~ lower body Power. Core Power trumps Torso Power. Tyrannosaurus Rex had exceptional Core Power.
* Torso Power ~ upper Body Power. Important, but not crucial. T Rex had lousy Torso Power...yet was King.
* Anchoring Strength against the Run.
* Drive Power in the Pass Rush.
Agility
* Fluidity, above all things: Core Agility & Flexibility makes everything possible.
* Launch Velocity ~ Speed into Contact off the Snap.
* Acceleration ~ Short Speed or Quickness.
Combat Skills
* Paw Power ~ The Power & Speed of the initial Punch.
* Paw Velocity ~ How active the Hands are.
* Paw Positioning ~ It's all about Angles & Leverage.
* Frame ~ Above all: WingSpan.
Intangibles
* Processing Speed ~ Field Vision. Rapidly Reading & Reacting to the Offense.
* Motor ~ Intensity and Duration.
Run Defense
* Power
* Agility
* Combat Skills
* Navigating Traffic
* Processing Speed
* Motor
* Tackling
Pass Coverage
* Agility
* Processing Speed
* Catch Point Capacity
Pass Rush
* Power
* Agility
* Combat Skills
For that reason, and in order to offer NomenClature that speaks not to archaic, obsolete "Positions", but rather to Skill Sets that accurately reflect the dynamic Changes of the 21st Century Game and the Roles they have spawned, I have undertaken to craft Terminology that is designed to break Skill Sets down as they really are.
Defensive Coordinators have, since Time Immemorial, employed highly creative terminology in devising Defenses and in designating Assignments. In that Spirit, I have admittedly indulged myself considerably in devising the following NomenClature. It is undeniably colorful, but I like to think that there's an underlying Logic, as well:
Dragons ~ This is my terminology for Players who may've played either Defensive End or what you Earthlings call "OutSide LineBacker" in College, and who in any case possess the Size to player either at the next level. They would generally be deployed as Ends in a 43 or as "OutSide LineBackers" in a 34, and have even been known to get deployed as Interior Rushers in the Nascar Package. The Prototype would generally be somewhere around 6050/265 or so.
Of course, where and how any given Coach chooses to deploy his Players is his Business. Players that I characterize as Dragons may often or even routinely line up anywhere, on any given Down. My only purpose is simply to identify what I perceive as Skill Sets, to distinguish types, if you will, and perhaps create a universal Point of Reference.
Dragons in a 43 are Defensive Linemen, but Dragons in a 34, for instance, are off the Line and may be asked to drop into Pass Coverage from time to time, so that capacity ~ observed or inferred is going to be part of my Evaluations.
When evaluating Dragons, this is how I break down the Attributes to which I pay most particular attention:
Power: Above all: Core Power. Torso Power is important, but Core Power, from the Knees to the Ribs, is absolutely crucial. All the upper body strength in the world still fails if you can't dig in your heels. But Core Power enables a Defensive Lineman to project Power in the Passing Game and to reject Power in the Running Game.
Agility: Launch Velocity, Acceleration, and above all: Fluidity or Core Agility. Core Agility is even more essential to sustained good Health ~ and to sustained good FootBall ~ than Core Power. The ability to react with Serpentine smoothness is a tremendous asset in all Aspects of the Game, and certainly in the Hand to Hand Combat that characterizes Trench Warfare. All the Power in the World goes only so far if you're stiff and lumbering out there.
Combat Skills: Paw Power, Mechanics ~ Hand Speed & Positioning ~ and of course: Frame.
Intangibles: Processing Speed and Motor. Processing Speed or Diagnostic Velocity is about how quickly and effectively one Reads & Reacts to how the Rapidly Roiling Tactical LandScape effects Blocking Schemes, and Motor is about Endurance and Drive: How much Work has been put into Conditioning, and how it manifests itself.
Run Defense: Power, Agility, Combat Skills, Navigating Traffic, Processing Speed, Motor, and Tackling.
Pass Coverage: Agility, Processing Speed, and Catch Point Capacity.
Pass Rush: Power, Agility, and Combat Skills.
Broken down into SubCategories, it'd go something like this:
Broken down into SubCategories, it'd go something like this:
Power
* Core Power ~ lower body Power. Core Power trumps Torso Power. Tyrannosaurus Rex had exceptional Core Power.
* Torso Power ~ upper Body Power. Important, but not crucial. T Rex had lousy Torso Power...yet was King.
* Anchoring Strength against the Run.
* Drive Power in the Pass Rush.
Agility
* Fluidity, above all things: Core Agility & Flexibility makes everything possible.
* Launch Velocity ~ Speed into Contact off the Snap.
* Acceleration ~ Short Speed or Quickness.
Combat Skills
* Paw Power ~ The Power & Speed of the initial Punch.
* Paw Velocity ~ How active the Hands are.
* Paw Positioning ~ It's all about Angles & Leverage.
* Frame ~ Above all: WingSpan.
Intangibles
* Processing Speed ~ Field Vision. Rapidly Reading & Reacting to the Offense.
* Motor ~ Intensity and Duration.
Run Defense
* Power
* Agility
* Combat Skills
* Navigating Traffic
* Processing Speed
* Motor
* Tackling
Pass Coverage
* Agility
* Processing Speed
* Catch Point Capacity
Pass Rush
* Power
* Agility
* Combat Skills
Owamagbe Odighizuwa Scouting Report
Power: Extraordinary. Tremendous Anchoring Strength against the Run and outstanding Drive Power in the Pass Rush.
Agility: Impressive. Phenomenal Launch Velocity. Mediocre Fluidity, however. Adequate Acceleration.
Combat Skills: Exceptional. Awesome Paw Power. Decent, improving Pass Rushing Repertoire. Outstanding Paw Velocity.
Intangibles: Impressive. Mediocre Diagnostic Velocity and Field Vision, but a phenomenal Motor.
Run Defense: Excellent, provided he's deployed as a 43 End for the most part. Diggy has the Frame of a Dragon, and so could conceivably play 34 Sam MidFielder or 34 Will MidFielder, but his Fluidity is mediocre, his Acceleration is only adequate, and his Processing Speed isn't up to snuff, yet, so I don't believe that deploying in the Open Field would play to'is Strengths. However, his tremendous Anchoring Strength, awesome Paw Power, outstanding Paw Velocity, and phenomenal Motor persuade me that he'd be a monster against the Run as a 43 Defensive End.
Pass Coverage: Deficient. Diggy has tremendous Straight Line Speed, both Long Speed and Short Speed, but his Fluidity is not impressive, nor is his Acceleration or his Processing Speed and Field Vision.
Pass Rush: Tremendous. He lacks Fluidity, but with that phenomenal Launch Velocity, outstanding Drive Power, awesome Paw Power, ferocious Paw Velocity, and a relentless, raging Motor, Diggy may not Close The Deal with a Sack very often, but I believe that he will consistently and frequently disrupt the Pocket, Make Merry Mayhem, and flush out terrified QuarterBacks for his Mates to devour. And that, Ladies & Laddies, makes him an Impact Player.
Broken down into SubCategories, it'd go something like this:
Agility: Impressive. Phenomenal Launch Velocity. Mediocre Fluidity, however. Adequate Acceleration.
Combat Skills: Exceptional. Awesome Paw Power. Decent, improving Pass Rushing Repertoire. Outstanding Paw Velocity.
Intangibles: Impressive. Mediocre Diagnostic Velocity and Field Vision, but a phenomenal Motor.
Run Defense: Excellent, provided he's deployed as a 43 End for the most part. Diggy has the Frame of a Dragon, and so could conceivably play 34 Sam MidFielder or 34 Will MidFielder, but his Fluidity is mediocre, his Acceleration is only adequate, and his Processing Speed isn't up to snuff, yet, so I don't believe that deploying in the Open Field would play to'is Strengths. However, his tremendous Anchoring Strength, awesome Paw Power, outstanding Paw Velocity, and phenomenal Motor persuade me that he'd be a monster against the Run as a 43 Defensive End.
Pass Coverage: Deficient. Diggy has tremendous Straight Line Speed, both Long Speed and Short Speed, but his Fluidity is not impressive, nor is his Acceleration or his Processing Speed and Field Vision.
Pass Rush: Tremendous. He lacks Fluidity, but with that phenomenal Launch Velocity, outstanding Drive Power, awesome Paw Power, ferocious Paw Velocity, and a relentless, raging Motor, Diggy may not Close The Deal with a Sack very often, but I believe that he will consistently and frequently disrupt the Pocket, Make Merry Mayhem, and flush out terrified QuarterBacks for his Mates to devour. And that, Ladies & Laddies, makes him an Impact Player.
Broken down into SubCategories, it'd go something like this:
Owamagbe Odighizuwa Prospectus
At 6033/267, Owamagbe Odighizuwa certainly has the Frame to play an Hybrid Role, but to me he seems to be very clearly cut out to play primarily Defensive End in a 43 Front, and spend most of his Snaps deployed on the Line.
With time, his Instincts will presumably improve, but right now it seems to me that his lack of Fluidity, combined with mediocre Processing Speed, would render'm a Liability in Pass Coverage.
And even though he might not be asked to do much of that as a 34 MidFielder, I believe that those same Attributes would render'm a potential Liability against the Run, as well, because his Responsibilities would be far more complex in that Alignment than as 43 End, thus playing directly against those two Weaknesses: Processing Speed & Fluidity.
Deployed primarily as a 43 End, though, or even conceivably as a 1 Gapping 34 End, and in either case with perhaps more than the occasional foray into the Interior Line, I believe that Odighizuwa's powerful and dynamic combination of explosive Launch Velocity, outstanding Drive Power, violent Combat Skills, and relentless Motor would render'm a Pass Rushing Terror. And I believe that those very same Attributes would make for a deliciously brutal Run Defender.
He looks like the kind of Defender who'll rarely rack up the actual Sack, but who'll regularly Wreak Havoc in Opponent's BackFields, blowing up Plays and creating Disruption. And that, Ladies & Laddies, makes him an Impact Player.
Grateful Thanks, as always, for the crucial Work done by the folks at Draft BreakDown!!
With time, his Instincts will presumably improve, but right now it seems to me that his lack of Fluidity, combined with mediocre Processing Speed, would render'm a Liability in Pass Coverage.
And even though he might not be asked to do much of that as a 34 MidFielder, I believe that those same Attributes would render'm a potential Liability against the Run, as well, because his Responsibilities would be far more complex in that Alignment than as 43 End, thus playing directly against those two Weaknesses: Processing Speed & Fluidity.
Deployed primarily as a 43 End, though, or even conceivably as a 1 Gapping 34 End, and in either case with perhaps more than the occasional foray into the Interior Line, I believe that Odighizuwa's powerful and dynamic combination of explosive Launch Velocity, outstanding Drive Power, violent Combat Skills, and relentless Motor would render'm a Pass Rushing Terror. And I believe that those very same Attributes would make for a deliciously brutal Run Defender.
He looks like the kind of Defender who'll rarely rack up the actual Sack, but who'll regularly Wreak Havoc in Opponent's BackFields, blowing up Plays and creating Disruption. And that, Ladies & Laddies, makes him an Impact Player.
Grateful Thanks, as always, for the crucial Work done by the folks at Draft BreakDown!!
Yank Rank: Beast ~ Par Value!!
| Market Value 1st/2nd Round | Yankee Grade 1st/2nd Round |
Please do Note: This and all Evaluations issued by this Site are produced by a ludicrously unqualified Amateur, privy to not even the tiniest fraction of Coach's Tape, Scouting Expertise, Face to Face Interviewing, Experience, or Inside Information enjoyed by the Professionals. As such, anything put forth is certainly misinformed, euphonious, derivative Tripe, and should be rejected out'f hand and indeed shunned by all men and women of Good Will!!
In EarthSpeak: Virtually all of my opinions are inferred.
I'm trying to discern Power, Agility, Combat Skills, and far more abstract, esoteric Concepts such as Processing Speed and Motor, and I'm trying to do so based almost entirely on a fascinating fusion of Tape, Combine Numbers, and Pro Days, while trying to attenuate my findings based on Allowances for Competition Level, Scheme, Concept, Context, and, above all: Trajectory!! None of this is even remotely a Complaint, mind you, but rather a Warning!! Caveat Emptor!!
In EarthSpeak: Virtually all of my opinions are inferred.
I'm trying to discern Power, Agility, Combat Skills, and far more abstract, esoteric Concepts such as Processing Speed and Motor, and I'm trying to do so based almost entirely on a fascinating fusion of Tape, Combine Numbers, and Pro Days, while trying to attenuate my findings based on Allowances for Competition Level, Scheme, Concept, Context, and, above all: Trajectory!! None of this is even remotely a Complaint, mind you, but rather a Warning!! Caveat Emptor!!
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