does anyone know anything about okoye? i see so many ppl interested in drafting him to be robertson's replacement at NT but it seems to me that he is dewayne II. they both are 6'1 320, and both played in 4-3 schemes. it's not like louisville played a 3-4 defense so okoye is accustomed to that position. dewayne has taken a year to adapt to the 3-4 NT position and who is to say that okoye wouldn't need time to adapt as well. so why would we want to replace robertson with someone that is just like him? besides his extremely young age, he seems like a very good prospect (might even be like dewayne, have a great combine, and shoot up the boards and be overdrafted) but doesn't seem like the end all answer at NT. anyone that actually watched UL play and has seen this kid a lot please clarify what his strengths and weaknesses are, and why we would even consider him with robertson who is 24, still on our team.
He has a wider base than D rob and has longer arms, making it easier for him to take space and create seperation from himself and the defender. That in itself would make him a good candidate at nose long term D rob is quicker off the snap and has a better motor, and has done pretty well at NT for us. The only thing is, as good as he is at NT...he'd be even better at DE. Okoye is an interesting prospect. The problem is, I doubt he'll be there at #26, and even if he is, he will not be ready for a full time role in 07.
a lot of the fans are high on okoye, i haven't seen him much but i'll take their word for it. the NT i like is pitcock out of OSU, but some say he's not good in the 3-4. the chances are he will be there at 26
Pitcock played DT in college not NT. His spot in the 3-4 would be at DE. He is certainly a possibility as he is very smart, tough, and his size and motor would be a good fit at that spot. But by no means is he an NT in any scheme.
If he's the same weight and height as DRob then hes not the guy, unless he is some freak of nature I say no. We need a big fat strong NT.
Just b/c he is the same height and weight does not mean he is the same build. D rob played well at NT most of the year, but what makes him a better candidate at De..is he does not have have the ideal wide base and long arms to man the middle. Okoye has a wider base to take up more space(and add more weight btw) and also has longer arms to create seperation.
yeah but im not sure its worth it to get another player that is very similar to one we already have, especially since we have locked up robertson to a ridiculous contract. i feel like RE-carriker NT-robertson LE-ellis is better than: RE-robertson NT-okoye LE-ellis especially since you point out that robertson has shorter arm. how can he at 6'1 317 expect to take on 6'6 OTs considering they will be just as strong and much too tall to contend with. if Drobs arms are too short, he will not be around to go around the OTs not even to mention the lack of speed rushing off the edge. he must stay inside where the guards and centers are shorter, stockier players with shorter arms like himself.
D rob's strength to this point is still quickness/power off the snap and the ability to get penetration. At DE he would still be playing a 2 gap, but not quite as predominantly. He'd have 1 on 1 match-ups far more often which would allow him to make more plays. If you go back and watch the moments where D rob played de(alot in the celevland game) he was constantly in the backfield making plays and causing disruptions w/o selling out his role. The only similarities between Okoye and Robertson are that both are the same height/weight and both are pretty athletic. After that... Robertson: Quicker, faster, and more powerful...Best suited for penetration and disruption Okoye: Stronger, wider base, and long arms...can still put on 15-20 lbs of muscle.. Best suited long term as an NT. I'm not saying by all means draft Okoye..but he is worth considering as he has alot of potential for that type of role.
I say keep it simple. Sign a NT that we know will be effective immediately and move Robertson to DE. Next year we are playing tougher opponents and have no time to be waiting for people to develop. Case closed.
It is really hard to gauge the DT of this draft. Is it me, or does it seem like it is a relatively weak crop of senior tackles?
haha. okoye is NOT even close to being 320 lbs. he looks a lot more like 290 right now. i have no clue why people think he can be a great run stopper with that kind of size in the nfl. he's very sloppy with his technique and VERY inconsistent. typical boomb or bust guy. i'd take a look at him with our 2nd pick in round 2 but thats about it. plus he's not a pass rusher. i dont know where the robertson comparisons come from. okoye is not quick at all.
I agree on Okoye's weight. I don't think he's 320. He seems very light to me. I think he has great technique and will be a very solid lineman, I just think he might be more suited to an end role, and I don't see him as a typical nosetackle. -X-
The kid is smart and tough. He graduated high school early and started for Louisville as a 16 year old.
I thought this was fantasy matchup, like in Rocky Balboa...CHRISTIAN Okoye vs. Dewayne. In that case, The Nigerian Nightmare would run him over every time.
Jamal Williams of SD and Jason Ferguson of Dallas are both about 305 and do fine at NT....... Size isn't everything
not to mention, Okoye is so young and has the frame to add some extra weight, especially in muscle. cheers
Yea I agree here, Wilfork was not nearly as big in college as he is now, he has put on 15-20 lbs I believe. Nobody we draft this year will be a difference maker at NT next year, that position takes time and reps. We have to try and be creative in FA, or give Pouha a shot.
