The Buccaneers need help with their pass rush, and Emmanuel Ogbah is making a pre-draft visit. We profile the defensive end here.
The pre-draft prep season is in full swing, and the Buccaneers have a team to build. 6-10 was a good first step, and Bucs Nation has bigger things on their minds as we head into the 2016 season. The draft is the time to re-tool the roster and infuse young talent, ready to wear the Pewter for years to come.
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The Bucs need a pass rusher, and one has a visit to Tampa on their schedule. Emmanuel Ogbah, formerly of Oklahoma State, is going to be meeting with the team, according to Pro Football Talk, who spoke with him during this past week.
Let’s continue with our profile series, and take a look at the young man. Here are his college stats:
Defense & Fumbles
| Tackles | Def Int | Fumbles | |||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | School | Conf | Class | Pos | G | Solo | Ast | Tot | Loss | Sk | Int | Yds | Avg | TD | PD | FR | Yds | TD | FF |
| *2013 | Oklahoma State | Big 12 | FR | DE | 13 | 15 | 5 | 20 | 6.0 | 4.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| *2014 | Oklahoma State | Big 12 | SO | DE | 13 | 38 | 12 | 50 | 13.0 | 10.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | |||
| 2015 | Oklahoma State | Big 12 | JR | DE | 13 | 42 | 21 | 63 | 16.5 | 12.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 3 | |||
| Career | Oklahoma State | 95 | 38 | 133 | 35.5 | 26.5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 5 |
It is not hard to tell that this player has lived in the offensive backfield over the last two seasons. 19.5 TFL’s and 22.5 sacks tell the story there. Now let’s have a look at the measurable, and his performance at the combine:
MEASURABLES:
HEIGHT: 6’4″
WEIGHT: 273 POUNDS
HANDS: 10″
ARM LENGTH: 35.5″
For anyone that is interested in comparing the size of players, his arms are a good 1.5″ longer than the arms of J.J. Watt. His height and weight compare similarly to Charles Johnson of the Panthers.
At the combine, Ogbah shined, posting top figures in the Forty Yard Dash, Vertical Jump, and Broad Jump. Here are the experts comments from his draft profile:
"Strengths: Thick, powerful frame with broad shoulders. Came into school undersized but has grown into his frame with weight work. Able to absorb contact and play through it. Tough for linemen to redirect and is too much for tight ends one-on-one against the run. Some of the most power hand slaps you will find in college football. Able to brush away a weak punch with ease. At times, flashes unusual ability to trim the edge with power over speed. Uses power and a late rip move to win around corner. Plus speed-to-power rusher who created instant bull rush movement. Has power to win at the point of attack and capture the neutral zone while posting consistent production. Has posted a full sack or more in 16 of his last 21 games and finished 2015 with 17.5 tackles for losses. Has played both end positions, bumped inside and plays with a hand up and down.Weaknesses: Shows some stiffness in his hips and is not a dynamic athlete. Inconsistent awareness. Reaction time can be quick, but awareness of developing plays needs improvement. Short-circuits his point of attack power when he turns his shoulders and gets washed down. Limited stride length hurts upfield burst. One speed pass rusher who is easy to find. Unable to burn the edges with quickness. Needs to disengage more quickly from bull rushes. Could stand to step up his motor and pursuit effort."
Well, that’s enough for the straight talk. Let’s look at some tape and we will talk on the other side.
Ogbah’s speed is undeniable. If he beats his man off of the line, and can use his long arms to move him to the side, he is in the backfield before anyone knows the difference. There is one play, early in the Baylor tape, where he comes from the other side of the field. It’s no wonder that he has posted so many TFL’s and sacks. He gets back there quickly and can close.
Where Ogbah runs into a problem is when he can’t beat his man with sheer speed and arms. NFL tackles are not going to be beaten with a first step too often. A pass rusher needs to be able to crouch and display a wide variety of pass rush moves to counteract his opponent. Even on the tape shown here, if he meets a guy head-on, the offensive player can keep him at bay, because he is the one with the leverage, not Ogbah. Ogbah plays too straight up, so he has nothing he can do once the guy gets his hands on him. That will not serve him well because NFL linemen know all the speed guys. A tackle with even an average slide step will give Ogbah fits.
Next: Potential Mid-Round Buccaneers
There is a reason his grade seems to be one of a low first round to early second round. First round might be a bit too high. If I were Jason Licht, I wouldn’t look at this guy at number nine, but I would give him some thought at 38.
What say you, Bucs Nation?