Originally posted by Giedi:
Originally posted by DeUh:
Originally posted by ace49ers:
Staley said all I wanted to hear. Okoye gonna beast for us when everything clicks.
This.
#futurefreak
agree!
Totally...block FG's, wedge-buster on ST's and spell Justin at RDE and continue to make huge strides. Staley is one of the very best LT's in the game. If he takes it on himself to give Okoye praise, that speaks volumes. My breakdown of his play is right in line with what he said too!
98 Lawrence Okoye: First play he fired up field at RDE and pinched outside/in forcing the RB inside (good) for a Moody tackle of 1 yard. Next play faked outside, in chasing the QB 12 yards back on a QB pressure (very well done; great hand work). Next play, got low initially (good) but raised up (bad) and as a result, got pushed backwards badly by #77 through the entire play. He quickly learns and on the next play pushes upfield, disengages the same blocker and makes a tackle for a ½ a yard gain on 2nd and goal from the 5. Good push and handwork on the next play. Monster push up the field on the next series and a blitz off his edge lead to a quick throw and an INT by Cook (had great leverage). Next series, nice push again, played off two blockers and nearly knocked down a pass (good awareness; dude has long arms esp. with that height!). Another good push on the next play but quick pass. Next play he played high and got pinched inside, got spun around and pushed back as the RB hit his hole for a first down for 8 yards (it was actually a double team; the G pushed his arms up high and at the same time the T fired down into his rib cage and got him spinning and going backwards); that's a hell of a technique! Do we do that? Next play he needed to continue to slide down the line like he was doing but play off the block just a tad quicker to make the tackle; unfortunately the NT, Purcell had already been pushed back FIVE yards by this point for a gaping hole so he had no chance to make the tackle. Great job firing through and past the LG, standing the FB up and forcing the RB into a TFL by Borland on that edge (great burst). Double-teamed by the LG/LT again on the next but quick pass incomplete. Good hand work all game long, playing off the double team while keeping his eye on the QB and pushing up field. Lined up wide right of the LT and bull rushed his ass (#77) all the way back to the heels of the QB for an official sack by Lemonier coming from the SAM. Another great job inside pushing up field forcing the RB inside for a 2 yard gain; this is where he got undercut by Dial unfortunately (looks like a high ankle sprain); he couldn't push off on the next play and went down. Bottom line? This dude is a keeper!
In another post, I noted how I was impressed with his hands, burst, leverage (minus two plays which happens to all our DEs from time to time, even Justin Smith), his monster bull rush, the QB pressure, his ability to keep his eyes on the QB/throw, making his way down the line, playing off blocks, etc. but perhaps, my favorite part was what Staley alluded too...he was sound in his gaps and assignments. He'd line up wide of the LT and bull rush him into the QB. Then he'd line up inside and help stuff the run for losses or generate a QB pressure. He'd play through one block and hold up another blocker to allow the blitzer to make a TFL, etc. He flat out looks like a Tomsula-coached NFL player with a monster ceiling to me and he certainly adds a complete game and more than Dobbs at this junction.
Dobbs is a very good and sound DE and has good containment and run-stuffing abilities but does not add a bull rush or pass rush ability thus far and is oft-injured (as well) IMHO (and I like Dobbs). So what are the coaches going to do? Keep him on potential and for his ceiling given he seems to have a bad high ankle sprain which usually takes 4-8 weeks to fully heal or I.R. him again (or cut him) or risk him to the P.S. Any predictions?
agree!
