Cowboys meeting with Obi Melifonwu today

[HookEmCowboys]

I could get on board with him being a 2nd round pick. I just think there's better players who will still be available at 28.

 

[skinsscalper]

I'm not going to pretend to know better than anyone else. I DO know that it's a bad idea to scout a player from "highlight" videos alone as they rarely give any type of glimpse into the player as a whole. But one thing is certain about highlight videos: they highlight a player at his best. With that being said, EVERY single "highlight" video I've seen of this kid has been vastly underwhelming.

I keep watching to see some kind of "wow" moment on tape and I've yet to see a single play where I said to myself "that dude is a must have". Again, I'm no expert and won't pretend to be but I've seen enough football to know if I've been impressed and this kid hasn't done it once in a single highlight vid I've seen. JMHO.

 

[Tristan]

With the big wr's in our division (Pryor, Marshall, Jeffrey) this guy could make alot of sense, Jones could jump to cb as well as needed to help smother those big slow guys. Il let the fo decide if hes worth 28 and/or the best player available as they have been on fire! If you have the right scheme/plan for this guy, he could be a force IMO

 

[Sasquatch]

That would be like insane.

Did you see how dominant UConn's secondary was with those two super athletic defenders patrolling out there?

I mean it was just aw. Uh. Wait.

Rut roh, raggy.

 

[Alexander]

I'm not going to pretend to know better than anyone else. I DO know that it's a bad idea to scout a player from "highlight" videos alone as they rarely give any type of glimpse into the player as a whole. But one thing is certain about highlight videos: they highlight a player at his best. With that being said, EVERY single "highlight" video I've seen of this kid has been vastly underwhelming.

I keep watching to see some kind of "wow" moment on tape and I've yet to see a single play where I said to myself "that dude is a must have". Again, I'm no expert and won't pretend to be but I've seen enough football to know if I've been impressed and this kid hasn't done it once in a single highlight vid I've seen. JMHO.

 

[Rogerthat12]

Obi has some ability and value in coverage but appears to struggle in run support by taking poor angles.

 

[skinsscalper]

Yep. Completely underwhelmed.

 

[rambo2]

I love the couch scouts who obviously spent a lot of time watching UConn games.

The kid is a stud. He'll go top 20.

I doubt it. 3rd round grade.

 

[HookEmCowboys]

I'm not going to pretend to know better than anyone else. I DO know that it's a bad idea to scout a player from "highlight" videos alone as they rarely give any type of glimpse into the player as a whole. But one thing is certain about highlight videos: they highlight a player at his best. With that being said, EVERY single "highlight" video I've seen of this kid has been vastly underwhelming.

I keep watching to see some kind of "wow" moment on tape and I've yet to see a single play where I said to myself "that dude is a must have". Again, I'm no expert and won't pretend to be but I've seen enough football to know if I've been impressed and this kid hasn't done it once in a single highlight vid I've seen. JMHO.

Agreed. I hadn't heard of him before joining this site, and I watch college football rather religiously. Watching film for myself - I think he's got pretty good ball skills but his tackling isn't that great for a dude that's as big as he is. CBs I can accept aren't physical or great tacklers, but it's one of those boxes you wanna check when it comes to S prospects.

 

[HookEmCowboys]

He missed literally the first tackle in the first video of that string there. He had a great angle on that play and missed it by a mile.

I mean, CMON MAN lol

 

[Alexander]

Yep. Completely underwhelmed.

I just want to see what PFF is raving about.

 

[skinsscalper]

I just want to see what PFF is raving about.

You and me both, my friend.

 

[Gaede]

I'm not opposed to this player in Rd 2.

I think there are 5 better safeties in a deep class. But I'd be ok with him as a consolation.

 

[rambo2]

I'm not opposed to this player in Rd 2.

I think there are 5 better safeties in a deep class. But I'd be ok with him as a consolation.

I can't wait to see which one they take. It could be Peppers, Baker, Jones, or King.

 

[Tristan]

Looks to me like he might be a more natural corner

 

[Brooksey]

Please do not draft this kid, I like Josh Jones and Budda Baker much better SMH...

I like Budda, he's a player but undersized, Josh has some weakness playing zone. Neither of those two guys will be Cowboys. Obi has a shot. He's a player too, don't know what your watching. He's not the run into the backfield ankle biter Budda is but he's an athletic freak on the back end who can shut down tight ends and play the box with physicality. He has shown great play in the red zone, plays great zone coverage, has good instincts, makes plays on the ball, undercuts throws nicely.

Upside is huge. I like him in the 2nd round.

 

[Alexander]

Looks to me like he might be a more natural corner

If you are actually asking yourself that question in a very deep secondary draft, you should already have an idea if he is a value at 28.

 

[Texas_Pete]

The Ringer has us drafting him:



"Dallas’s scouting department and front office highly value explosive athleticism (evidenced by their preference for prospects who test well in the SPARQ metric, an eight-input formula that aims to grade a player’s overall athleticism). That’s a big reason why they felt comfortable drafting Byron Jones in 2015 (thetop SPARQ corner in his class) and it’s a big reason they’ll have no problem reaching on another impressive SPARQ performer out of UConn in Melifonwu. At 6-foot-4, 224 pounds, he ran the 40 in 4.4 seconds, notched a 44-inch vert, and leapt for an 11-foot-9 broad jump at the combine. After losing defensive backs Barry Church, J.J. Wilcox, Brandon Carr, and Morris Claiborne in free agency, adding the versatile, über-athletic safety (who also took reps at cornerback at the Senior Bowl and his pro day) is just the ticket for Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli."

 

[Tristan]

If you are actually asking yourself that question in a very deep secondary draft, you should already have an idea if he is a value at 28.

Just looking at those highlights there were a few plays that stood out to me where he looked like he had pretty good cb ability as many have suggested. I hadnt really watched him much but I think I like him more if we think he could be a cb, hes not my personsl fave but if the staff loves him like jones I coukd see why. Id rather have Adore all day long personally

 

[ConceptCoop]

His measurables outshine his play on the field. That what I meant by "looks like Tarzan, plays like Jane."

He's a third round guy from what I hear. I'm not expert but he wouldn't be thought of at 28 without the combine.

If his measurables are worth a first and his tape worth a 3rd, meet in the middle and give him a second round grade.

I'm not an expert either. Nor do I make it a point to watch many UConn games. But, as a casual, I don't see what more people want from the SS spot. The production is there. He made plays in coverage; he was great run support; he showed coverage ability from the corner spot at the senior bowl. If he played at Michigan, he wouldn't be coming out of nowhere and would have received plenty of attention before the combine.

I do agree that he's likely not a top 30 pick without the combine. But we can't pretend the combine didn't happen and isn't a very important part of the process. There just aren't many guys who can do the things he can do at 6'3", 225 pounds. We're talking about a Julio Jones level athlete here. And don't forget that Julio wasn't a top 6 pick before his crazy combine either.