Odighizuwa coming in for visit

[xwalker]

Yeah, I see all kinds of potential if he could learn to be a pass rusher. With Lawrence coming along, Hardy, all of the young DT talent, I really like our chances of developing a nice DL. I have concerns about the hip as well but I figure the Cowboys staff will know if it's worth the pick before we ever decided to do it.

It seems like the MRI or CT scans would be fairly definitive on the condition of his hip. He did play a full year of football after the surgery.

If they drafted OO and he and Lawrence he blew up, they could just give Hardy more snaps at DT in the Nickel which he did often in Carolina.

 

[Stash]

If Gurley is gone, OO is my top choice for the Cowboys at #27. As of today, Lawrence is the only DE the team has signed for 2016. In my opinion, that means it's still a significant need.

And this is a defense that likes to rotate players and attack opposing offenses in waves. Therefore, you can't have too many good pass rushers. The Giants rode an excellent group all the way to a championship just a few years ago, and beat some very good teams along the way.

Another positive is that having the luxury of Hardy puts less pressure on the player and the team for a rookie to produce big numbers, which they never do at the DE spot.

I think that Odighizuwa's talents outweigh his production in college as I feel the coaching and scheme did him no favors.

 

[Va_BoysFan4 Life]

There really is no reason, IMO, that he should not be able to be a pass rush DE. He has all the physical tools but he's really raw in his pass rush technique. A lot of that is probably scheme but ideally, you want a #1 pick to be a pass rusher. You can get Strong Side DEs later in the draft and some pretty good ones IMO. Having said this, I really think that he's worth the gamble now.

I see where you are going with it. Good observation. Question: Do Hardy play and will he play the left side of the D (Strong side)? I am not mistaken, the organization have stated he will be starting on the right side (weak) and moving DLaw to the right. is that accurate?

 

[unionjack8]

If the Cowboys are OK with his medical, I would list him as one of the top probabilities at #27.

i agree, those hips worry e to death but itappears the fit is good

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

It seems like the MRI or CT scans would be fairly definitive on the condition of his hip. He did play a full year of football after the surgery.

If they drafted OO and he and Lawrence he blew up, they could just give Hardy more snaps at DT in the Nickel which he did often in Carolina.

Yes. It provides all kinds of flexibility along the DL. Possibilities are endless.

 

[BermyStar]

Gotta at least bring him in, the possibility of him being BPA is strong. Our doctors get to give him a thorough check when he comes for a visit right?

Yeah the doctor's can dissect him.

 

[ccb04]

We have Hardy who is a solid Pass Rusher. I think your #1 pick has to be able to contribute and start at some point in the 1st year. 2nd year at the latest. I didn't think that OO could be that 1st year pass rusher that I felt like we needed at the time. Now that we have Hardy as the pass rusher, I think the gamble to develop OO as a pass rusher is acceptable. I do think that at worst, he can be a Strong Side DE and play the run very well. If it works out and you can have an OO as a Weakside Pass Rusher and move Hardy to the Strong Side, the possibilities are very encouraging. Of course, this would mean that we would have to resign Hardy but I think that we will do that unless I am totally wrong about that guy.

Hardy can of course play either DE spot & a bit of 3-tech...but the Cowboys have already said he'll primarily play/start at RDE. And then there's Lawrence...whom they gave up 2 picks for & who began to show up in the playoffs.

OO makes sense to me because Hardy is on a 1-yr. deal & Mincey is in the final year of his contract. Not to mention injuries, which they had plenty of in the front 7 last season. If unable to re-sign Hardy, that could still give them a young & potentially solid DE combo moving forward...and both could possibly play either side. Adding OO (actually with signing Hardy & having Lawrence healthy)...could also allow Mincey to slide inside next to Crawford in the nickel/on 3rd downs. Over his career, Mincey has been a fairly solid interior rusher. With the injuries to Spencer, Lawrence, Gardner, etc. lat year, Mincey was basically forced to stay at DE in the nickel.

Even without the draft, Dallas could have a similar line to the one Marinelli had with the Bears in 2012.

2012 Bears - LDE: Idonije/Wootton (7 sacks ea.), Melton (6 sacks), Paea (2.5 sacks), Peppers (11.5 sacks)

2015 Boys - LDE: Lawrence/Mincey, Crawford, Brent?, Hardy

Potential nickel/3rd down DL - LDE: Lawrence, DT: Mincey, DT Crawford, RDE: Hardy

OO could bolster & add potential versatility to the above...and essentially add some longer-term insurance if unable to retain Hardy. Even if they re-signed Hardy but chose to not attempt to re-sign the older Mincey...they'd still have a trio of Hardy, OO, and Lawrence. Be interesting to see how things play out. Also curious to see how long any potential suspension for Hardy might be.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

I see where you are going with it. Good observation. Question: Do Hardy play and will he play the left side of the D (Strong side)? I am not mistaken, the organization have stated he will be starting on the right side (weak) and moving DLaw to the right. is that accurate?

I think he will start on the Weakside but I suspect that if DLaw continues to build on what we saw late last season, he will be the Weakside DE eventually. If you draft OO, it would be he and DLaw if all went to plan. Hardy played a lot of SS DE in Carolina and with his power and agility, that's probably the better position for him if you have a guy who can play Weakside. You can take advantage of his skills much better on the Strongside IMO. I think they could consider DLaw on the Strong Side to begin with but I think they have a lot of options. You still have Mincy, Gardner, Edwards, Boatright and Crawford to compete for SDE so that can go a lot of ways.

 

[speedkilz88]

He is excellent against the run, and the reasoning for it is leverage. I was watching that USC film the other day and it's amazing how low O'Diggy gets. This allows him to capture strength advantage against bigger opponents. He's darn near the complete package. His inability to "run the arch" (i.e., bend the edge and finish on some sacks) limits his sack potential, but this guy will be a 8-10 sack and very good against the run starting LDE.

Stop making him sound like Marcus Spears. (People were saying the same thing about him before and after the draft) Hopefully it was the scheme holding him back.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Local product from Katy Texas LSU DE Daniele Hunter is a better pass rushing prospect than OO.

Liking several choices along the DLine whom could be there @27, including Hunter, Brown, Dupree and Golden...even Preston Smith out of Mississippi State over OO.

 

[reddyuta]

Stop making him sound like Marcus Spears. (People were saying the same thing about him before and after the draft) Hopefully it was the scheme holding him back.

nope ,thats pretty much it.If he can stay healthy he will be productive but he will lucky to have a Spencer like career.

 

[xwalker]

Local product from Katy Texas LSU DE Daniele Hunter is a better pass rushing prospect than OO.

Liking several choices along the DLine whom could be there @27, including Hunter, Brown, Dupree and Golden...even Preston Smith out of Mississippi State over OO.

Based on what?

They both played 13 games in 2014. Hunter had 1.5 sacks and OO had 6 sacks. Hunter played as a 4-3 DE which is more advantageous to getting sacks than the 3-4 DE position that OO played.

Their measured speed was similar with OO weighing 15 pounds more than Hunter.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Based on what?

They both played 13 games in 2014. Hunter had 1.5 sacks and OO had 6 sacks. Hunter played as a 4-3 DE which is more advantageous to getting sacks than the 3-4 DE position that OO played.

Their measured speed was similar with OO weighing 15 pounds more than Hunter.

Speed, quicks, health, stiffness and future potential.

 

[tm1119]

Since when does having surgery mean you are forever fragile? This is what I'm trying to understand. If a guy is currently injured and his future is in question it's 1 thing, but I don't understand how you shy away from a guy who just played an entire year with no problems. Are people here doctors with x rays of his hips? If he was being red flagged I think we would have heard about it by now. If actual doctors say his hip is ok then it's good enough for me. What do you think the % of football players who have had some kind of serious surgery before their age 30 season is? It's gotta be way up there.

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Since when does having surgery mean you are forever fragile? This is what I'm trying to understand. If a guy is currently injured and his future is in question it's 1 thing, but I don't understand how you shy away from a guy who just played an entire year with no problems. Are people here doctors with x rays of his hips? If he was being red flagged I think we would have heard about it by now. If actual doctors say his hip is ok then it's good enough for me. What do you think the % of football players who have had some kind of serious surgery before their age 30 season is? It's gotta be way up there.

'Way farther up there' are the ones that can't play anymore by 30 years old, because they've had a serious injury.

 

[darthseinfeld]

Its good to see them bringing in some rushers. It almost seemed like they were entirely focused on HB and CB at 27

 

[xwalker]

Speed, quicks, health, stiffness and future potential.

In other words OO had hip surgery and Hunter didn't.

 

[AsthmaField]

I don't know... I'm just not crazy about OO but lord knows I've been wrong before. Nothing about his game really jumps out at me.

I mean, I'm pretty sure Marinelli knows a little more about defensive linemen than I do, so if they like him, then I will like him, but for right now, I'd rather go in another direction at 27.

 

[CowboysLaw87]

I don't know... I'm just not crazy about OO but lord knows I've been wrong before. Nothing about his game really jumps out at me.

I mean, I'm pretty sure Marinelli knows a little more about defensive linemen than I do, so if they like him, then I will like him, but for right now, I'd rather go in another direction at 27.

Which direction do you prefer? Just curious.

 

[Rogerthat12]

Seems like a nice enough guy but worry a lot about those really bad hips, he is very raw and a little stiff for an elite pass rusher.

No @27.

Gimme' Teammate Eric Kendricks over OO.

JMhumbleOO

You nailed it, he is not an elite pass rusher, he can get pressure and penetrate but lacks the explosiveness and bend which is a trait elite pass rushers have already.

I do think he could be a solid player, just will have to see how he develops in the NFL.