Prospect Watch: S Obi Melifonwu

Obi Melifonwu - Next Gen?

by Douglas O'Connor
you can follow on Twitter HERE

     No one created more buzz at the NFL Combine than Henry William Obiajulu Melifonwu. A feat that is even more impressive once you factor in that the fastest 40 yard dash time ever was set during the same event. Melifonwu's size to speed to power to weight ratio is something that makes NFL GM's and scouts sit up and take serious notice.

     Even with his other worldly combine numbers not all NFL Draft analyzers are sold that he is a first round talent. We are having a similar debate inside the walls of Real Bucs Talk HQ. Myself who has been on Obi since the Senior Bowl, am admittedly in love with what he could bring to the secondary of our Tampa Bay Buccaneers. My shortsighted colleagues, Michael Pless and Mark Ramirez, are labeling him a project player that doesn't deserve any consideration when the Bucs pick at 19 in this years draft.

     If you are in my camp and like Melifonwu as a possibility at 19, this article will give you some background about Obi and how I think his skills will transfer to the NFL. If you side with Scrooge's, Ebenezer and McDuck, hopefully by the end of your read you will have left the dark side and reconsidered giving an immigrant from England a chance. Yes, Obi Melifonwu was born in England.

 

UNBELIEVABLE!

Obi Melifonwu (DB - @UConnFootball) has a 44" vertical jump. 😱😱😱 #NFLCombine pic.twitter.com/F3YCqaWdNo

— NFL (@NFL) March 6, 2017

Senior Bowl Week

     Melifonwu first came to my attention when I was going over the rosters for the Senior Bowl. Scanning positions that I felt are needs for the Bucs. WR, RB, TE then I came to S. 6'4" 220lbs! Who is this guy? After I did same digging I wasn't sold yet. The biggest red flag for me was his "lack of instincts" but I'll get to that later.  He also wasn't seen as an NFL cover ready safety. After a week of practice under NFL coaches (Bears) Obi put that stigma to rest. In one-on-one drills receiver after receiver couldn't shake him and by the end of the week Melifonwu had raised his draft stock as much as any player.

The Combine

     Just about every NFL scout will tell you that most important process during combine week is the medical. Side note. Some prospects are strapped in a isokinetic machine called a Cybrex. This machine is used to test strength of joints and surrounding muscles. If a player has had a shoulder, ankle or knee injury in college you can bet that teams are strapping them into one of these. I found this video to better explain what exactly an isokinetic machine looks like and does. I used this video because it goes over the reasons why the machine is used more than trying to achieve specific results. What does this have to do with Melifonwu? Absolutely nothing. I am just taking the chance to show you something that isn't discussed much, if at all in the media. Warning: The Video Is Boring.

   


    Okay back to Obi.

     You've probably read about his combine results by now but I'm going to go over them anyway. 6'4" 224lbs, 4.40 40 yard dash, 44" vertical jump and a 141" broad jump. All good enough for first place in each drill amongst safeties at the combine. Now he didn't run the 3 cone drill or the shuttle drills which measure speed in change of direction. That is a small red flag. Overall it's hard to argue that Melifonwu didn't have the best combine of the over 300+ players invited.

What Does It All Mean?

     Pundits of Obi Melifonwu will point to his lack of recognizing plays quickly. More of a reactive player, and his tape does show that. To this I say, coaching.

     Are all NFL head coaches the same? No, some are better than others. Are all NFL secondary coaches the same? No, some are better then others. Are all FBS head coaches the same? You can see where I'm going with this. How far down the coaching scale do you have to go before you get to the University of Connecticut secondary coach? It's not a knock on the U Conn coaching staff, cream just rises to the top and the top is the NFL.

     The Buccaneers need another safety. They carried 4 safeties on the 53 man roster all of last year and for the most part carried 2 more on the practice squad as well. The 2 best safeties will be off the board when it's the Bucs turn to pick at 19 in the first round and Melifonwu won't be there for the Bucs to select him in the second round at 50. So with needs at WR, RB, TE and possibly Edge why take Obi at 19?

     It's my belief that in 5 years there will be somewhere between 5-10 safeties in the NFL with Melifonwu's measurables. It's going to be the natural counter to all the 6'4"+ TE that run sub 4.6 40's coming into the league. This years combine TE group ran the fastest on average than any other in history. Led by Evan Engram's 4.42 at 234lbs, followed by O.J. Howard's 4.51 he's 251lbs folks. 

     Instead of waiting to play catch up. Be preemptive and take the guy now. It may take 6 games before he breaks into the starting lineup but you're set at safety for the next 5 years and when was the last time Buc fans could say that! #MicDrop

     Finally a little something for your viewing pleasure. (He was actually upset at his 44" vert! He wanted the all time record!)

😱11'9" Broad Jump
🆙44" Vertical Jump
🏃4.40s 40-yard Dash

🇬🇧-born safety @Obi_1nOnly was INCREDIBLE on Day 4 of the #NFLCombine pic.twitter.com/OWVIbksNES

— NFL UK (@NFLUK) March 7, 2017

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thanks for reading and as always GO BUCS!

Players To Watch: Combine Edition.

by Douglas O'Connor
follow me on Twitter HERE 

     It's that time of year Buc fans. Combine week!

     Excluding those of us who scour YouTube watching highlight videos of their favorite prospects. This will be the first time to get an up close look at players that will be drafted by your Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

     Below I'm going to write about some players that I like for the Bucs. Focusing on the positions that I think are needs for the team. Wide receiver, running back, safety, tight end and edge.

     I'm will be leaving out some top tier players. Prospects that I feel won't be there at 19 for the Bucs or are have received a ton of coverage already.

     All height and weights are nonofficial precombine numbers.

     Wide Receivers 

Omissions: Corey Davis, Mike Williams & John Ross

KD Cannon, Baylor: 5'11" 180lbs. If the Bucs want speed on the outside, this is a guy to watch. Eats up corner back cushions quickly and is a home run threat. Catches the ball against his body to much for my liking. Watch him in the Gauntlet drill to see if he is working on that part of his game. Late round developmental player. Rounds 5-7.

Amara Darboh, Michigan: 6'2" 215lbs. This guy is built to be a WR2. If he runs a sub 4.5 40, that could push him as high as the 2nd round. If he is around in the 4th take him and pat yourself on the back.

Isaiah Ford, Virginia Tech: 6'1" 195lbs. Quick, tall and thin. I think he could cause massive match up in the slot. Might have trouble when DB's get physical with him. Rounds 3-5.

Kenny Golladay, Northern Illinois: 6'4" 194lbs. This player just hit my radar. I'll be watching him closely and I think you should too. Jury is still out.

Carlos Henderson, LA Tech: 5'11" 191lbs. Another speed receiver. Henderson is moving up draft boards and also is an excellent returner. Huge one year of production. Round 2-3.

Zay Jones, ECU: 6'2" 202lbs. Another big board climber. Jones had an outstanding Senior Bowl week. If he duplicates that at the combine he will secure himself as a top 5 WR. Rounds 2-3.

Josh Reynolds, Texas A&M: 6'3" 187lbs. I like this guy for the Buccaneers. Good deep speed and high point receiver. Played for same college team as Mike Evans, so you know he will immediately take Josh under his wing. If drafted by the Bucs he will lineup at WR2 week 1. Rounds 2-3.

Draft Crush

ArDarius Stewart, Alabama: 5' 11" 204lbs. A lot like O.J. Howard, Stewart's potential was stunted by the run heavy Alabama offense. A superb athlete that you find ways to get the ball. I think Stewart has the opportunity to improve his draft grade more than any other WR at the combine. Lack of tape might scare some teams off early in the draft. Round 2-5.

Running Back

Omissions: Dalvin Cook, Leonard Fournette & Christian McCaffery

Tarik Cohen, NC A&T: 5'6" 179lbs. Nicknamed "The Human Joystick". Tarik believes that if you can't touch him you sure as hell can't tackle him. I don't think the Bucs have much interest in Cohen but he will be a fun watch during the combine. Round ???.

D'Onta Foreman, Texas: 6'0" 233lbs. Big and powerful with good feet and wiggle for a player his size. Some report a sub 4.5 40 coming in the combine. That will help. Poor blocking and average vision will hurt. Rounds 3-4

Wayne Gallman, Clemson: 6'0" 215lbs. One cut and go. Gallman might start his NFL career as a short yardage specialist. Needs to improve in pass protection to see the field consistently. Round 3-5.

Kareem Hunt, Toledo: 5' 10" 216lbs. Doesn't do anything outstanding but stay on his feet. His balance is outstanding. I also like his vision, just finds creases. Rounds 2-4

Marlon Mack, USF: 5'11" 213lbs. Local kid with break away speed. Great hips and big play ability. Fumbles way too much for a pro caliber RB. Rounds 3-4.

Freddie Stevenson, FSU: 6'0" 234lbs. One of only two fullbacks invited to the combine. Jason Licht has gone after a FB in each of the past two drafts. Stevenson is a devastating blocker that is athletic enough to be a weapon in the passing game. Rounds 6-7.

Draft Crush

Brian Hill, Wyoming: 6'1" 219lbs. If you like Doug Martin you will like Hill. Tough inside runner with good size and speed. I don't know what it is about this kid, I just like him. I'll be watching closely. Rounds 4-6.

Safety

Omissions: Jamal Adams & Malik Hooker

Budda Baker, Washington: 5'10" 180lbs. When a guy can just ball you quit caring about his measurables. His football instincts are off the charts and is damn near unblockable. If you are in need of a safety and you pick in the second half of the 1st round. Just take him and move on. Pro Bowl talent.

Eddie Jackson, Alabama: 6'0" 194lbs. Jackson broke his leg during the 2016 and has a lot to prove during the combine. Some critics think Jackson success was because of Alabama's front 7  more than his covering ability. Rounds, need to see his combine.

Draft Crush

Obi Melifonwu, UConn: 6'4" 219lbs. That's right 6'4" 219lbs. Obi was seen as just a box safety until Senior Bowl practices. WR after WR took their shot against Obi and couldn't shake him. He is going to test very well at the combine and could sneak into the 1st round. Rounds 1-3. 

Tight End

Omissions: O.J. Howard & David Njoku

Evan Engram, Ole Miss: Engram isn't getting much pub from Buc writers but to me he is the 2nd best tight end in this draft. He can play every receiver spot on the field. If he was a better blocker he'd be a sure fire round one pick. Rounds 1-2.

Michael Roberts, Toledo: 6'4" 270lbs. All he does is catch 1st downs and TD's. Raw route runner and blocker that ceiling is as high as anybodies at his position. Watching him move in the more precise drills will be telling. Rounds 3-6. 

Adam Shaheen, Ashland: 6'6" 278lbs. He can catch and he can move but he can't block. Shaheen has the frame and ability but hasn't had the coaching. A late round flyer that could pay big dividends. Rounds 5-7.

Draft Crush

Gerald Everett, South Alabama: 6'3" 239lbs. Blocks like you stole something from him and has good hands to boot. Fast for a player his size and has big YAC potential. Jason Licht is looking for a tight end that can run, catch and block on the pro level. This is my pick to fill that bill.

Edge

     To be honest I don't like the combine for evaluating edge rushers. The only opposition they face is a tackling dummy and tackling dummies don't have the best footwork. A few edge prospects have been linked to the Bucs so I'll give you a list of guys but game tape is the only way to find a guy you like.

The Big Names

Jonathan Allen Alabama, Derek Barnett Tennessee, Taco Charlton Michigan, Myles Garrett Texas A&M, Charles Harris Missouri & Solomon Thomas Stanford 

Tier Two

Carl Lawson Auburn, Haason Reddick Temple, Demarcus Walker FSU, Tim Williams Alabama & Chris Wormley Michigan.

Best Of The Rest

Bryan Cox Jr. Florida, Trey Hendrickson FAU, Tanoh Kpassagnon Villanova, Avery Moss YSU & Jordan Willis KSU

     Well there you have it. My list of players to watch for the next 4 days. Hopefully these names will enrich your NFL Combine experience. 

     If you can't watch this years combine I will be Live Tweeting the action all 4 days, so give me a follow.

you can also follow Real Bucs Talk on Twitter HERE  

thanks for reading and as always GO BUCS!

Its Game Tape Then Interviews!

With the scouting combine less than a week away, we will find out more about all the attending draft prospects, as they try to improve their draft stock in front of all 32 teams. Each prospect participates in 4 main tests which is measurements, medical evaluations, team interviews, and agility tests. They are all important, but I feel the most important is the team interviews, and obviously the players game tape. The interviews are only 15 minutes, but a team can learn so much about a player during that short period, and it can sometimes make a team move that player up the board or completely off it.

Don't get me wrong, I love watching the position drills, and the 40 yard dash but rarely does it affect the team evaluators opinion of a player. Rather it will just confirm their thoughts of a player whether its good or bad. Here is a quote from Jason Licht from last years combine:per Buccaneers.com

“We put some value in it. For me and for most of my scouts - and this goes for scouts in general - the tape is the majority of the body of work that you go off of. But, the drills here and the measurements, the 40 and the vertical, they all can kind of cement our feelings about the player, good or bad.”

Here is more of Licht talking about being cautious about putting too much emphasis on these workouts:

“It’s always a trap. A lot of mistakes have been made over the past in the league with the fast risers, the guys that come out of nowhere this time of year. We like to- usually your purest evaluation of a player is what you’ve seen during the fall. You have some juniors or underclassmen that came out that you’re behind the 8-ball a little bit on. You’re trying to catch up with the rest of the class, but your most pure evaluation comes from what you saw in the fall or on tape.”

Licht is spot on here, as it is all about the game tape, and the interviews are equally important during these workouts and up coming pro days as it allows the team to really get a feel for the player. The team can tell if the player really loves football and is truly committed to this profession through the interview process. That is the one good thing that Jason Licht and his staff have done during his two drafts is finding guys that truly love football and are committed to the job. Lets hope for more of the same in 2016. Cant wait till next week, its going to be fun.