Saturday, March 18, 2017

Prospect Watch: S Obi Melifonwu


Obi Melifonwu - Next Gen?

by Douglas O'Connor
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     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.

 
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!)


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Friday, March 17, 2017

Prospect Watch: TE Evan Engram




We are getting closer to the NFL Draft as it is only 6 weeks away as teams are starting to finalize their draft boards. Pro days and private workouts will be the focus now as teams will make sure their top 150 board is set. Of course the Bucs draft board is already set according to Bucs Gm Jason Licht who has the board set by January. With that being said it is time for another prospect watch as I take a deeper look into TE/Hybrid Evan Engram out of Ole Miss. Engram has been rising up draft boards ever since his ridiculous workout at the combine in which he got the attention of coaches and scouts.
After putting up those kind of numbers, Engram is being projected as a late first/early 2nd round pick. There was even a mock draft that Engram to the Bucs at 19th overall, I don't see the Bucs doing that but more on that later. Let's now breakdown what Engram can bring to a NFL team.

Evan Engram-TE 6'3 235lbs  65 receptions 926 yds 8 tds

Strengths: Matchup nightmare, can line up anywhere whether it is outside,slot, or even in line. Shows good explosion coming off the snap, gets into his route quickly. Works all three levels of the defense. Decent route runner and has the speed to exploit the seem and can be a vertical threat. Has shown ability to win jump balls and can make contested catches. Solid hands and has good catch radius. Shows good body control and is quick with his steps.

Weaknesses: Willing blocker, but needs work on his technique. Lacking field awareness at times as not sure when to sit vs zone coverage. Decent route runner but needs work on getting to the top of his route, tendency to show his hand too early. Needs to work back to the ball more instead of letting the ball eat him up. This causes pass breakups and drops.

Overall: Engram is a versatile chess piece that can really excel in a matchup based passing offense. He is very similar to Redskins TE Jordan Reed and can be used very similar to him. Engram has good intangibles as he was a two time captain with Ole Miss and truly loves the game of football. He has improved every year during his time with Ole Miss which is a great sign. Defenses will have to put a corner on him as he will be a mismatch for a linebacker or safety. Engram is the modern tight end as more move type tight ends are becoming bigger in the league. He would be a great fit for the Bucs but I think he is too similar to what Cam Brate already brings to the table. I don't see the Bucs taking him in the first and they would have to trade up in the second to most likely secure him. Now with that being said, the Bucs want playmakers and adding a player like Engram to pair with Brate would be a nice tight end duo.


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New Culture is Making Tampa Attractive




This off-season so far has been pretty good for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the arrow is pointing up and the 2017 season could be a special one. The Bucs have kept their key free agents and in addition to that have added Desean Jackson, Chris Baker, and J.J Wilcox. With those additions, the Bucs are better football team and should be a legitimate playoff contender come this fall. The best part is all three guys wanted to be here and be apart of what this franchise is building coming off a 9-7 season last year. Bucs Gm Jason Licht said recently that players want to be here now and has been getting calls regarding other free agents who want to join as well which is a great sign. Is the culture finally changing in Tampa Bay?
All signs are saying yes, as Jason Licht and his staff are building something special down here in Tampa. The team has good group of core players along with an excellent coaching staff and now just need those extra pieces to push them towards that next level. For Licht to say that players want to come here is a great sign as you probably couldn't say that 2 to 3 years ago. Now granted Jameis is a big reason for it as so many guys in the league already respect him and have nothing but great words to say about him.

Everyone can see that Jameis is a rising star in this league and players are intrigued by that and want to be a part of it. Desean Jackson wanted to play with a great Qb and he sees Jameis as one who can be that and above all calls Jameis a winner. That is high praise and this is great news for this team as players are starting to see this franchise as destination instead of a place for vacation. This team is on the rise and finally a winning culture is starting to take place. Finally this organization has a winning structure in place from the top to the bottom, 2017 could be the start of something special.
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Tuesday, March 14, 2017

"I Have Never Had a Mike Evans Before"




This past Saturday the Bucs welcome their two big free agent signings in WR Desean Jackson, and DT Chris Baker to Tampa. Both were introduced to Tampa Bay and spoke with the local media on what they will bring to this team. Let's focus on Desean Jackson as he is the explosive playmaker this team desperately needed and is the perfect fit for this offense. For the Bucs to be able to get him in free agency is rare which is what  Bucs Gm Jason Licht said after signing Jackson per pewterreport.com.
“It is rare to find a player in free agency with the combination of speed and natural playmaking ability of a DeSean Jackson. DeSean is a smart, gifted athlete who has averaged more than 17 yards per reception throughout his nine-year career and brings the type of veteran experience and deep threat receiving ability that will have an immediate impact on our offense.”
Licht is right as it is very hard to find impact players like Desean Jackson hitting the open market but just like last year with Robert Ayers and Brent Grimes, the Bucs get a high level talent in Jackson this off-season. Now the Bucs have a legit threat next to the Bucs top receiver in Mike Evans who is only 23 and has put up three consecutive 1000 yard seasons. Now with an electric player like Desean next to him, the sky is the limit for this offense as it will put tons of stress on the opposing defense. Both will help each other as it could be a big year for both, possibly a career year for Desean as he really hasn't played with a player like Mike Evans before. Desean talked about this during his press conference on Saturday per Buccaneers.com.
    “As far as receivers I’ve played with in the past, I feel like I’ve played with some pretty good receivers. Jeremy Maclin for five, six years when I was in Philly, Pierre Garcon is definitely a physical, durable receiver. I give them guys credit, they’ve done some great things. Fast forward now, Mike Evans. I don’t think I’ve ever played with a Mike Evans. I’m just intrigued man, to go out on the field, to have a quarterback like Jameis (Winston) that wants to throw deep. To have another guy like Mike on the other side, he’s what, 6’5”? I’m 5’10”. You’ve got a big guy who’s kind of fast, you’ve got a smaller guy that’s very fast. This guy right here, (points to Koetter) I know he’s licking his chops to get it going. I am too, though.”
It's a power speed combo that the Bucs have now in Mike Evans and Desean Jackson. Evans can make plays anywhere on the field as can Desean so it is going to be very interesting to see how coach Koetter utilizes their abilities. Desean has been a number one WR for his whole career as he made Jeremy Maclin and Pierre Garcon into who they are which are very good number two's. Now the Bucs are paring Jackson with a elite number one WR in Mike Evans who hasn't even his is ceiling yet which is kinda scary. One thing is for sure, the Bucs offense is going to be fun to watch with the duo of Evans and Jackson working together.




The Bucs will be able to attack all three levels of the field and finally will have a diverse and versatile passing attack. The hot topic has been Desean is going to make Jameis better which he will, but the bigger topic is that Mike Evans is going to make Desean better which is great news for the Bucs offense. Evans will be able to draw defenders away from Jackson which will give Jackson more one on one matchups which is bad news for opposing defenses. More importantly, Jackson will have space to use his speed to create big plays down the field which will make the Bucs offense more effective in 2017. It is a great time to be a Bucs fan as we could see something very special this year on offense.
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Monday, March 13, 2017

Bucs Improve Their Special Teams




The Bucs have definitely gotten better as a football team not only on offense and defense but on special teams as well. The Bucs added speed with the additions of Desean Jackson who can provide some return ability if needed. The Bucs also signed J.J Wilcox who can not only start at safety but has also made an impact on special teams during his time with the Cowboys. However, the biggest piece to the special teams was re-signed and that is Cb/S Josh Robinson who made big plays every week on special teams during the 2016 season.
Robinson is a fan favorite and is just one heck of a player. He has 4.3 speed with plus size and has now learned how to play safety and he isn't afraid to hit opponents in the mouth. It will be intriguing to see if Robinson gets a chance to compete at safety as it would be cool to see what he can do with his speed as a center fielder. Again great job by Jason Licht who is making an emphasis on retaining his players as it is good to keep continuity,

Special teams made big strides last year and became one of the better units on this team. Bryon Anger was probably the best punter in the league last year who got a new 5 year extension right after the season ended. Now granted, the Bucs still need a consistent return man who can get past the 25 and make defenders miss, I think Mr.Licht has his eye out for one. Then there is Bucs fan favorite Roberto Aguyao who I thought did a decent job for a rookie and was getting better in the second half of the season. Expect Aguyao to take the next step this off-season or else he will be replaced. Still long way to go till the season begins, but right now the Bucs are building a team that can win in all three phases.

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Sunday, March 12, 2017

Bucs Add to The Safety Position With J.J Wilcox




It has been a busy off-season so far for the Bucs as they have added WR Desean Jackson, DT Chris Baker, and now today S J.J Wilcox. Wilcox, 26 is a former 3rd round pick by the Cowboys and will have a chance to compete for a starting role with the Bucs. Wilcox is a big hitter and loves to play physical, has good ball skills and can make plays in the passing game. However, he lacks instincts when it comes to playing the safety position and is still learning the position. Here is Bucs Gm Jason Licht on J.J Wilcox and what he can bring this season per pewterreport.com.
“Wilcox is going to compete for a starting role with Chris [Conte] and Keith [Tandy],” said Licht. “He’s a really hard-hitting physical player that’s really still got an upside. He played running back for most of his career in college – only played one year at safety. That’s a position that’s tough to get to know. He’s still coming into that position.”
Wilcox is a good athlete and at times shows the instincts and awareness allowing him to make plays on the ball. Then other times, he hesitates and is either late or misses on making the play on the ball. He does miss tackles as well due to poor angles or failing to wrap up so he needs to clean that up in his game. I will say Wilcox is always flying to the ball which is good to see and can play special teams as well. Wilcox playing in a more aggressive scheme will help him as he is usually at his best when he is able to play downhill and use his speed. With that being said I would still expect the Bucs to draft a safety in the upcoming draft as it is a very deep class. Here are some clips of Wilcox showing his strengths and weaknesses as a player.



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Friday, March 10, 2017

Bucs Get Stronger up Front With Chris Baker




The Bucs didn't just go after one former Redskin player they went after another in DT Chris Baker who has signed to a new 3 year deal with the Bucs per Ian Rapoport.
 The Bucs needed to upgrade the DT position and add someone to pair with Gerald McCoy especially someone who can help stop the run and get after the Qb as well. Well after doing more research, Chris Baker might just be that guy as he has really come on as a player over the last 3 seasons. Here is the proof in this graphic below per Buccaneers.com
Baker has been really good the last two seasons as he has collected 100 tackles, 9.5 sacks and 5 force fumbles combined in those two seasons. That puts him up with some of the best d-linemen in the league which is only good news for the Bucs front four going forward. This should make the Bucs interior d-line a strength as they now have McCoy, Baker, and Mcdonald which is a very good trio of defensive tackles. The Bucs not only improved their run defense but the pass rush should be improved as Baker can take hands away from McCoy and can also collapse the pocket with his size.
I really like this signing and he should make us tougher up front especially with our top run defender from last year in Will Gholston returning as well. Baker has a similar makeup to Robert Ayers in which they both play angry and like to play physical on every down. Baker is a big addition to this team and I think his impact will be noticed immediately.
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