Scouting Profile: Hau'oli Kikaha, EDGE, Washington

[Dustin]

Previous Installments:

 

The RBs - Hub Post

The WRs - Hub Post

The Off-Ball LBs - Hub Post

Vic Beasley, EDGE, Clemson

Owamagbe Odighizuwa, EDGE, UCLA

Randy Gregory, EDGE, Nebraska

Eli Harold, EDGE, Virginia 

 

 

Games watched: vs Hawaii, vs Stanford, vs Illinois

 

The Good:

 

Active, violent hands. Uses his hand use and leverage to make up for his average athleticism. Very technically sound player. 

  ex. http://www.draftbreakdown.com/gif-embed/?clip=253643&gif=EnormousDisfiguredFlyingfox

 

Uses leverage again here to shed a block and make a play on the RB:

  ex. http://www.draftbreakdown.com/gif-embed/?clip=251726&gif=ElegantTediousAnemone

 

Intelligent player. Reads play action and read-option plays well. 

 

Non-stop motor. Never gives up on a play. Doesn't stay content with being blocked. 

 

Played at a bunch of different spots. Much better as a stand up rusher as opposed to playing with his hand in the dirt. Played at 4i mostly in 2013, where he was, IMO, extremely underwhelming. 

 

The Bad: 

 

Average athlete. 

 

Ok, but not elite bend around the corner.. You don't have to be great at bending the corner to be a good pass rusher (see Odighizuwa). But if you aren't you have to be able to compensate for it with strength and speed. Kikaha doesn't posses much of either of those. 

 

Undisciplined in holding his edge. Chases up field and leaves cutback lanes. Overly aggressive.

  ex. http://www.draftbreakdown.com/gif-embed/?clip=253643&gif=EverlastingUnfitAdamsstaghornedbeetle

 

Continuing with the theme of edge rushers with lack of strength (though to his credit, he does manage to recover and get held at the end of this play):

  ex. http://www.draftbreakdown.com/gif-embed/?clip=251726&gif=SophisticatedLateFalcon

 

One-trick pony. Pass rush specialist only. 

 

Conclusion: 

 

Kikaha is a low-ceiling, high-floor player. He's a player who won't be a liability on the field, but isn't exactly going to dominate either. He's a good value pick in the 3rd round for a team looking for a technically sound, relentless, mid-level edge rusher. Most sites compare him to Rob Ninkovich, which I think is an apt comparison.

 

Projected Round: 3rd

NFL Comparison: Rob Ninkovich, SE

[UKColt13]

I have to say I like him. I think he has the tenacity and motor of Shane Ray and with a bit of coaching and development he could be just as good imho.

 

I'd be happy with him in the 3rd.

[pacolts56]

He's a nice player but he's torn his ACL twice.

I'd hold off on drafting him.