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Breakdown of Oregon DB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu


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I'm going grade him as a safety, but use the DB moniker. I think he can, an will, play safety in the NFL. But he also has cornerback ability. 

 

1379466695000-OregonDefenseStory917.jpg

 

Size: 5'9" 192 lbs. Definitely a very small player. Weight is fine overall, but he needed about another 2". (2/5)

 

Athleticism: Ekpre-Olomu displays a good closing burst to ball-carriers. His ability to flip his hips also tremendous. Change of direction flawless. Amazing foot quickness. Questionable long-speed.  Likely a 4.55-4.6 guy. (7/10)

 

Coverage and Fluidity: Ifo's foot work and change of direction ability make him very fluid in coverage. He mirrors receivers as good as anyone in this class. Very natural looking. Great turn and run ability, but I don't know if he'll be able to consistently stay on the top shoulder of faster players though. He can sometimes get beat on slants when he doesn't press and can get beat trying to bait QBs into throws, but overall he's a strong coverage player, particularly in zone (not to say man is a weakness; he can smother players of his size). (7/10)

 

Physicality and ITB ability: For a small corner, Ifo is very physical in press-coverage. Presses all the way to the border of the contact zone. Not afraid to launch himself into receivers and loves to try to rip the ball out of the carriers hands. He doesn't offer much as an ITB player. He reads runs well, but is too small and weak to shed blocks consistently. Tackling is sub-par (missed a lot in 2014, maybe he was hesitant playing through injury). Does a good job of riding receivers to the sideline. Can get beat in press by bigger players. (6/10 [4/5 for press and 2/5 for ITB])

 

Technical Ability: Ifo isn't a technician, he's a guy who wins with his quickness and athleticism. He plays with a wild streak that can sometimes lead to him getting beat. Tackling form needs a lot of work. Very good feel for recognizing and picking up players in zone coverage. Great area awareness. Reads QBs eyes. Loves to trail, but isn't really fast enough to make play it well consistently. Attacks the receivers hands to knock away the pass. Hand placement on press is "eh". (6/10)

 

Ball Skills: Ifo's ball skills are amazing. Simply superb. Fantastic anticipation, ability to read the play, body control, and catching ability. If you have time, go back and watch the Oregon State game from 2013. Seriously, he had a ton of plays on the ball. Here is the link: http://draftbreakdown.com/video/ifo-ekpre-olomu-vs-oregon-state-2013/ (5/5)

 

Consistency: Ifo had a very good 2013 season, but inconsistent 2014 season (apparently played through some injuries.) (2/5)

 

GIFs:

 

Great tackle: http://zippy.gfycat.com/ConcreteBlaringCob.webm

 

Comes in like a missile and takes out the runners legs: http://zippy.gfycat.com/EarnestLividAmericanbadger.webm

 

Swats away ball: http://fat.gfycat.com/DisfiguredFalseGlassfrog.webm

 

This is what happens when you'e small: http://zippy.gfycat.com/EminentFormalAfricanwildcat.webm

 

If only he was a little taller: http://zippy.gfycat.com/EveryMadeupIndigobunting.webm

 

Pick: http://fat.gfycat.com/EnviousCompleteArizonaalligatorlizard.webm

 

Ball skills: http://zippy.gfycat.com/ObviousSpiffyKob.webm

 

Conclusion: 

 

35 out of 55 which warrants a 2nd-round grade.

 

I apparently like Ifo more than Big Draft does. He's a smart, athletic, playmaking corner with ballhawk potential. His best fits are as an outside corner in a zone defense, a nickel-corner in man, or a free safety. His size and injury will drop his stock, so he'll be available until likely the late 3rd, but any team who drafts him is going to get a very good steal.

 

NFL Comparisons: 

 

Charles Tillman, CHI/TB

Tyrann Mathieu, ARZ

Alterraun Verner, TB

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Like you mentioned a couple times. . . he had a fooot injury pretty much all year and his play suffered. I've been trumpeting him as a safety for a long time for many of the reasons you mentioned.

Does DB have film from Oregon St. in '13? Great game against Cooks. That and USC in 2012 were highlight games against really talented receivers. And Stanford '12 against Ertz he did very well if you want to see how he does against an elite TE. Last year there were really none of those games from him, which is telling.

Comes from a great family and decided to go back to school because he wanted to graduate, while staring at a first rd. grade. Says a lot.

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Like you mentioned a couple times. . . he had a fooot injury pretty much all year and his play suffered. I've been trumpeting him as a safety for a long time for many of the reasons you mentioned.

Does DB have film from Oregon St. in '13? Great game against Cooks. That and USC in 2012 were highlight games against really talented receivers. And Stanford '12 against Ertz he did very well if you want to see how he does against an elite TE. Last year there were really none of those games from him, which is telling.

Comes from a great family and decided to go back to school because he wanted to graduate, while staring at a first rd. grade. Says a lot.

 

Yup, I actually mentioned it in the Ball Skills section. Fantastic battle between him and Cooks. He made a ton of fantastic plays that game. 

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Yup, I actually mentioned it in the Ball Skills section. Fantastic battle between him and Cooks. He made a ton of fantastic plays that game.

Oops. After the first couple categories I only read the numbers and conclusion because I knew we agreed on enough.

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