Absolutely all for Obi. He can play any safety position & can also play some big Nickel. He'd bring instant size,speed,athleticism & tackling to the back end. Now intangibles..meaning leadership,ability to communicate, off the field...? I have no idea. He seemed like a well mannered kid in his interview after running a 4.40 at the combine..but that doesn't mean anything. That's the part we have to figure out. He was a very good player on a bad team who produced just as well as any other elite safety in this draft..when you factor in the rare elite athleticism..he's the total package. I like him almost as much as Adams & at this point likely more than Hooker.
As fast as his stock has risen, I would be surprised to see Melifonwu taken that high -I WOULD take him but not that high because of otehr greater needs. I fully agree on not liking Lattimore at all - better, safer options than him. I would definitely take Cook at #12 if Howard or McCaffrey wasn't there- yes I AM troubled by the recent character questions, but if we rule out all the guys who have some questions, they'd have to downsize the league by half. I don't know who you're talking about with Ross/Davis, so can't comment.
With his speed, he possibly could play FS or CB, but has he? I don't want a DB playing a position in the NFL that he's never played before. With all the good DBs in this draft, why take a player to play a position he's never played before. Now if he has played CB and/or FS before, or if the Jets are planning on getting rid of Pryor, that's another matter.
You say he "can" play all those positions, but has he? If so, fine. Did he wind up at SS because Connecticut didn't have anyone else to play the position, or is that his best position? If he hasn't played FS before or if SS is his best/most natural position, with all the DBs in the draft, why draft a prospect to play a position he hasn't played before? Is he really that much better than all the other prospects?
Ross is the WR from Washington who ran the 4.22 40 at the Combine. He's 5'10" or 5'11". Davis is the WR from Eastern Michigan or Central Michigan or some Div. 3 (I think) school.
However, that part is also on Idzik because if he took the job knowing that he could not hire the coach nor make major changes in the personnel department, well that took his greatest strength - the number of people he had worked with in solid to great organizations and who he might have poached for the Jets out of the picture. If Woody really completely tied his hands coming in the door, well that's on Woody and Woody alone. You can't change the culture with one hire, even in a key position like GM. You have to let the guy you hire also work some magic by bringing in guys who know what they are doing. As of the end of 2012 the Jets front office was operationally incompetent at all levels and no GM was going to change that without a major sweep out of the stables. So I'd put the pecking order at Idzik #1 if he could have made changes and didn't, Woody #1 if Idzik's hands were tied and Idzik a close #2 in that scenario since he had to know the Jets were incompetent at finding talent when he came in the door and if he couldn't bring his own guys in to run personnel, well you'd get 12 pick disasters like 2014.
Melifonwu is an animal. The combine just reaffirmed that. He's a good fit as both a SS and a FS. The fact that he can play man in Big Nickel is just a plus. He'd be a great addition, though there are better players at 6. Hold out hope he lasts until the second round.
OK thanks. That makes a huge difference imo. All I have seen in connection with him is SS. How are his ball skills?
Well, he's had 6 picks over the last two seasons and looks like a natural hands catcher. Have no idea how many PD's he's hasd but he's cut down on his penalties dramatically over his Junior and Senior seasons. 4 year starter. He's been portrayed as a SS by a lot of people unfamiliar with him because of his size, but really he's a great cover safety that just happens to be fantastic in run support as well. I believe he led his team in tackles his senior year if I'm not mistaken. Kid is a freak.
I've said a few times, idzic's first mistake was taking the job. but someone was going to be john idzic it was just a matter of who.
It was his words that he is able to play both safety spots, in the box & the big nickel. Now he could've just been embelishing the process & appearing open minded to whatever scenario's teams may have in place for him. But than again..the way the league is going he likely doesn't have any CHOICE about being versatile & moving around. It's become more about week to week match-ups in the back 7 than so fixating on one position.Thats perhaps where his athleticism really becomes a commodity...physically..you can't really question his ability to PLAY all those spots. No I don't think he's better than the top prospetcs...he's a notch below the total package that Adams is. But he does have some things about his game that you'd like as a starting piece to rebuilding this defense compared to the other guys. Hard to deny his level of athleticism...and hard to refer to him as a workout warrior when you see he put up 118 tackles on a lousy defense this past season. Superior size/speed & athleticism from a guy who tackles very well & hopefully is a good guy off the field. In my opinion thats a good place to start w. this rebuild. He's not the only option by a long shot..but he deserves to be in the convo along w. Adams & Hooker for the top safety. He likely loses that argument but at least should be involved.
OK, thanks! I respect your opinion a lot and like what you had to say about him. I'm definitely going to spend some time finding out more about this guy.
