Effectively, I didn’t plan on writing about one other Philadelphia Eagles free agent signing, as I assumed I coated everybody right here! Nonetheless, the Eagles had different plans and not too long ago introduced the signing of Azeez Ojulari. I’ve watched him over the previous couple of days, and I’m an enormous fan of this transfer. It’s most likely my favourite transfer (aside from re-signing Zack Baun, clearly) of the offseason to this point.
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Numbers
Ojulari’s numbers are good. His cross rush win price numbers are common, however his sack totals are superb. He can clearly convert pressures to sacks. The largest situation with Ojulari is his well being. He’s missed method too many video games over his profession.
The Movie
Let’s roll by means of this shortly. There’s numerous attention-grabbing stuff. I’ll begin together with his cross dashing after which get into his protection and run protection.
Ojulari wins together with his size and hand utilization to disengage blockers. It’s apparent on movie that he has nice arm size.
Let’s take a look at some Azeez Ojulari sacks. In the event you take a look at all of them, a theme develops. He wins on a stunt right here, and you may see his lengthy arms and talent to make use of his arms to disengage. He makes use of his size to maintain blockers away from him very well. pic.twitter.com/bX9ZGeTPzf
— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) March 17, 2025
He isn’t probably the most explosive off the snap, however his elite closing velocity permits him to get off blocks and convert pressures into sacks.
He is not explosive out of his stance right here, and has to play by means of a chip, however you possibly can see the size as soon as once more. He can get off blocks. His closing velocity is quick, too. He can end his pressures and switch them into sacks. pic.twitter.com/3pcRS4PQTv
— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) March 17, 2025
He lacks top-level flexibility on the sting, however his arm size helps him hold blockers away.
He does not look notably versatile or flexible on the EDGE, however his arm size makes up for it. Have a look at how he makes use of his left arm right here to maintain the blocker off him. The closing velocity is unbelievable as soon as once more! His means to make use of his arms/size to shed blocks is a big purpose why he… pic.twitter.com/8Ndkxh4dAA
— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) March 17, 2025
Have a look at that closing velocity!
This can be a nice rep to focus on his athleticism. Burrow is an effective athlete. Ojulari can get well after nearly overrunning this play. This is not a cross rush however reveals his velocity, burst, and talent to play in area. That restoration and talent to redirect is de facto good. He strikes… pic.twitter.com/3iO5vafRzY
— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) March 17, 2025
Ojulari can get well sufficiently, even when he overruns performs. He doesn’t want to show the nook completely to complete with a sack.
This can be a nice rep that highlights his recreation. He is not versatile or flexible sufficient to show the nook just like the elite EDGE defenders can. Nonetheless, he has sufficient athleticism and shutting velocity to get well and win even when he overruns the QB. Though he cannot flip dip and switch the… pic.twitter.com/KWg2BVzrZN
— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) March 17, 2025
Regardless of not having elite bend, his velocity and size assist him win towards quarterbacks.
What a unbelievable rep. As soon as once more, that is all about his size and hand utilization. Look how briskly his arms are. He aggressively will get into the deal with’s chest and swipes his arms away. He won’t be capable of dip and bend like the highest guys, however he has simply sufficient flexibility to get… pic.twitter.com/owtUocPhKV
— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) March 17, 2025
This can be a very related play to the one above. Good luck blocking him with a decent finish. He is fairly fast off the snap, however his closing velocity stands out. That burst to complete is de facto good. He has that knack of attending to the quarterback as he winds up. Ojulari has the traits of… pic.twitter.com/sCHhGnIXhe
— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) March 17, 2025
This can be a good rep towards a very good guard. Blocking him with a decent finish is ineffective attributable to his fast burst and shutting velocity.
Isaac Seumalo was a prime guard, and Ojulari has sufficient to get previous him. This can be a nice inside rush and reveals his speed-to-power. He has the arm size to maintain Seumalo transferring backward and shed his block. His contact stability is powerful right here. He maintains his base and will get upfield… pic.twitter.com/cxevVrrWqh
— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) March 17, 2025
As I’ve repeated a couple of instances, he nonetheless finds methods to win regardless of not turning the nook that properly.
We’ll finish right here with a fantastic rush towards the Vikings’ left deal with. Hopefully, you possibly can see the theme from this thread. He does not flip the nook that properly. He undoubtedly lacks the flexibility to dip and bend like the highest EDGE defenders can. Nonetheless, he nonetheless has sufficient to get previous… pic.twitter.com/DkiNajCGSF
— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) March 17, 2025
Ojulari wasn’t used a lot in protection, however he appears to be like comfy dropping again. He seems extra pure in protection than different EDGE defenders like Huff and Sweat. I feel he’ll match Fangio’s system properly and may drop when wanted.
Watched a bit extra Ojulari right now. I actually like him. He did not drop into protection a lot final 12 months however I feel he has the traits to have the ability to do it often. He appears to be like extra pure dropping into protection than Huff/Sweat did. He is clean in area. pic.twitter.com/skGd0vKqbp
— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) March 18, 2025
One other respectable protection rep, this time on the tight finish. You’ll be able to simply inform he appears to be like positive dropping into protection. It appears to be like comparatively pure on movie. Some EDGE defenders look extremely awkward doing it. pic.twitter.com/5QwA610C1i
— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) March 18, 2025
His run protection is stable, and he makes use of his size to maintain blockers off and shutting velocity to make tackles. I watched all run protection reps the place the opposing staff had a ten+ yard acquire, and I solely held Ojulari accountable for one in every of them. He’s playable on early downs.
I did not discover any large points in run protection both. It isn’t one thing he excels at, however he is playable. He can use his lengthy arms to maintain defenders off him, units the sting properly and his closing velocity helps him take down the ball service. I assumed the movie confirmed a well-rounded… pic.twitter.com/obXf1Vvz0l
— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) March 18, 2025
He typically struggles with run protection, lacking tackles and lunging relatively than wrapping up. However it’s not an enormous concern. He’s right here to hurry the quarterback greater than he’s to cease the run.
My greatest situation was his ocassional lapse in run protection and missed tackles. He falls to the bottom rather a lot and nearly lunges for the ball service relatively than wrapping up. pic.twitter.com/LMPfcEaaiB
— Jonny Web page (@JonnyPage9) March 18, 2025
General
I really like this signing. It is an absolute no-brainer, and I’m shocked one other staff didn’t give Ojulari greater than $4m on a one-year deal.
Ojulari is a high-motor EDGE with a relentless taking part in model and robust upper-body energy. His size is outstanding and makes him an efficient cross rusher. He isn’t somebody who will get stress on each rep, however he’s a finisher. He has an elite closing burst, enabling him to transform a excessive proportion of his pressures into sacks. He jogs my memory a bit of little bit of Haason Reddick in that sense. Once I initially scouted Reddick, I mentioned this…
He isn’t somebody who will win persistently and get fixed stress. In the event you assume the Eagles have signed somebody who can do this, I feel you can be disillusioned by how typically very athletic tackles can block him fairly simply and take him out of the play. However he’s a splash participant, a game-wrecker, nearly like a DeSean Jackson sort of participant however on the defensive aspect. He won’t get a ton of pressures however he makes large performs and converts these pressures into sacks
I really feel related about Ojulari. Nonetheless, he isn’t as explosive and may’t bend like Reddick can. However there are some similarities.
Ojulari doesn’t have many cross rush strikes, and he isn’t a real ‘bend the sting’ man, however he wins together with his means to disengage attributable to his arm size. You’ll be able to see within the clips from above that he can’t bend and dip just like the true elite EDGE rushers. His measurement may also be a drawback, making him susceptible towards larger blockers, and he isn’t the cleanest tackler. Nonetheless, I didn’t see an actual damaging on movie aside from his damage historical past.
I don’t see any negatives to this signing in any respect. Ojulari ought to match properly into Fangio’s scheme, and a $4m 1-year deal carries barely any threat. If he’s harm and doesn’t play a lot, the Eagles aren’t losing a lot cap room. Nonetheless, he ought to arrive extremely motivated on a 1-year deal and can need to have an enormous season.
I can simply see a scenario the place Ojulari has a unbelievable 12 months after which cashes in subsequent 12 months with an enormous contract elsewhere. The Eagles may solely get Ojulari for one season, however there’s a very good likelihood it’s a really productive one.
Thanks for studying! I’d love to listen to your ideas, so be happy to remark beneath and ask any questions. In the event you loved this piece, yow will discover extra of my work and podcast right here.
