Obi Melifonwu Playing in Senior Bowl this Saturday (1/28 @ 2:30ET)

[huskypantz]

That is probably one of the plays I remember best from this past season. He was a beast in the first half that game.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[huskymedic]

 

[sportsart]

I'm interested in what fans are thinking of Obi's ascent up the draft boards. He took a lot of flak here whether he deserved it or not. Do you all think Obi would be a good first round draft pick? Personally, I think you can't undersell his size and athleticism as well as his tackling ability, but I'd be a bit worried about his propensity to be a split second late over the top and get beat.

Clock's ticking brother. Make the change. Last warning. Ok, well maybe second to last warning. Get 'er done.

 

[jackl]

I'm interested in what fans are thinking of Obi's ascent up the draft boards. He took a lot of flak here whether he deserved it or not. Do you all think Obi would be a good first round draft pick? Personally, I think you can't undersell his size and athleticism as well as his tackling ability, but I'd be a bit worried about his propensity to be a split second late over the top and get beat.

I feel the same way as I have stated that he was always after receivers who got by him. Maybe it was the lack of a strong defensive scheme where DB played 10-15 yards off of the line. Fitting into a scheme with actual coaching can't hurt. He certainly has the stature and frame to fit a lot of hybrid positions at the next level. He always could tackle, nickel linebacker would be his road to a lot of money in the NFL. 1st round is a long shot 2nd for sure.

 

[cryjeremiah]

Appears the original energy vampire, Bobby Diaco, had one thing right, anyway.

 

[DoctorWho85]

Appears the original energy vampire, Bobby Diaco, had one thing right, anyway.

He also said Byron Jones was the best DB in the country and was pretty much right on that too.

 

[huskymedic]

Mike Amthony: UConn's Melifonwu Hopes To Improve Draft Resume With Solid Outing At Senior Bowl

>>Melifonwu is the 11th UConn player to make the Senior Bowl, joining Albert Fincher (2005), Dan Orlovsky (2005), Darius Butler (2009), Cody Brown (2009), Will Beatty (2009), Lawrence Wilson (2011), Kendall Reyes (2012), Dwayne Gratz (2013), Blidi Wreh-Wilson (2013) and Shamar Stephen (2014).<<

 

[sportsart]

It seems like we had the same thoughts about Byron before he got drafted.

In other words, there was a lot of head scratching about Byron being ranked so high, or at least it seems that way.

Obi has had more than a few head scratching games in the past 2 years but he looks to be climbing like Byron did.

If he has a good Senior Bowl week and smokes it at the combine he could be a 1-3 rounder.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[sportsart]

I'm thinking he's going to be near the top for bench reps compared to other secondary guys. He certainly is not afraid of the weight room.

 

[Bezzz]

Obi looking good, stuffed a RB and just recovered a fumble.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[kris1]

Mike Mayock said something I've stated about Obi on here before. He needs to finish tackles by "bringing his legs". Pumphrey was able to absorb the hit because Obi didn't drive through him. I do think it's something he can and will get better at.

 

[jackl]

Mike Mayock said something I've stated about Obi on here before. He needs to finish tackles by "bringing his legs". Pumphrey was able to absorb the hit because Obi didn't drive through him. I do think it's something he can and will get better at.

From what I remember he usually was dragging guys down from behind. So it is something he will have to work on at the next level. GO HUSKIES!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[TheDoggPound]

I hope he goes Rd 1. That along with winning is how you build program tradition. It would be a nice cap in our feather.

 

[huskymedic]

 

[huskymedic]

 

[huskypantz]

Mike Mayock said something I've stated about Obi on here before. He needs to finish tackles by "bringing his legs". Pumphrey was able to absorb the hit because Obi didn't drive through him. I do think it's something he can and will get better at.

Exactly and this tackle is a perfect example. Drive the legs through the man. In the NFL every back you hit is going to keep their legs moving until the whistle.

 

[Palatine]

Obi really came on his senior season. He looked very comfortable in the Senior Bowl. He belonged.

Looking back on his sophomore year, it felt like he gave up a TD every game. He obviously worked very hard to get better. Very happy it is paying off for him.

 

[huskymedic]

>>Top defensive grades:

S Lorenzo Jerome, 85.0
S Obi Melifonwu, 80.8
OLB Vince Biegel, 80.4
DT Jaleel Johnson, 77.1
OLB Derek Rivers, 75.6

Small school safeties support wily rushers

Despite living in the backfield throughout 2016, Vince Biegel only managed four sacks his senior season. He still registered 51 total pressures, though, including 41 hurries (second among FBS OLBs). Biegel recorded six combined hurries in the senior bowl, over a quarter of the 21 total his side managed. On the back end, safeties Obi Melifonwu and Lorenzo Jerome illustrated ideal center-field play. The St. Francis product picked off a pair of passes, reading Antonio Pipkin’s eyes perfectly on one red-zone pick. Jerome proved his potential by stepping up with the level of competition. The same can be said of Connecticut’s Melifonwu, who filled running lanes with authority throughout the day.<<

 

[huskymedic]

Senior Bowl 'money makers' include Evan Engram, O.J. Howard, Tre'Davious White

 

[huskymedic]

 

[huskymedic]

 

[Confident Carl]

Obi really came on his senior season. He looked very comfortable in the Senior Bowl. He belonged.

Looking back on his sophomore year, it felt like he gave up a TD every game. He obviously worked very hard to get better. Very happy it is paying off for him.

Also think Anthony Poindexter played an important roll in his development.