Emmanuel Ogbah Talks Bucs “IQ” Test

April 5th, 2016

Ogbah

Gargantuan Oklahoma State defensive end Emmanuel Ogbah hopped on SiriusXM NFL Radio this afternoon, hours after leaving One Buc Palace.

Ogbah isn’t the most chatty guy, though his handlers having him doing plenty of interviews.

Regarding his Bucs visit, Ogbah said it mostly was about “football IQ.”

Yes, the Jason Licht regime is known for grinding prospects through football-related questions. Team Licht wants to know how deeply a guy knows the game and can learn the game — which usually reveals how much he loves the game. What a great way to separate the committed player from the overachieving athlete.

Ogbah also told NFL Radio co-hosts Mark Dominik and Bruce Murray that he played at 276 pounds last season and can go bigger.

At the NFL Scouting Combine, Ogbah was 6-4, 273 pounds and ran a 4.63 40 yard dash. That’s a lot of meat hauling ass! Ogbah had 12 1/2 sacks last year, on the heels of 11 sacks in 2014, when he was named Big-12 defensive lineman of the year.

He added that playing soccer and basketball in Nigeria and in the U.S. — he immigrated at 9 years old — helped him with his football footwork. Ogbah said he discovered football in seventh grade.

30 Responses to “Emmanuel Ogbah Talks Bucs “IQ” Test”

  1. CreamsicleBananaHammock Says:

    My hunch is that it’s going to be this guy or Spence at #9. Which I think we need, but just to reiterate — if we get more than 5 sacks out of a rookie DL we should be happy.

    Let’s add a weapon for Jameis (Sterling Shepard) in round 2

  2. old buc fan Says:

    Moves real well for a big man, consistant.

  3. Destinjohnny Says:

    If we get rankins 1 and this savage 2
    With all the depth we have…..
    It will be a new day in tampa bay

    You can always tell when your d is badass
    It’s during the pre season when your 2nd team dominates.
    When the qb is uncomfortable that’s when the below average db’s
    Become all pros

  4. Waterboy Says:

    I’d like him as a 2nd rounder but wouldn’t take him at #9. He has great 40 speed but kind of slow in the shuttle and 3 cone drills and more importantly I didn’t think his game film was all that impressive. I saw quite a few plays where he didn’t look to me like he was going hard. Now granted some of those plays were not going to his side of the field but I still like to see a guy that will be a high draft pick and potential leader of a team laying it on the line every play.

  5. Bucballya Says:

    I think it’s more likely that the bucs are trying to project how much poor coaching was a factor in his inconsistent play in college. and if proper coaching can bring him up to the level of play that his superb combine numbers suggest. This guy could be a diamond in the rough, especially since he got a late start playing football.

  6. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    I’m getting a similar feeling Creamsicle. We lamented last year about O line needs. LICHT handled that back to back rd 2 and 3. I’m expecting the same this draft DLine back to back rd 1 and 2.

  7. Kevin Says:

    Id like this pick

  8. salish_seamonster Says:

    Is Ogbah worthy of #9 overall. Most of the mocks I’ve seen don’t seem to think so. Will the Bucs trade down and pick Ogbah? This time in ’14, everybody had Evans pegged to us. Last year of course Winston. This year? It’s a crapshoot deciding who the Bucs might be targeting. We’ve seen some names, and it’s not going to be VH3, but is there a surprise pick the Bucs are planning at 9? More drama this year.

  9. martinii Says:

    I read a rather lengthly article with a lot of game film included by Steve White on another site. White says the guy is hot and cold. Sort of drops off the map for a few plays then comes roaring back with huge sack or pressure. Don’t know what to think about him though I do have him on my wish list as a contingent pass rusher. Like I’ve said many times I believe most of the DL prospects this season will be rotational players at least for their rookie season, and yes that includes Larry Boza. I know joe is not a fan of drafting a OLB at 9, but I like Leonard Floyd. Problem is all these guys are ranked on average from 15 to 40 so unless you go corner, OT, or trade back you are not going to get value at 9.

  10. Nole on Sat.-Bucc on Sun. Says:

    I feel you martini but even Warren Sapp said no one in NFL gose all out everyplay on everydown. I wouldn’t be apposed to this pick at all,he has that from somewhere esle DE name. You know Osi Yumenyura,Jason Piere-Paul,Tamba Hali. EMANUEL OGBAH. To hell wit Mr. LICHT draft the guy.

  11. finishers Says:

    trade down with the Rams get some extra picks and still get Ogbah !

  12. unbelievable Says:

    Would love this pick in the 2nd but I don’t think he’ll last that long.

    Totally Unrelated:

    Anybody see / hear part 1 of this Greg Hardy interview with Adam Schefter? The guy says he was thankful that teams like Dallas and Tampa Bay were willing to take a chance on him…

    Very interesting.

  13. StPeteBucsFan Says:

    Creamsickle….

    Agree with your hunches and I appreciate you reminding us that it takes awhile for DE’s to really develop.

  14. CreamsicleBananaHammock Says:

    Is Ogbah worthy of #9 overall. Most of the mocks I’ve seen don’t seem to think so.

    Nothing against the poster, but for the love of dog I can’t understand this mentality.

    In 5 years, is it going to matter if we took a guy at 9 instead of 15? If you like a guy, you think he’s the best player on your board and the best fit for your team then you take him. Period. Who cares if people are projecting him in the teens or twenties? So he goes a handful of picks ahead of where people project. So what?

  15. finishers Says:

    exactly! take him if you love him,the experts are wrong all the time! could end up being best DE in the Draft you never know!!!

  16. DallasBuc Says:

    Is a committed player necessarily separable from an overachieving athlete? One can’t be both committed and overachieve?

  17. William Walls Says:

    @Creamsickle: Because, if you can trade down and still get the guy you want, you get more (or higher) draft picks in exchange.

  18. James Walker Says:

    Reporters are usually not scouts. They don’t put in the time to truly evaluate talent. Reporters copy and put their spin on other reporters evaluations. Teams are far more in tune.

  19. Ocala Says:

    I agree with creamsickle

    Why in the world would you not pick the best fit and highest rated on your board just because some in the media have him rated lower.

    I feel the same way about Coleman from Baylor.
    The guy is tough as nails, has great production, great hands and fantastic speed but because most project him in the middle of the first round it would be a mistake to draft him at 9?
    Totally bizarre….

    Oh no ESPN is going to grade the pick a C-

  20. CreamsicleBananaHammock Says:

    Yea I get that William Walls…..but that’s a big gamble if you love the player there. I say grab him and never look back if he’s the guy you want

  21. salish_seamonster Says:

    CreamsicleBananaHammock Says:
    April 5th, 2016 at 7:36 pm

    Is Ogbah worthy of #9 overall. Most of the mocks I’ve seen don’t seem to think so.

    Nothing against the poster, but for the love of dog I can’t understand this mentality.

    Apparently, you misunderstood my point. If this guy is the best value on the board among all our positions of need, then pick him by all means. But taking him just because he’s the best DE on your board and you need a DE and bypassing several superior players at other positions is a a losing draft strategy. My point was to avoid reaching for a guy who may or may not be special, when there’s a franchise tackle on the board. My point about the mocks had more to do with questioning whether this guy is the caliber of player – I haven’t seen much to make me think Ogbah is a top 10 quality pick. But mock drafts certainly don’t represent the opinions of all GMs, so we’ll see. If Jason Licht likes him at #9, then I’m confident he knows what he’s doing.

  22. salish_seamonster Says:

    I also see people on here foaming at the mouth because of his workout numbers and saying we have to get him at #9. Without having any context, and any concern for what other better players are there, how can someone say we need Ogbah at that pick? We have no idea what Jason Licht and Jay Hayes think of this guy. We haven’t got a clue what the Bucs board looks like. Don’t get me wrong, I would love to see us draft a DE, and Ogbah is physically impressive, but his tape is less impressive, from what I’ve read. Just saying… Inconsistency can take a guy from being a top 10 pick down to the second round or lower. Where Ogbah really grades with the Bucs is anyone’s guess.

  23. William Walls Says:

    That’s fair, @Creamsickle.

  24. Dave Says:

    Creamsickle

    Exactly. Teams select by need along with bpa.
    But need trumps it. If they have player at another position ranked as a top 10 guy and the best DE left is ranked top 20…. They are probably going DE because they need it. Then in 3 years of that guy pans out, who cares. If he doesn’t then everyone will be screaming for the GMs head.

    If the value is at 15 instead of 9 and they are able to trade back and get their guy did another pick, great, but people on here always act like trading back and gaining picks is so easy. It’s not.

  25. FLBoyInDallas Says:

    Read Steve White’s write-up about Ogbah and you’ll be scared to take him at the #9 spot. Inconsistent isn’t even a strong enough word. The guy goes long stretches without even showing up, then suddenly makes a play. And even though he’s 273 lbs he struggles mightily with the power game, getting washed out on run plays frequently. And against top-level players like Laremy Tunsil he completely disappears. Doesn’t sound like top-of-the-first-round talent to me.

  26. salish_seamonster Says:

    ^^Exactly. Kind of a reach unless they’re positive they can coach him up on his shortcomings. Even at that, you gotta think late first round for him.

  27. PRBucFan Says:

    Definitely would be a reach at 9, if this is their target then I would bet they are looking to trade down.

  28. Pickgrin Says:

    CreamsicleBananaHammock Says:
    April 5th, 2016 at 7:36 pm
    “Who cares if people are projecting him in the teens or twenties? So he goes a handful of picks ahead of where people project. So what?”
    —————————————————————–

    Wow. Just wow. Does draft position value really have to be explained?

    I just looked at about 25 different most recent Mock drafts. Ogbah is at the very bottom of the 1st or top of the 2nd round in the vast majority of them.

    Let’s buck that trend and say Ogbah grades out in the low 20s – #21.

    Now Google the NFL Draft Value chart and see what “value” the 21nd pick in the draft has. (800)

    The draft value for the #9 pick is 1350

    1350-800= 550

    If you draft a player at #9 who grades out as the 21st best player available – you just threw the equivalent value of the #35 overall pick in the trash can.

    The best move if you really want this guy is to trade down about 10 spots and pick up an extra 2nd round pick. But that is REALLY hard to do. So the most realistic option is to draft the best player on your board at #9 (Buckner, Stanley, Hargreaves – one of those 3 will be there) and then move back up into the 1st round to get Ogbah.

    The Jets at #20 need a QB unless they want to pay out the nose for Fitzpatrick. How about we trade Glennon and our 2nd round pick (#39) to move up and get Ogbah? (If the Bucs are convinced he will be an impact DE that is).

    That assigns Glennon a late 2nd round pick value and would be a fair value trade for all concerned. The Jets get a young, tall, strong armed QB with 18 NFL starts and respectable #s (who is better now than any QB they could draft at #20) along with the #39 pick – and the Bucs get to draft 2 of the top 20 players in the draft.

  29. hashi Says:

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  30. DemBoyzFromDaBay727 Says:

    I love the idea of trading back and adding another 2nd rounder because after 1-9 there is a big drop off in Talent. And that’s our problem, u really think another team is going to give up their second rnd pick for a mid rnd talent? unless they really like the guy or someone out of that 1-9 elite talent falls (then the bucs would prob. Take that guy anyways) I just don’t see it happening.