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Film review: Alex Okafor should be upgrade for Saints even if he's not elite pass rusher
Film review: Alex Okafor should be upgrade for Saints even if he's not elite pass rusher
BY JOSH KATZENSTEIN jkatzenstein@nola.com, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune The New Orleans Saints entered this offseason seeking ways to help their pass rush. Besides Cameron Jordan, the Saints have not had another defensive end consistently create consistent pressure the past two seasons, and the results were a ranking of 27th in sacks in 2016 and tied for 25th in 2015. While many fans hoped the Saints would spend more on a play-making edge rusher, the top free-agent acquisition at the position was Alex Okafor, who experienced ups and downs during his four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. Okafor was a relatively cheap addition as he signed a one-year deal worth up to $3 million, but based on a film review of his play the last three years, the 26-year-old should be able to upgrade the Saints' pass rush. Okafor isn't an elite pass rusher, so don't set expectations too high. His inconsistencies in 2015 are a key reason the Cardinals traded for Chandler Jones in the 2016 offseason, which forced Okafor into a backup role last year. However, Okafor's performance as a reserve was still significantly better than the Saints received from starter Paul Kruger last year, so it's reasonable to expect Okafor to improve the defense to some extent. Of course, the Saints will also hope for some production from rookies Trey Hendrickson and Al-Quadin Muhammad as well as Darryl Tapp and Hau'oli Kikaha as they strive to put more consistent pressure on the quarterback. One key reason to expect Okafor to be better than Kruger is that he's at a much better stage of his career. At just 26, Okafor should have more upside -- especially considering he played through injuries the past two years. Kruger signed with New Orleans at 30 last year and was already declining. Okafor had 3.5 sacks last year playing just 230 defensive snaps, averaging 15 snaps per game. Comparatively, Kruger had just 1.5 sacks playing 569 snaps, averaging 38 snaps per game. There wasn't anything particularly impressive about Okafor's sacks from last year as all came against subpar offensive linemen, but his play over last three years showed a few ways he can help the Saints. More here ... |
Re: Film review: Alex Okafor should be upgrade for Saints even if he's not elite pass rusher
If healthy, I think he will be a huge upgrade over Kruger. We desperately need a guy who can "set the edge" vs the run.
Okafor is my X factor on defense. Can't wait for training camp. |
Re: Film review: Alex Okafor should be upgrade for Saints even if he's not elite pass rusher
This is another reason why I feel the D-Line will be greatly improved over what we fielded last season, even with the loss of Fairley.
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Re: Film review: Alex Okafor should be upgrade for Saints even if he's not elite pass rusher
Idk. I think we'll see improvement but I'm still worried about this line w/o Fairley. I think he was pretty important.
My expectations are lower now and my excitement is a little dimmer. Hope to see someone in TC that looks like a difference maker. |
Re: Film review: Alex Okafor should be upgrade for Saints even if he's not elite pass rusher
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Edit: I didn't realize Okafor was only 26. For some reason I thought he had been in the league a lot longer. |
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Re: Film review: Alex Okafor should be upgrade for Saints even if he's not elite pass rusher
yada yada yada 34 outside LB back to his natural 43 DE is the real statement that is about to get answered.
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Re: Film review: Alex Okafor should be upgrade for Saints even if he's not elite pass rusher
Okafor and Klein could be key additions this off season.
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Re: Film review: Alex Okafor should be upgrade for Saints even if he's not elite pass rusher
Most importantly, he doesn't even need to make the sack, just create enough pressure to make the QB uncomfortable in the pocket to make him move. That will open opportunities for the rest of the D-line.
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Re: Film review: Alex Okafor should be upgrade for Saints even if he's not elite pass rusher
Okafor, Hendricks, Muhammed, Kikaha.........we'll be better than we were with Kruger last year.
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Re: Film review: Alex Okafor should be upgrade for Saints even if he's not elite pass rusher
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DDlqoBvXYAUBKFk.jpg
https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/20...orleans-saints If healthy, Alex could be the X factor on Defense. |
Re: Film review: Alex Okafor should be upgrade for Saints even if he's not elite pass rusher
that's another thing people don't talk about in 2013 is how much pressure we got with just our front four. If our dline can get consistent pressure it makes everything else easier
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Re: Film review: Alex Okafor should be upgrade for Saints even if he's not elite pass rusher
Someone will have to draw consistent double teams. If we can't do that it will be more of the same with maybe a tad bit less getting smoked for large gains with the improved secondary. Can anyone draw double teams? I don't think so from what I have seen.
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Re: Film review: Alex Okafor should be upgrade for Saints even if he's not elite pass rusher
The real addition to the defensive line still comes down to the coaching - Ryan Nielsen.
Don't know where high expectations for Okafor are coming from that the local media professes... I know I don't have high expectations for Okafor who's an underwhelming tweener-sized playing DE... Where I think we'll see improvement is in the depth and rotation along the defensive line... We won our Superbowl with a blue-collar group of defensive linemen that rotated and stayed fresh... Other than Will Smith, who was a good, not great, defensive lineman, most Saints fans can't recall any of the other defensive linemen... People remember Tracy Porter, Darren Sharper (sigh), Jabari Greer, even rookie Malcom Jenkins... Green Bay won a Superbowl the next year following the exact same formula... Though the Packers ran a 3-4, it featured Cullen Jenkins, B.J. Raji, Ryan Pickett, A.J. Hawk, Frank Zombo, Desmond Bishop, and Clay Matthews... Matthews was the only real "star" on that defense and that's because of family name, he played at USC, and well, he's a rare caucasian featured on defense... Lastly, really am annoyed about the Kruger criticism because, A, there was obviously still a lingering injury; and, B, he was signed the first week of the regular season... Know the Saints really like nepotism when it comes to signing friends and family up with the organization and Kenny Vaccaro really campaigned for Okafor... I more excited about David Onyemata, Trey Hendrickson, Justin Zimmer than Okafor... |
Re: Film review: Alex Okafor should be upgrade for Saints even if he's not elite pass rusher
And I don't get the gloom and doom of missing out on Fairley; let's not forget he was only effective in limited reps - and now we know why...
Rankins has had his rookie season (half) and now healthy, his numbers would have led the DTs projected out for the full season... Onyemata also has a full season of learning American Football, who was showing his versatility at both 3-tech as well as strong-side DE... Plus we've got some uber-physically talented tackles to back 'em up along with a former Seattle player with great size and experience... And we're deeper and healthier at Defensive End where we may even see a rotation - A Rotation at DE!!! Don't forget we're at least two deep at each of the LB positions; we haven't had two quality starting linebackers on the roster in the previous five seasons! And even if Ellerbe gives us his 7.3 games played/season (which should be cue to move on), we've got enough LBers who can elevate this defense... And the linebackers are now being coached by Mike Nolan, no less, who's coached as many HOF linebackers, college and pro, than anybody in the history of football... But the infusion of new coaching blood at Defensive Line and Linebackers will be the real upgrade for this team... |
Re: Film review: Alex Okafor should be upgrade for Saints even if he's not elite pass rusher
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@john_siglerrr Follow More #Saints Paul Kruger: 1.5 sacks, hits, 8 hits, 7 hurries on 360+ rushes #Cardinals Alex Okafor: 3.5 sacks, 6 hits, 6 hurries on 180 rushes 8:07 AM - 14 Mar 2017 The production simply wasn't there with PKruger. |
Re: Film review: Alex Okafor should be upgrade for Saints even if he's not elite pass rusher
Don't sleep on Okafor. He's healthy now - I expect good things to follow.
With a one year contract, he will be looking to prove himself. |
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And I'm not even sure D.A. had his defense installed much less communicated to his players... But, I gotta tell you, after seeing that comparison in that tweet, quite frankly, it's a little chilling... My expectations are still low for Okafor as he had a wealth of talent around him on that Cardinals' defense and only produced those numbers... If Okafor could be a part of an effective rotation, I'll take it and wait for the next FA period and/or draft... |
Re: Film review: Alex Okafor should be upgrade for Saints even if he's not elite pass rusher
Okafor will be part of a solid rotation at DE. DT should have the occasional impact but nothing above average. We need to see what Zimmer has at TC to make a better informed evaluation of each positon groups along the D-line. Fingers crossed..........
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Re: Film review: Alex Okafor should be upgrade for Saints even if he's not elite pass rusher
Staying positive but getting pushes with this line, likely not going to be much room to float them any plus projections. If flashes don't manifest in preseason
writing will be on the wall. If it does, yeah, we likely have something but that is a big if. I see us slowing offensives down and winning a few more in the 4th with the secondary. |
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