The New York Giants begin Phase III of their offseason program today and there’s plenty to watch for at these OTAs. There are position battles at slot corner, safety and right tackle. The rookies all hit the field and there will be some hinting as to how the new-look Giants defense will shape up this season.
One interesting wrinkle the media may get a look at during these OTAs is Owa Odighizuwa. Owa was a third-round draft choice in 2015 out of UCLA, considered a potential steal, but played in just four games his rookie season. He notched just three tackles. Owa was limited by what was initially called a hamstring injury, but was later determined to be a somewhat rare foot injury.
Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com had this to say of Owa in his post-draft analysis last year. “He is a specimen. He can set the edge. He plays hard from snap to whistle. Odighizuwa has had some injuries in his past, which might be why he’s slid in this draft.”
Owa lost his rookie season, as some predicted, but now in 2016, he’s looking to make an impact in the NFL. With the re-signing of Jason Pierre-Paul and the free agent signing of Olivier Vernon in the offseason, Owa will likely be relegated to a situational pass rusher.
But Patricia Traina of Inside Football makes an interesting observation when it comes to the use of linebackers this season:
“Everyone knows that the Giants were very heavily rumored to covet Leonard Floyd, who ultimately went to the Chicago Bears in the draft. If true, that likely meant that the Giants were potentially looking to use Floyd much in the same way that Denver used OLB Von Miller to generate a pass rush last year. With Floyd out of the picture, will the Giants use Kennard again in that role or might they try defensive end Owa Odighizuwa, as an occasional stand-up pass rusher to get him on the field a bit more often (and, at the same time, preserve Kennard, who in two seasons has been injury-prone).”
Owa was a 3-4 defensive end at UCLA, so the Von Miller-type transition may not be that much of a stretch. If the intention was to use Floyd in that manner, Steve Spagnuolo may be trying to mold Owa in his image. He has similar arm length, weight and speed as Floyd and Owa has been described as “an absolute Greek god” with pads off.
Kennard could certainly use some preserving as he missed games in his rookie season and last year with foot and hamstring injuries. He’s slated to start at linebacker and was one of the few who shined in coverage at that position. The Giants will need him at full health to improve in their abysmal pass defense, especially on tight ends.
The use of Owa is something to watch as the OTAs start, but he needs to stay healthy. After what was basically a red-shirt rookie year, it’s time for him to start making an impact. If he fills the role Spags may have imagined for him, he may make Giants fans forget about the Floyd fiasco during the draft.