Okwo is a vastly underrated talent who might lack the size and quickness teams might look for in a prototype linebacker. But he is an instinctive, quick reacting and versatile defender who can play either inside or outside. Injuries prevented him from playing a complete schedule the past two years, but he was undoubtedly the Cardinal’s best player when on the field.

Analysis

Positives: Lacks ideal size you look for in a linebacker, but is a stout athlete with broad shoulders, muscular chest and arms, tight abdomen with minimal body fat (4 percent) and room to add more bulk without having a dropoff in speed … Instinctive player who might not have great speed, but is quick to break down plays, showing a good short-area burst closing on plays in front of him … Brings instant value as a gunner on the punt coverage unit or a safety on the kickoff team … Plays with good effort and is a high energy type who likes to mix it up in the trenches … High morals type who plays the game with good aggression, but will not take cheap shots … Has excellent closing speed and does a fine job of staying low in his pads to take on and neutralize the lead blocks in attempts to plug the inside rush lanes … Players his size usually struggle to shed against offensive linemen, but Okwo is very efficient at shedding and splitting the double teams … Shows a keen desire to get to the ball and make the play, reacting with a quick first step to attack at the point … It is very rare to see him fooled by misdirection … Has a knack for being around the ball and does a very good job of avoiding blockers and taking good angles on the move … Even though he gives up considerable bulk playing at the line, he keeps his pads low and has the nimble feet to spin off blocks before linemen can wash him past the hole … He seldom gets blocked when he stays low in his pads and even when he doesn’t, he recovers quickly … Even with his strength, he knows his size issues will get him engulfed in tight quarters, so he uses his balance to readily avoid blocks and keeps his hands active inside the frame to prevent blockers from getting a clear shot at him … Can jam and neutralize or cover and shut down the tight end consistently (did not allow a reception in each of his final four games) … Has the hand strength to throw blockers to the ground and uses them well to protect his body from cut blocks … Shows good leverage and a good knowledge for slanting or taking angles that lead to the shortest path to take down the outside runners … Runs well through traffic and is alert to blocking schemes when trying to generate an explosive burst in backside pursuit … Sifts through trash well, mirroring the ball and sliding behind the line to pressure the pocket … Hits with good pop on contact and is generally a consistent wrap-up tackler … A face-up striker with explosive hips, he is also a hard junction tackler who hits with leverage when wrapping … Has a quick, short stride to cover backs and tight ends in the short-area passing game … Drops alertly in the short zone and shows good vision in attempts to keep the ball in front of him … Locates the receivers and does a good job of reading the quarterback when in zone coverage, doing a nice job of anticipating the throw … Has such good hands, the team planned to use him as its punt returner in 2006 before he suffered a fall camp thumb injury … Plays with good balance and avoidance skills on the blitz, hitting with leverage and power to knock blockers back, disrupt runs or collapse the pocket.

Negatives: Shorter than ideal and lacks the timed speed you want for an outside linebacker (better inside) … Closes in a hurry, but lacks range due to height issues … Because of his size, he tends to avoid blocks more often than attempting to take them on … Lacks the foot speed to mirror receivers on long routes … Height issues again come into play when he has to compete with the taller receivers for jump balls … Has long speed limitations that make him a liability on deep routes (usually off the field in obvious long passing situations) … Has decent hip snap and adequate flexibility, but lacks fluidness when having to move sideline-to-sideline (crosses his feet and gets his base too narrow).

they projected as a 3rd rounder
http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=15508&draftyear=2007&genpos=ILB

I included him in my inside linebackers article:

http://coltplay.blogspot.com/

Living up here in Chicago..I never really why this guy never panned out up here…. he was the heir apparent to Lance Briggs (in case Briggs walked).

Hopefully we get something from this guy.