From now until the 2019 NFL Draft takes place, we hope to showcase as many prospects as possible and examine both their strengths and weaknesses. Most of these profiles will feature individuals that the Pittsburgh Steelers are likely to have an interest in, while a few others will be top-ranked players. If there is a player you would like us to analyze, let us know in the comments below.
#90 Charles Omenihu /DL Texas – 6’5” 280
The Good
- Excellent burst at the snap especially in passing downs
- Positional flexibility lining up from the 2 tech all the way out to the Wide 9
- Generally good hand placement and arm length (36 inches) to extend on blockers
- Good tackler with length giving him a large radius to corral ball carriers
- Uses a variety of pass rush moves to keep OL on their toes
- Good speed pass rushing on the edge and solid bend around the corner despite his size
- Improved awareness on screens and pursues well
The Bad
- May be a little light and need to add some weight if he’s going to play inside
- When he doesn’t get his hands up he can be neutralized fairly easily
- Will lose track of the ball in the backfield occasionally
- Needs to read and react to down blocks inside more quickly
- A little tight in the hips rushing the passer and needs to improve his counters
- Where is his best fit along the defensive line?
Bio
- Career – 115 tackles, 85 solo, 30 TFL, 16.5 sacks, 1 PBU, 2 FR, 4 FF, 12 QB hurries
- 2018 – 45 tackles, 33 solo, 18 TFL, 9.5 sacks, 1 PD, 1 FR, 1 FF, 5 QB hurries
- 51 career games with 33 starts
- 2018 Big 12 Defensive Lineman of the Year and First Team All Big-12
- Majoring in Sports Management
Tape Breakdown
In the Big 12 where offense dominates it can be easy to overlook the defensive players it produces. Charles Omenihu (#90) is a player who deserves to be noticed. Very athletic and long and uses that length well.
Texas ran a primarily 3-3-5 defense using a lot of Tite fronts in which Omenihu would be lined up as the 4i just inside the OT. But depending on what scheme they were running and the situation he was moved all over the line. He could be inside, face up over the guard all the way out to the Wide 9 on passing downs.
Against the run, he shows good quickness at the snap and fires out with good leverage and hand placement to stack the lineman. He has the quickness to work in a 1 gap defense and shoot gaps and the strength and length to play in a 2 gap scheme to stack and shed and when outside he can set the edge and force plays back inside. He has good lateral quickness and reacts quickly to Zone runs making it difficult to be reach blocked. The hands and leverage is the key. If he pops up or gets lazy with his hands, he’ll allow hands into his body and can be handled. He tackles well and has a good radius to get his hands on runners. He’s a better north/south attacker then laterally as it takes him a few steps to get going when moving toward the sideline.
At Texas Tech on the right edge show good awareness to recognize the slide block from the H-Back and shows good athleticism to duck under it and make the tackle
At Texas Tech lined up inside of the LT he uses quicks to the inside to beat the reach block and get the tackle
Vs Georgia showing the one gap quickness to the inside he beats the RT block and make the TFL.
Rushing the passer, again the burst is there and it’s even better when he’s on the edge. He uses long strides and to get on the hip of the OT and despite some hip tightness has some success with bend around the edge. He’ll use cross chops and 2 handed swipes with a rip to get under the OT and will swipe at the ball if he gets pushed by the QB. Inside, he has the quickness to turn his body and get into gaps to apply pressure and will use swim moves, long arm and a bull rush. There’s room to improve in the pass rush especially inside where he didn’t always get a lot of movement with the power moves. He showed improved awareness on screens and swing passes and made more plays in that area. He did drop in to zone a few times but shouldn’t be counted on to do that regularly.
Vs Oklahoma he’s inside the right tackle and the defensive line slants right. He dips a shoulder to slip between the RG and RT to get the sack.
Vs Oklahoma lined up on the left he gets left alone vs the H-Back and can’t finish the sack but this shows his bend pretty well.
Vs USC he’s the looper on this play and moves nicely just off the hip of this teammate and good acceleration to get pressure.
Vs Texas he’s lined up on the right edge in a 2 point stance. He drops into zone coverage and shows good pursuit to the outside to make the tackle.
Vs USC he’s on the right side of the video. Good burst off the LOS and he uses a rip with the right arm and then reaches with his left to knock the ball loose.
Vs Georgia looks like he’s the 3 tech and his rush is going to loop him out to the left. He recognizes the pass to the RB, flips and accelerates to the outside to make the play.
The positional flexibility that Omenihu offers is something that defensive coordinators will love. He can play the run and rush the passer and can be lined up just about anywhere along the LOS. He length is an advantage and he uses it well and is scheme diverse able to play in 1 or 2 Gap. He weighed in at the Combine at 280 and that’s pretty light to play inside on a consistent basis. The Steelers like their linemen to generally be over 300 whether at tackle or end so he may not be a fit for them. I think his best position in the NFL will be a defensive end in a four man front that can kick inside in sub packages.
Projection: Day 2
Games Watched: 2017 – Vs Oklahoma; 2018 – Vs USC, Vs Baylor, At Texas Tech, Vs Georgia
