Arnold Ebiketie

Context

Transfer from Temple Senior year. Plays mostly as the rush OLB in a 3-4 scheme but has very little pass coverage responsibilities.

Pass Rush

He shows marginal upfield burst but this is a consistent feature with Penn State edge defenders and appears that they are coached to be patient in this way. In very obvious passing situations i.e. 4^th and a mile with the offense needing a 1^st down, you can see at least moderately good vertical explosion to get upfield but in most other situations he will wait a beat before getting off the ball. His post-snap processing is good though and he’s a refined technician in his rush plan as well as stringing together moves in-rep instinctively to win. He will take some losses on outside moves to begin games, to threaten the edge before coming back to his inside move which he knows is his fastball and can win with lateral quickness, loose hips and fast hands. He keeps OL off his fastball by selling the outside rush well with a deliberate jab step. Once he has set up his inside move, he can work other moves off it, including going back to the outside move but with a rocker step to make it look like his inside rush.

When an OL is off balance and doesn’t know what to expect he can come back with a bull-rush using his good play strength that he gets from playing consistently with leverage. His secondary moves and counters also prove his proficiency with his rush plan, he instinctively knows when an OL has given him an advantage that he can take, for instance a successful two hand swipe has given up the OL’s chest, so he quickly converts speed to power to get underneath him. He knows how to get an OL turned – you can see him do it with hand timing and placement as well as with push-pull moves. He corners well with solid hip/ankle flexion, understands body mechanics, throwing his arm back to clear the rusher and turn his hips. He has fast/active hands, high motor and good competitiveness, chasing ball carriers far downfield.

Vs Run

He’s also slow off the ball against the run but again, this appears to be a circumspection that is taught and is a choice rather than lack of explosion or processing. Indeed, his post-snap processing against the run is good, he reads blocks well, with the exception of cut-blocks which he does struggle to see coming, matches angles well and gets in position to win quickly. He’s into you first and has his hands well placed, gaining play strength with the leverage he plays with as well as the power in his hands. As a front-side defender he sets a disciplined edge but leverages his gap too, as well as disengaging to get to the runner in his gap. As a back-side defender he stays square to the LOS, beats the cut-off block and tackles the runner that’s made the bend on outside zone on any angle.

SUMMARY
Pass rush technician with a well-thought out/executed rush plan. Disciplined, effective run defense due to use of hands/play strength, hasn’t shown he can be quick off the ball

PRODUCTION
SR: 8 Sacks, 12 QB Hits, 47 Total Tackles, 1 FF, 1 Batted Ball
JR: 4 Sacks, 4 QB Hits, 37 Total Tackles, 2 FFs
INJURY: None

RAVENS FIT
Athleticism 3
Intelligence 3
Versatility 3
Grit 5
Scheme 5