Dallas Cowboys, Amobi Okoye Strike deal

[GForce78NJ]

The Dallas Cowboys signed defensive tackle Amobi Okoye, a 2007 top-10 pick, the team announced Friday.

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ESPN Dallas' Calvin Watkins first reported the news.

Okoye, born in Nigeria, was drafted 10th overall by the Houston Texans when he was just 19 years old. The 6-foot-2, 292-pound tackle became the youngest player to start an NFL game since 1967.

Now 26, Okoye spent four seasons in Houston and two in Chicago. In 2013, he was out of football reportedly due to an undisclosed medical issue.

While he's still young, Okoye never lived up to his draft status in Houston, combining for just 5.5 sacks in the three campaigns after his rookie season. The Texans released him in 2011.

The Cowboys need as much help as they can get on the defensive side of the ball, so taking a flyer on Okoye makes sense. The defensive tackle is familiar with current Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli from their time together in Chicago.

The latest "Around The League Podcast" plays the post-draft version of the game "What's More Likely" and breaks down all the latest news.

 

[boozeman]

Cowboys sign another Marinelli DT, former first-round pick Okoye, hopeful he can recover from 'medical issues'

The Cowboys added another defensive tackle, signing former first-round pick Amobi Okoye.

He is another of defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli's former players, having played for him in Chicago in 2011 and 2012, when he appeared in 25 games. The 26-year-old out of Louisville was out of football last year.

The 6-foot-2, 302-pound Okoye, born in Nigeria, was drafted by the Houston Texans with the No. 10 pick in the first round in 2007. He spent four seasons with the Texans, starting 58 games. He had 5.5 sacks as a rookie and 4.0 in his first year with the Bears.

"Amobi’s been dealing with some medical issues that he’s got to overcome," executive vice president Stephen Jones said. "If he gets back from them, then Amobi can play. He played very well for Rod. We’ve got somebody that knows him well. The bigger question with him is just going to be his medical history, as well. A lot of these guys, we’re well aware of, but when you’re like we are in the defensive line, after what we went through, you’ve got to put a lot of hooks in the water."

The Cowboys also released linebacker James Stewart.

-- Carlos Mendez

 

[GForce78NJ]

another one of them low risk high reward projects. If he can't perform, cut him in camp and you dont have to pay him a dime. Could add decent depth to the DT position

 

[Stars]

Anyone know what the "medical issues" are? Curious why they are so vague about it.

 

[Cotton]

Scouting Report: Taking Closer Look at DT Amobi Okoye

Posted 39 minutes ago

Bryan Broaddus
Football Analyst/Scout

Amobi Okoye
DT (6-2, 292), Louisville
Drafted in the 1st round by the Houston Texans. Spent time with the Chicago Bears as well.
Games Studied: 2012 Chicago Bears against: St. Louis, Dallas and Green Bay

• Last played in the NFL in 2012 with the Bears and current Cowboys defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli. In the games I studied, he lined up at all three spots in the 4-3 but was best as the three technique.

• The first trait you notice about him is the quickness and how he is able to get off the ball on the snap. When he is on the move, he can be hard to deal with. This was something that Marinelli appeared to take advantage of when he had Okoye in the game. Can really cover some ground when he sees the ball going to the outside. Plays outside the tackle box. Very good at working down the line. Can really chase the ball and does a nice job of holding off the blockers with one arm, then sliding down the line to put himself in position to make the play.

• Can make the blocker have to play flat along the line with him. Is very active in the way that he plays the game. It was rare to see him in one position or on the ground. Thought he played with nice balance and power when he had to deal with blockers one-on-one.

• Where he got in trouble is when he played as the one, then he had to deal with double teams. It was harder for him to get off the blocks and be active on the play. His best shot at winning on the pass rush is on his first move up the field. If he gets stopped or stuck, then he is not going to be of any good to the scheme. When he can attack that outside shoulder of the guard, he has a chance. I like what he is able to do with his hands. They appear quick and they are always working. His best move was the quick, arm under that would get in going on his rush.

• Was used in some line games and was effective coming around the corner to create pressure. Would not use him as a long term rusher but play him in a rotational system like they used him in Chicago and you would get the best out of him.

• Did not play a snap in 2013, much like George Selvie did in 2012, so the hope is for the same type of results.

 

[boozeman]

Anyone know what the "medical issues" are? Curious why they are so vague about it.

Read somewhere he got malaria of all things.

 

[jsmith6919]

Read somewhere he got malaria of all things.

I'd seen that on twitter but wasn't sure they were serious

 

[boozeman]

I'd seen that on twitter but wasn't sure they were serious

If he went back and forth to Nigeria, I guess its possible.

 

[jsmith6919]

If he went back and forth to Nigeria, I guess its possible.

Yea guess so

 

[1bigfan13]

I actually like that we're kicking the tires on Okoye. He's still pretty young and has some pedigree.

It's a better approach (proactive) than the reactionary approach we took to the DL position last year where we were dependent on a bunch of street FAs who had no business playing in NFL games.

 

[boozeman]

I actually like that we're kicking the tires on Okoye. He's still pretty young and has some pedigree.

It's a better approach (proactive) than the reactionary approach we took to the DL position last year where we were dependent on a bunch of street FAs who had no business playing in NFL games.

It does show we "learned" a little from last year where we just did a head count of the meeting room before draft day and figured because there was a guy in there breathing that we were fine.