With The First Pick
Fansided

Obi Melifonwu Another Perfect Pick for Oakland Raiders

By Carl Cockerham

Nov 19, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston College Eagles wide receiver Michael Walker (3) is tackled by Connecticut Huskies safety Obi Melifonwu (20) during the second half at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 19, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Boston College Eagles wide receiver Michael Walker (3) is tackled by Connecticut Huskies safety Obi Melifonwu (20) during the second half at Alumni Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 26, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Marshall Thundering Herd wide receiver Deon-Tay McManus (4) runs with the ball as Connecticut Huskies safety Obi Melifonwu (20) tackles during the first half at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 26, 2015; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Marshall Thundering Herd wide receiver Deon-Tay McManus (4) runs with the ball as Connecticut Huskies safety Obi Melifonwu (20) tackles during the first half at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Unfair Knock

The big knock on Melifonwu is caused by the lofty player comparisons he gets on his scouting report. Because he’s a big S that can cover opposing TEs, he gets compared to Kam Chancellor. Then once they see he doesn’t hit like Chancellor they’re disappointed.

There are scouts out there that have said he “looks like Tarzan and plays like Jane.” They want him use his size kill to people like Chancellor does but that isn’t his thing right now. Therefore, they assume that he’s too soft to line up on the box and play the run.

He can hit when he wants to but he’s a converted CB that moved to S so that’s not his mentality yet. He’s simply squares up, breaks down and with those long arms, he wraps the ball carrier up.  So while he’s not knocking guys out,he makes the sure tackle.

I would rather have that than a S that misses tackles while trying to make big hits. His disciplined, breakdown style of tackling is effective and he rarely misses. That makes him very effective in the run game while in the passing game, he’ll take the INT over a big hit.

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